Multi-code state assignment for low power design

Abstract

A multi-code state assignment is proposed to realise priority encoding by restraining redundant states. A state assigned with multi-code can be allocated using fewer state variables; further, flip-flops corresponding to those absent state variables can be clock-gated. An algorithm is presented to implement the multi-code state assignment for general sequential circuits. As a result, lower power dissipation may be attained. Practical design examples are simulated by PSPICE and demonstrate that this technique can lead to sizable power savings.