High-Speed and Low-Energy Capacitively-Driven On-Chip Wires

Abstract

Capacitively-driven on-chip wires reduce both latency and energy compared to repeaters. A series coupling capacitance offers preemphasis to lower wire delay, reduces the driven load, and lowers the wire voltage swing without a second power supply. A 0.18 μm CMOS testchip shows 10.5times energy savings at a 50mV swing compared to full-swing repeated wires, and a 3times gain in wire bandwidth