METHOD OF POWER CONSUMPTION REDUCTION IN CLOCKED CIRCUIT

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and device for reducing the power consumption of a clocked circuit including a plurality of latches. SOLUTION: A first latch which has more than a prescribed slack is detected within the plurality of latches. Then, the possibility of substituting an available second latch (requiring less power to operate) is determined subject to the constraint that the slack after substitution should still be positive although it may be less than the prescribed number above. When such a possibility is determined to exist, the first latch is replaced with the available second latch.