Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus and method for controlling power in digital logic circuitry is disposed in a body implantable biomedical device disclosed. A power switch, such as a power gating transistor, is coupled to a digital logic circuit element to selectively control the application of power to the circuit element. During each system clock cycle, power is supplied to the circuit element only for a duration of time required to effect switching of logic states. Power is removed from the circuit element during each system clock cycle when no switching of logic states occurs. A clock signal applied to the gate of a power gating transistor selectively controls the supply of power to the digital circuit logic element during each system clock cycle so as to appreciably reduce static power consumption of the circuit element. The power control apparatus and method may be implemented in any digital logic design, and is well suited for use in digital circuitry that employs combinatorial logic of any complexity and any number of registers or latches. The appreciable reduction in static power consumption realized by employing the power control apparatus and method according to the present invention is particularly useful in digital logic circuitry applications designed to operate at relatively low switching frequencies and low power, such as implantable biomedical device applications.

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First Claim