Looking into Future: The Era of “Time”
Liming Xiu · 2012
In modern VLSI circuit design, there are four fundamental technologies that support the whole chip design superstructure: (1) processor technology, (2) memory technology, (3) analog technology, and (4) clock technology. Processor technology focuses on the task of computation. Analog technology deals with systems of time-continuous multilevel signals, in contrast to the time-discrete two levels of digital signals. Memory technology specializes in storing and retrieving information at a fast pace and in large amounts. Unlike the other three technologies, the clock circuit is traditionally not used for processing information since it deals with “time”. The role of the clock signal is in voltage-level-based approach and time-based approach. In the voltage-level-based case, the clock signal is only used for marking the information. In the time-based approach, a clock is used both for marking the information and defining the window. Controlled Vocabulary Terms analogue circuits; clocks; memory architecture; Neuromorphics; program processors