Modeling and optimized design of current mode MUX/XOR and D flip-flop

Abstract

This paper deals with current mode logic (CML) and, in particular, models and optimized design strategies for MUX, XOR, and D flip-flop are presented. Both simple and accurate models for propagation delay are proposed. The models represent propagation delay with a few terms, providing a better insight into the relationship between delay and its electrical parameters, which in turn are related to process parameters. The main difference between accurate and simple models is that the former need only a few SPICE simulations to properly evaluate model parameters. The simple models show errors which are always lower than 20%, while accurate models have typical errors of 2%. Design optimization is in terms of bias currents giving minimum propagation delay, and it has been demonstrated that at the cost of a 10% increase in propagation delay we can reduce power dissipation by 40%. The models and design strategies are validated using both a traditional and a high-speed bipolar process which have a transition frequency equal to 6 and 20 GHz, respectively.