Negative Capacitance Transistor to Address the Fundamental Limitations in Technology Scaling: Processor Performance

Abstract

Negative capacitance field-effect transistor (NCFET) addresses one of the key fundamental limits in technology scaling, akin to the non-scalable Boltzmann factor, by offering a sub-threshold swing below 60 mV/decade. In this paper, we investigate how the NCFET technology can open the doors not only for the continuation of Moore’s law, which is approaching its end, but also for reviving Dennard’s scaling, which stopped more than a decade ago. We study NCFET for the 7-nm FinFET technology node, from physics to processors and demonstrate that prior trends in processor design with respect to voltage and frequency can be revived with the NCFET technology. Our work focuses on answering the following three questions towards drawing the impact of NCFET technology on computing efficiency: In how far NCFET technology will enable processors: 1) to operate at higher frequencies without increasing voltage; 2) to operate at higher frequencies without increasing power density, which is substantial, because maintaining on-chip power densities under tight constraints due to limited cooling capabilities is inevitable; and 3) to operate at lower voltages, while still fulfilling performance requirements, which is substantial for the emerging Internet of Things, in which available power budgets for such devices are typically very restricted.