A low-supply voltage GHz MOS integrated circuit for mobile computing systems

A processor having over one GOPS performance and dissipating less than 10 mW power is required for mobile computing systems which can handle video data. Circuit innovation is necessary to satisfy the requirement. Not only GOPS and mW performance but also monolithic integration capability with CMOS circuits are necessary for constructing mobile computing systems. This paper proposes an adaptive current control (ACC) technique for MOS current mode logic (MCML) circuits operating at low-supply voltage down to 1.2V. An interface circuit is also discussed for MCML/CMOS mixed signal LSIs. Experimental results of an MCML frequency divider and comparisons with CMOS and GaAs circuits are also discussed.