concept

Clock Gating

Clock gating is a power-saving technique used in digital circuit design, particularly in synchronous systems like CPUs and ASICs, where the clock signal to specific circuit blocks is temporarily disabled when those blocks are not in use. This reduces dynamic power consumption by preventing unnecessary clock toggling in idle components, which accounts for a significant portion of power dissipation in modern chips. It is implemented using logic gates (e.g., AND gates) controlled by enable signals to gate the clock.

Also known as: Clock Gating Technique, Clock Disabling, Clock Enable, Clock Control, CG
🧊Why learn Clock Gating?

Developers should learn clock gating when designing low-power digital systems, such as mobile devices, IoT sensors, or battery-operated hardware, to optimize energy efficiency and extend battery life. It is essential in VLSI design, FPGA programming, and ASIC development, especially for meeting power budgets in advanced process nodes where leakage and dynamic power are critical concerns. Understanding clock gating helps in writing efficient RTL code (e.g., in Verilog or VHDL) and using EDA tools for synthesis and power analysis.

Compare Clock Gating

Clock Gating vs Power Gating→Clock Gating vs Dynamic Voltage Frequency Scaling→Clock Gating vs Clock Throttling→

Learning Resources

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Clock Gating - Wikipedia
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Low Power Design Techniques: Clock Gating - Tutorial
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Clock Gating in VLSI - Video Lecture
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Digital Integrated Circuits: A Design Perspective - Book
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Clock Gating in Verilog - Course Example
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Related Tools

Vlsi DesignLow Power DesignDigital Circuit DesignRtl CodingPower Analysis

Alternatives to Clock Gating

Power GatingDynamic Voltage Frequency ScalingClock Throttling