A high-speed low-power tri-state driver flip flop for ultra-low supply voltage GaAs heterojunction FET LSI's

This paper describes a low-supply-voltage flip flop circuit design. The advantages of low supply voltage are discussed. Based on an analytical circuit delay model, conventional flip flop operating speed degradation below 1 V supply voltage is analyzed. We then propose a new GaAs static flip flop, called TD-FF (tri-state driver flip-flop), for ultra-low supply voltage GaAs heterojunction FET LSI's. The TD-FF operates at a data rate of 10 Gbps with 18 mW power consumption at 0.8 V supply voltage. The 10 Gbps power consumption is 1/5 of the minimum value reported for D-FF's so far. We also demonstrate a 1/8 static frequency divider IC using the TD-FF configuration. This IC operates up to 10 GHz with 38 mW at 0.8 V supply voltage.