Power Optimization Using Coding Methods on Arithmetic Operators

This paper addresses the use of different coding methods for the arithmetic operators. Signal encoding is widely used to reduce the switching activity in buses. However, the signals need to be encoded and decoded since signal processing is executed in binary. To avoid this step, we investigate the viability of processing operators that use the same signal encoding as that used in the bus. Gray and a Hybrid encoding for the arithmetic operators (adders and multipliers) are implemented and compared to binary operators. The power consumption of the new operators is computed for both uniform input probabilities and real input traces. The overall power consumption under different capacitive loads is also evaluated to indicate the conditions under which power can be saved using signal encoding.