Power Management for Digital Systems
Power management has become one of the most critical aspects of digital system design. As transistor counts continue to increase while supply voltages decrease, managing power consumption effectively is essential for thermal control, battery life, energy costs, and environmental sustainability. Modern digital systems employ sophisticated power management techniques at every level, from individual transistors to complete systems-on-chip.
Effective power management requires understanding both the sources of power consumption and the techniques available to control them. Digital circuits consume power through two primary mechanisms: dynamic power, which occurs during switching activity, and static power, which flows even when circuits are idle. Different strategies address each type of power consumption, and modern designs typically employ multiple complementary techniques to achieve optimal energy efficiency.