Abstract: A method an apparatus for a power switch acceleration scheme during wakeup is disclosed. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes at least one power gated circuit block. The power gated circuit block includes a virtual voltage node from which a voltage is provided to the circuitry of the block when active. Power switches are coupled between the virtual voltage node and a corresponding global voltage node. When the power gated circuit block is powered on, power switches are activated sequentially. The rate at which power switches are activated is increased as the voltage on the virtual voltage node increases. Sequentially activating the power switches may prevent an excess of current inrush into the power gated circuit block. The increase in the rate at which power switches are activated when the voltage on the virtual voltage node is at least at a certain level may allow for a faster wakeup.

Abstract: Several circuits and methods that may be implemented to enable specification support of a plurality of interface components in an IC are disclosed. In an embodiment, a circuit includes a plurality of multiplexer circuits and a control circuit. The plurality of multiplexer circuits are configured to provide a plurality of data paths and a plurality of outputs according to a set of selection signals. The plurality of data paths is configurable for at least a first mode of operation or a second mode of operation based on the set of selection signals. The first mode of operation and the second mode of operation are associated with complimentary specifications. The control circuit is coupled with the plurality of multiplexer circuits in order to control the set of selection signals of the plurality of multiplexer circuits to thereby select one of the first mode and the second mode of operation.

Abstract: A data transmission device includes a control unit and a delay chain unit. The control unit outputs a first control signal through an nth control signal, where n is a natural number. The delay chain unit includes a first switching element through an nth switching element. The switching elements receive a first data signal through an nth data signal and perform pipelining operations on the first through nth data signals based upon the first through nth control signals, respectively, to output the pipelined data signals as at least one data stream. The switching elements are connected to each other to form at least one data delay chain.

Abstract: A method an apparatus for a power switch acceleration scheme during wakeup is disclosed. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes at least one power gated circuit block. The power gated circuit block includes a virtual voltage node from which a voltage is provided to the circuitry of the block when active. Power switches are coupled between the virtual voltage node and a corresponding global voltage node. When the power gated circuit block is powered on, power switches are activated sequentially. The rate at which power switches are activated is increased as the voltage on the virtual voltage node increases. Sequentially activating the power switches may prevent an excess of current inrush into the power gated circuit block. The increase in the rate at which power switches are activated when the voltage on the virtual voltage node is at least at a certain level may allow for a faster wakeup.

Abstract: According to one aspect of this disclosure, a circuit arrangement is provided, the circuit arrangement including an electronic component coupled to at least one common power supply node and configured to provide a first signal having a variation in time that is based on power supply via the at least one common power supply node; a detecting circuit coupled to the electronic component, the detecting circuit being configured to detect the first signal and to provide a digital switch array control signal based on the variation in time of the first signal; and a switch array coupled between the at least one common power supply node and at least one power supply source, the switch array being configured to control the power supply via the at least one common power supply node based on the digital switch array control signal.

Abstract: A driver device drives a load circuit by a common output signal from a first driver transistor and a second driver transistor. The driver device includes a first pre-driver unit that outputs a first driver control signal to the first driver transistor in response to the input signal; and a second pre-driver unit that outputs a second driver control signal to the second driver transistor in response to the input signal. The first pre-driver unit controls the first driver control signal in such a manner that the first driver control signal is rounded in the vicinity of a threshold of the first driver transistor and is sharply changed in a region exceeding the threshold.

Abstract: A method an apparatus for a power switch acceleration scheme during wakeup is disclosed. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes at least one power gated circuit block. The power gated circuit block includes a virtual voltage node from which a voltage is provided to the circuitry of the block when active. Power switches are coupled between the virtual voltage node and a corresponding global voltage node. When the power gated circuit block is powered on, power switches are activated sequentially. The rate at which power switches are activated is increased as the voltage on the virtual voltage node increases. Sequentially activating the power switches may prevent an excess of current inrush into the power gated circuit block. The increase in the rate at which power switches are activated when the voltage on the virtual voltage node is at least at a certain level may allow for a faster wakeup.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the duty cycle of a clock signal, the apparatus having a first multi-tap delay module, a second multi-tap delay module, and a multi-element detecting module, the input terminal of the first multi-tap delay module and the input terminal of the second multi-tap delay module coupled to an input node IN, the first multi-tap delay module receiving the clock signal and then providing it a first constant incremental delay at each tap, the second multi-tap delay module receiving the same clock signal CLK and then providing it a second constant incremental delay at each tap, and the multi-element detecting module determining the ratio of the number of outputs of the multi-element detecting module in which the sampled clock level is high with respect to the total number of steps covering one complete clock cycle.

Abstract: A pulse control device is maintained with a constant pulse width corresponding to a change of process or temperature. The pulse control device comprises a fuse set for selectively outputting a delay increase signal and a delay decrease signal that have a different state based on a cutting or non-cutting state of a fuse on which information on a change of process is programmed, and a pulse generator provided with a plurality of delay cells with predetermined time delay for selectively increasing or decreasing the number of the plurality of delay cells depending on the delay increase signal and the delay decrease signal to generate an internal clock with a pulse width corresponding to the number of the increased or decreased delay cells.

Abstract: A data transmission device includes a control unit and a delay chain unit. The control unit outputs a first control signal through an nth control signal, where n is a natural number. The delay chain unit includes a first switching element through an nth switching element. The switching elements receive a first data signal through an nth data signal and perform pipelining operations on the first through nth data signals based upon the first through nth control signals, respectively, to output the pipelined data signals as at least one data stream. The switching elements are connected to each other to form at least one data delay chain.

Abstract: A delay line including a phase detector having two inputs and one output. The first input of the phase detector is connected to an input of the delay line. The second input of the phase detector is connected to an output of the delay line. The output of the phase detector is connected to a control circuit which controls current flow at a control node to produce a control voltage at the node. A voltage-controlled delay unit is responsible to the control voltage to control a delay applied to a signal at an input of the delay line.

Abstract: Provided is a pulse control device is maintained with a constant pulse width corresponding to a change of process or temperature. The pulse control device comprises a fuse set for selectively outputting a delay increase signal and a delay decrease signal that have a different state based on a cutting or non-cutting state of a fuse on which information on a change of process is programmed, and a pulse generator provided with a plurality of delay cells with predetermined time delay for selectively increasing or decreasing the number of the plurality of delay cells depending on the delay increase signal and the delay decrease signal to generate an internal clock with a pulse width corresponding to the number of the increased or decreased delay cells.

Abstract: A circuit and method is provided for determining the delay of an integrated circuit common associated with chip-to-chip variations in the manufacturing process, changes in operating voltage, and fluctuations in temperature. A clock signal is inverted, thus generating an inverted clock signal which is then delayed multiple times, resulting in several delayed versions of the inverted clock signal, with each version being delayed a different length of time. The logical state of each delayed version of the inverted clock signal is then stored. That stored logical state provides an indication as to the magnitude of the delay of the integrated circuit which may then be used to tune critical signals of the integrated circuit to avoid timing problems resulting from variations in IC propagation delay.

Abstract: A configurable logic block (“CLB”) in a programmable logic device (“PLD”), such as a complex programmable logic device (“CPLD”) or a field programmable gate array (“FPGA”), routes a timing signal, such as an external clock signal, through the CLB to provide a selected delay. The timing signal is routed through selected fast or slow pins of look-up tables (“LUTs”) in the CLB. CLBs are widely available in the PLD, allowing many timing signals to be delayed, and can be configured to account for board-specific or component-specific delays.

Abstract: A control slew rate output driver has a plurality of component drivers that are switched on in turn to provide an edge on the output. A control circuit provides a series of respective control signals component drivers, which are correspondingly switched on in turn. The control circuit takes a signal, preferably a data signal, and supplies it in parallel to a plurality of delay buffers, which delay the data signal by different amounts to produce the control signals for the component drivers. The delay buffers are voltage controlled and the control voltage for each is provided by a respective tap of a voltage divider. The current passes through the voltage divider can be changed to change the control voltages and, hence, the overall rise or fall time provided by the output driver.

Abstract: A PCI reflected-wave communications bus has a plurality of individual signal lines. Each signal line is terminated with a resistive-capacitive filter to partially dampen voltage wave reflections.

Abstract: A digital delay interpolator adapted to receive a first clock signal and a second clock signal, the second clock signal having a transition at a time that is delayed with respect to the time of a transition of the first clock signal, and to provide an output clock signal having a transition at a time intermediate the time of the transition of the first clock signal and the time of the transition of the second clock signal. The interpolator includes a first plurality of selectively enabled delay circuits and a second plurality of selectively enabled delay circuits, the first plurality of delay circuits having an input port being adapted to receive the first clock signal, and the second plurality of delay circuits having an input port being adapted to receive the second clock signal. The first plurality of delay circuits and the second plurality of delay circuits have outputs connected together to form the output of the digital delay interpolator.

Abstract: A cable driver is disclosed which provides a substantially linear output signal corresponding to an input signal received by the cable driver on a transmission line. The cable driver includes a number of switches coupled by delay elements with cause the switches to operate in a sequential order in response to an input signal. Each of the switches couples an associated current source to an output port, producing a substantially linear output signal on a transmission line connected to the output port. The substantially linearity of the output signal increases the rate at which data may be transmitted over the transmission line, while permitting the rise and fall time of a specified portion of the output signal to be controlled to ensure that electro-magnetic interference is not produced.

Abstract: A delay generation circuit comprising (i) a circuit configured to generate a reference clock signal having a period, (ii) a divide circuit and (iii) an output circuit. The divide circuit may be configured to generate a first divided clock signal and a second divided clock signal in response to said reference clock signal. The output circuit may be configured to generate (i) a first output clock signal and (ii) a second output clock signal in response to (i) the first and second divided clock signals and (ii) the reference clock signal. The second output clock signal may have a delay with respect to the first output clock signal. The delay may be (i) a multiple of or (ii) a fraction of the period of the reference clock signal.

Abstract: A dual-purpose transmission circuit capable of receiving two or more signals or voltages, or a signal and a voltage, using one input pad, and an input method using the circuit. The dual-purpose transmission circuit includes an internal signal line for transmitting a signal to the inside of the semiconductor device, an internal voltage line for transmitting a voltage to the inside of the semiconductor device, a first transmission portion for connecting the internal signal line to the outside of the semiconductor device in response to a control signal, in a signal input mode, and a second transmission portion for connecting the internal voltage line to the outside of the semiconductor device in response to the control signal, in a voltage input mode.

Abstract: The output (3) of a level shifter (1) is split into two paths (4,5) with a delay (.tau..sub.1, .tau..sub.2) being introduced into at least one path to enable rise delay and fall delay to be controlled independently of one another. In the context of an integrated circuit which includes a memory device, the use of an additional path allows control of the set-up and hold times in that one transition can be speeded up or slowed down independently of the other transition to achieve the best possible set-up and hold times.

Abstract: A skew logic circuit device comprises:two or more inverters which are connected in series with one another between an input line and an output line; first control switching means for switching voltage from a first power voltage source toward an output terminal of every odd inverter; second control switching means for switching voltage from a second power voltage source toward an output terminal of every even inverter; and edge signal generating means for sequentially controlling the operation of the first and second control switching means by the edge signal of a fixed pulse width caused by logically combining the signal from the input line.

Abstract: A multiplexer selectively connects one of first and second nodes to a third node. The multiplexer includes a first switch coupled between the first and third nodes, a second switch coupled between the second and third nodes, and a control input for receiving a signal to either open the first switch and close the second switch or open the second switch and close the first switch. Additionally, a delay circuit, coupled to the control input and the second switch, delays closure of the second switch until the first switch is open. In a preferred embodiment, the delay circuit includes two field-effect transistors having substantially different width-to-length ratios.

Abstract: A system for switching between a signal having delay paths of differing magnitudes without generating any glitches and false edges uses a no delay circuit for outputting a signal having no delay and a delay output circuit for outputting a delayed form of the signal. The signals are inputted to a multiplexer. The multiplexer will output at least one of the signals. Control circuitry is coupled to the multiplexer for signalling the multiplexer to output at least one of the signals. The control circuitry will control the switching of the multiplexer so that when the output of the multiplexer switches from a signal having no delay to a delayed form of the signal, or when the output of the multiplexer switches from a delayed form of the signal to a signal having no delay, no glitches or false edges are generated.

Abstract: A power short pulse generator for generating a pulse on a rising edge and falling edge of an input signal according to the present invention comprises an input node for receiving the input signal and an output node for supplying an output signal. A first pulldown circuit and a second pulldown circuit are connected in series between the output node and a first supply voltage potential, the first pulldown circuit and the second pulldown circuit each having an input. A third pulldown circuit and a fourth pulldown circuit are connected in series between the output node and the first supply voltage potential, the third pulldown circuit and the fourth pulldown circuit each having an input. A pullup circuit is connected between the output node and a second supply voltage potential, the pullup circuit having an input. A leakage current circuit is connected between the output node and the second supply voltage potential.

Abstract: A clock driver circuit comprises a first driver including first and second inverters cascaded between an input terminal and a first output terminal for outputting a non-inverted signal delayed from the clock signal applied to the input terminal by a delay amount corresponding to two stages of inverters. The clock driver circuit also comprises and a second driver including third, fourth and fifth inverters cascaded between the input terminal and a second output terminal and a sixth inverter connected between the input terminal and the second output terminal. With this arrangement, a first signal delayed from the clock signal applied to the input terminal by a first delay amount corresponding to the third, fourth and fifth inverters, is synthesized by a wired-OR at the second output terminal with a second signal delayed from the clock signal applied to the input terminal by a second delay amount corresponding to the sixth inverter.

Abstract: A four phase clock generator, which can be employed to operate a charge pump, is configured using coupling elements that ensure that the four phases are non-overlapping. Each of the circuits used to generate one of the four phases of the clock signal consists of a logic block, a buffer block whose delay can be controlled, and a cascade of inverters for amplifying the signal produced by the circuit. The buffer block acts both to invert the signal produced by the logic block, and to delay the signal output by the logic block by an amount which can be varied based on control signals which mirror a current source. The amount of signal delay produced by the buffer is used to adjust the relative timing of the rising and falling edges of each of the four phases of the clock signal (and hence the frequency of the signal) in response to the demand placed upon a charge pump which is driven by the clock signal generator.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for delaying a useful signal which is stored in the form of time-discrete signal samples in a row of storage devices at time intervals which are determined by a clock signal and is read therefrom after expiration of a selectable delay time. Each storage device is connectable, via a respective input circuit to a useful signal input and, via a respective output circuit, to a useful signal output.

Abstract: A pulse phase difference encoding circuit includes a ring delay pulse generating circuit which is formed by a NAND circuit and inverters. Signal lines connecting the NAND circuit and the inverters have uniform load capacity to obtain even time resolutions. The NAND circuit is formed by component transistors one of which is larger in size to have the same delay time as the other inverters. A dedicated latch buffer for applying steeply changing drive pulse to a pulse selector is provided to prevent difference in the measurements. A specific value is outputted in the event of the overflow or underflow of the measurement time to obtain a constant digital output.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit detecting a change in the internal propagation delay and self-compensating such a change. A combination of semiconductor integrated circuits can self-compensate a change in the total propagation delay of the circuit. There is provided a ring oscillator composed of dummy device elements separate from an actually-used logic circuit portion. The oscillating pulses of the ring oscillator are counted relative to a reference pulse signal. The semiconductor integrated circuit has a delay time compensation control circuit block which generates control data used to compensate the change in the propagation delay based on the difference between the first-counted value and a subsequently counted value. In a combination of semiconductor integrated circuits, the delay time compensation control circuit block may be provided for each channel. Alternatively, the delay time compensation control circuit block may be provided for common use by many channels.

Abstract: A transition detection circuit is provided comprising input means receiving the signal to be monitored for generating a first pulse having a first predetermined pulsewidth when a transition occurs in the signal being monitored; and output means responsive to the first pulse from the input means for generating a second pulse having a second predetermined pulsewidth which is less than the first predetermined pulsewidth. The present invention permits a large number of signals to be monitored for transition yet provide a highly precise output pulsewidth, all with a minimum of circuitry. Preferably the input means include a plurality of input channels, each channel being assigned to a different signal being monitored and each channel providing the first predetermined pulsewidth using simple, non-precision time delay circuits. The output state employs a single, high precision time delay circuit to provide the second predetermined pulsewidth.

Abstract: The delay device 10 includes an ECL gate 11, the current source 16 and two resistive load elements 14, 15 of which are associated with an adjusting circuit 23 producing an adjusting voltage Vd, to cause the polarization current of the current source to vary hyperbolically, and a voltage Vh for keeping constant the voltage at the collectors of the transistors 12 and 13 of the gate 11. The delay device 10 causes the delays between the input signals IN, IN* and output signals OUT, OUT* to vary linearly. The invention is applicable in particular to systems for the transmission of digital data at a very high rate, of more than 1 gigabit per second, for example.

Abstract: A slope control circuit having a plurality of resistive elements connected in parallel, each of the resistive elements including a control element for causing the associated resistive elements to be one of electrically conductive or electrically nonconductive, a delay circuit having a plurality of delay components coupled together in series, each of the delay components having a predetermined delay, the junction of each different adjacent pair of the delay components being coupled to the control element of a different one of the resistive elements and a load circuit coupled across the plurality of resistive elements. The circuit can further include a delay adjust circuit for adjusting the delay of each of the delay components, either initially or on-line. The resistance of each of the resistive elements can be the same or different. The plurality of resistive elements and the delay components are all disposed on a single semiconductor chip.

Abstract: A four phase clock generator, which can be employed to operate a charge pump, is configured using coupling elements that ensure that the four phases are non-overlapping. Two of the phases are created with delay buffers that have substantial delays that mainly determine the clock frequency. The delay buffers and coupling elements produce delays that are made variable in response to a control current. This provides a clock whose frequency is proportional to a control current.

Abstract: A delay circuit includes a delay part delaying a signal by a delay time which can be varied based on a control current, and a control current adjustment circuit adjusting the control current so that the delay time changes linearly based on a variation in a resistance value.