Abstract: A driver circuit includes a plurality of output circuits coupled in parallel between a differential input and a differential output and having a first common node and a second common node. Each of the plurality of output circuits includes a series combination of a pair of inverters and a pair of resistors, coupled between the differential input and the differential output; first source terminals of the pair of inverters coupled to the first common node; and second source terminals of the pair of inverters coupled to the second common node. The driver circuit further includes a first voltage regulator having an output coupled to the first common node of the plurality of output circuits; a second voltage regulator having an output coupled to the second common node of the plurality of circuits; and a current compensation circuit coupled between the outputs of the first voltage regulator and the second voltage regulator.

Abstract: An analog to digital converter (ADC) circuit includes a first stage for converting a first analog voltage signal to a first digital signal including a first portion of a digital output signal representing the first analog voltage signal, and generate a first residue voltage based on the first analog voltage signal and the first digital signal. A first amplifier control unit generates a first amplifier start signal based on a second stage ready signal indicating that a second stage is ready to process a second analog voltage signal. In response to the second stage ready signal, a first amplifier generates the second analog voltage signal based on the first residue voltage. The second stage is configured to generate the second stage ready signal, receive the second analog voltage signal, and convert the second analog voltage signal to a second digital signal including a second portion of the digital output signal.

Abstract: Physical synthesis for a circuit design can include determining, using a processor, features relating to a signal path of the circuit design not meeting a timing requirement, processing the features through a first neural network model using the processor, wherein the first neural network model is trained to indicate effectiveness of a first physical synthesis optimization, and selectively performing, using the processor, the first physical synthesis optimization for the signal path based upon a result from the first neural network model.

Abstract: A method of generating a physically unclonable function is described. The method comprises calculating a total variation associated with differences between a plurality of elements of an entropy source in an integrated circuit; calculating a global variation associated the plurality of elements of the entropy source; generating a local variation by removing the global variation associated with the plurality of elements from the total variation; and generating a unique signature based upon the generated local variation. A circuit for generating a physically unclonable function is also described.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device is described. The integrated circuit device comprises a substrate; a plurality of metal routing interconnect layers; an inductor formed in at least one metal layer of the plurality of metal routing interconnect layers; and a bottom metal layer between the plurality of metal routing interconnect layers and the substrate; wherein a pattern ground shield is formed in the bottom metal layer. A method of implementing an integrated circuit device is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus relating generally to an interposer is disclosed. In such an apparatus, the interposer has a plurality of conductors for coupling an integrated circuit die to the interposer to provide a stacked die. The interposer includes a pad coupled to a conductive network of the interposer to dissipate electrostatic charge from the interposer.

Abstract: High level synthesis for a circuit design may include detecting, using a processor, an encrypted, high level programming language (HLL) core for inclusion in a circuit design, decrypting, using the processor, the encrypted HLL core into volatile memory, and generating, using the processor, an encrypted, intermediate representation (IR) of the circuit design including an encrypted IR of the HLL core. An encrypted hardware description language (HDL) circuit design may be generated, using the processor, from the encrypted IR of the circuit design. The encrypted HDL circuit design includes an encrypted HDL core that is functionally equivalent to the encrypted HLL core.

Abstract: An example phase interpolator includes: a ring oscillator having a plurality of delay stages and a plurality of injection switches, each of the plurality of injection switches responsive to a differential reference clock signal and a first differential control signal; a supply control circuit configured to provide a regulated supply voltage to the ring oscillator in response to a first component of a second differential control signal; and a ground control circuit configured to provide a regulated ground voltage to the ring oscillator in response to a second component of the second differential control signal.

Abstract: Various apparatuses, circuits, systems, and methods for optical communication are disclosed. In some implementations an optical communication device includes an optical data port configured to support an optical fiber in a fixed position. The optical communication device may further include a plurality of optical communication circuits, each oriented to communicate optical signals at a respective position of a cross section of the optical fiber connected to the optical data port and a control circuit, responsive to optical signals communicated on the optical fiber connected to the optical data port and configured to determine ones of the plurality of optical communication circuits that are misaligned with the optical fiber and disable the determined ones of the plurality of optical communication circuits.

Abstract: Apparatus and method relating to voltage regulation is disclosed. In an apparatus thereof, an integrated circuit includes a first differential opamp having a first gain. The first differential opamp is configured to receive a reference voltage and a feedback voltage. A second differential opamp has a second gain less than the first gain. The second differential opamp is configured to receive the reference voltage and the feedback voltage. A driver transistor is configured to provide an output voltage at an output voltage node and to receive a gating voltage output from the second differential opamp. A differential output of the first differential opamp is configured for gating a current source transistor of the second differential opamp. A capacitor is connected to the driver transistor and the current source transistor.

Abstract: An intersymbol interference (ISI) compensation circuit includes a data input for receiving an input data signal including a plurality of bits. An adjustment circuit is configured to adjust bit periods of the bits to generate a first adjusted signal and a second adjusted signal. A sampling circuit is configured to generate a first sample signal by sampling the first adjusted signal, and generate a second sample signal by sampling the second adjusted signal. A decision generation circuit is configured to provide a first decision for a first bit. The first decision provides a chosen adjusted signal that is one of the first and second adjusted signals. A selection circuit is configured to determine a compensated value of the first bit based on a chosen sample signal that is one of the first and second sample signals. The chosen sample signal is generated by sampling the chosen adjusted signal.

Abstract: A pull-up leg of disclosed circuitry includes a pull-up pre-driver and a pull-up driver coupled to the pull-up pre-driver. A pull-down leg includes a pull-down pre-driver and a pull-down driver coupled to the pull-down pre-driver. An input/output pad is coupled between the pull-up driver and pull-down driver. A driver-and-termination control circuit is coupled to receive a tristate control signal, a termination control signal, and an input data signal. The driver-and-termination control circuit selects a drive mode, tristate mode, or termination mode in response to the tristate control signal and the termination control signal. The driver-and-termination control circuit drives a first data signal to the pull-up driver and drives a second data signal to the pull-down driver. The first and second data signals have equal logic states in the drive mode and have opposite logic states in the tristate and termination modes.

Abstract: An example integrated circuit (IC) system includes a package substrate having a programmable integrated circuit (IC) and a companion IC mounted thereon, the programmable IC including a programmable fabric and the companion IC including application circuitry. The IC system further includes a system-in-package (SiP) bridge including a first SiP IO circuit disposed in the programmable IC, a second SiP IO circuit disposed in the companion IC, and conductive interconnect on the package substrate electrically coupling the first SiP IO circuit and the second SiP IO circuit. The IC System further includes first aggregation and first dispersal circuits in the programmable IC coupled between the programmable fabric and the first SiP IO circuit. The IC system further includes second aggregation and second dispersal circuits in the companion IC coupled between the application circuitry and the second SiP IO circuit.

Abstract: A circuit for shifting an input common mode voltage is described. The circuit comprises a first current path configured to generate a first current between a reference voltage and a ground potential, the first current path having a first output; a second current path configured to generate a second current between the reference voltage and the ground potential, the second current path having a second output; a first bias current control circuit coupled to the first current path and the second current path, wherein the first bias control circuit is configured to receive the input voltage to control the current in the first current path and the second current path; and a second bias current control circuit coupled to the first current path and the second current path, wherein the second bias control circuit is configured to receive the input voltage to control the current in the first current path and the second current path. A method of shifting an input common mode voltage is also described.

Abstract: A receiver for processing a data stream includes: a bursty phase detector having a first voltage-controlled oscillator configured to provide a first VCO phase, a signal stream detector configured to provide a data stream phase and a data stream detect signal, and a delay component configured to receive the data stream; a clocking circuit coupled to receive an output of the delay component, the data stream phase, and the data stream detect signal, the clocking circuit configured to provide a second VCO phase at an output of the clocking circuit, wherein the clocking circuit is configured to operate based on a fractional relationship between a reference clock frequency and an output frequency; and a data sample selector with a first input coupled to the output of the delay component, and a second input coupled to the output of the clocking circuit.

Abstract: A method and a probe device for testing an interposer prior to assembly are described herein. The method includes coupling a plurality of probe tips of a probe device to the plurality of signal interconnect paths of the interposer to be tested. A test signal is provided from the probe device to the plurality of signal interconnect paths of the interposer and a quality characteristic of signal interconnect paths of the interposer is detected based on behavior of the interposer in response to the test signal.

Abstract: In an example, a circuit to manage memory between a first and second microprocessors each of which is coupled to a control circuit, includes: first and second memory circuits; and a switch circuit coupled to the first and second memory circuits, and memory interfaces of the first and second microprocessors, the switch circuit having a mode signal as input. The switch is configured to selectively operate in one of a first mode or a second mode based on the mode signal such that, in the first mode, the switch circuit couples the first memory circuit to the memory interface of the first microprocessor and the second memory circuit to the memory interface of the second microprocessor and, in the second mode, the switch circuit selectively couples the first or second memory circuits to the memory interface of either the first or second microprocessor.

Abstract: Techniques for efficient benchmarking. One method includes obtaining convergent results by performing a benchmarking test with a particular length to obtain a result (time), scaling the time exponentially, performing additional benchmarking tests, obtaining results for those tests, and determining whether the results scale linearly with length. Another method includes obtaining variance for non-convergent results by performing multiple sequences of benchmarking test. Within each new sequence performed, the benchmarking tests are spaced out further apart in time. If new maximum or minimum results are obtained, then further test sequences are performed and if no new maximum or minimum results are obtained after a threshold number of sequences, then the test ends. A device and computer-readable medium for performing benchmarking are also provided herein.

Abstract: Methods and circuits are disclosed for configuring an integrated circuit (IC) to implement a system design. In an example implementation, boot ROM code is executed on the processor circuit. The execution of the boot ROM code causes the processor circuit to determine settings used by the system design for communicating data via a communication circuit on the IC. The communication circuit is configured by the processor circuit according to the determined settings. In response to receiving one or more boot images by the processor circuit, via the configured communication circuit configured according to the determined settings, boot images are executed by the processor circuit. The execution of the boot images causes the processor circuit to configure the IC to implement the system design. During operation of the system design on the IC, data is communicated via the communication circuit configured according to the determined settings.

Abstract: A method relating generally to simulation is disclosed. In such a method, a first signal input and a second signal input are provided to a multiple clock domain object. The first signal input is for a first clock domain. The second signal input is for a second clock domain. The first clock domain is associated with a first frequency, and the second clock domain is associated with a second frequency different from the first frequency. The first signal input and the second signal input are converted to a common multiple clock frequency. A signal output is obtained from the multiple clock domain object responsive to the common multiple clock frequency. Switching activity is estimated for the multiple clock domain object. An output estimate associated with the switching activity estimated is output.