Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing interference signals using multiphase clocks. An integrated circuit includes a digital circuit and an analog circuit. The digital circuit includes a derived clock circuit configured to receive a root clock having a frequency D*f, D being a divide factor, to divide the root clock by D, and generate multiphase clocks having N phases. N circuits of the digital circuit are configured to receive a corresponding one of the N phases, with edges of the multiphase clocks being spread over the N phases. The multiphase clocks cause a frequency shift in interference signals generated by reduced periodic peak currents drawn by the N circuits from f to N*f and harmonics thereof. The analog circuit receives an in-band range of signals. A value of N is configured to shift the interference signals outside the in-band range of signals.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing interference signals using multiphase clocks. An integrated circuit includes a digital circuit and an analog circuit. The digital circuit includes a derived clock circuit configured to receive a root clock having a frequency D*f, D being a divide factor, to divide the root clock by D, and generate multiphase clocks having N phases. N circuits of the digital circuit are configured to receive a corresponding one of the N phases, with edges of the multiphase clocks being spread over the N phases. The multiphase clocks cause a frequency shift in interference signals generated by reduced periodic peak currents drawn by the N circuits from f to N*f and harmonics thereof. The analog circuit receives an in-band range of signals. A value of N is configured to shift the interference signals outside the in-band range of signals.

Abstract: Techniques which allow a bit value stored/generated by integrated circuits to be changed by changing potentially only one of several masks used to fabricate the circuits. For example, when a single mask is to be re-designed to implement a design change (e.g., to fix minor bugs) and a version identifier is to be changed, the same mask can be used to implement the change in the version identifier as well. An embodiment allows the bit value to be changed any number of times by changing only one mask. As a result, the invention minimizes the number of masks that may need to be changed when implementing design changes.

Abstract: A method for transfer of digital data, comprising a succession of one values and zero values, across a capacitive interface. The interface includes a first capacitor and a second capacitor in parallel, linking a first circuit to a second circuit. First digital data is transferred from the first circuit to the second circuit, and a reference clock is provided by the first circuit and transmitted with the first data to the second circuit for recovery thereby. A first set of bi-level signals representing the zero values of the first data is applied to the first capacitor, such that a repeating level transition of the reference clock corresponds to a first level transition of the first set of bi-level signals. A second set of bi-level signals representing the one values of the first data is applied to the second capacitor, such that the repeating transition of the reference clock corresponds to a second level transition of the second set of bi-level signals. The clock and data are then recovered.

Abstract: Techniques which allow a bit value stored/generated by integrated circuits to be changed by changing potentially only one of several masks used to fabricate the circuits. For example, when a single mask is to be re-designed to implement a design change (e.g., to fix minor bugs) and a version identifier is to be changed, the same mask can be used to implement the change in the version identifier as well. An embodiment allows the bit value to be changed any number of times by changing only one mask. As a result, the invention minimizes the number of masks that may need to be changed when implementing design changes.

Abstract: In the design of an integrated circuit for comparing serial data signals, the number of transistor elements can be reduced by implementing the comparison gate (12) based on the associated truth table rather than by using a general comparison gate component. Using this method, an exclusive OR gate (22) can be implemented using two transistor elements (221, 222), an exclusive NOR gate (52) can be implemented using two transistor elements (521, 522), an AND gate (62) can be implemented using a single transistor element (621), and an OR gate (72) can be implemented using a single transistor element (721). The reduced number of elements used to implement the comparison gates can provide a transistor element saving in the associated circuit.

Abstract: In a dynamic random access memory unit 10, a circuit, 61.sub.0 -61.sub.N.sbsb.--.sub.1, 615, and 617, is provided in which a non-change of each address signal of an address signal group during a next consecutive clock cycle blocks the application of the read activation control signal to the memory unit 10. In this manner, the memory unit 10 is inactive (i.e., does not perform a read operation) during the modify portion of a read-modify-write operation so that potential conflicts in the operation of the memory unit 10 are avoided.