Abstract: An electrical system is provided. The electrical system comprises a first phase lock circuit embedded within a first chip for receiving a first periodic signal having a first frequency. The electrical system comprises a first buffering circuit embedded within the first chip for receiving a second periodic signal having the first frequency, wherein the first buffering circuit is configured to provide a third periodic signal having the first frequency to an output terminal of the first chip.

Abstract: A device includes a phase detector circuit, a charge pump circuit, a sample and hold circuit, a comparator, and a controller. The phase detector circuit detects a clock skew between a reference signal and an input signal. The charge pump circuit translates the clock skew into a voltage. A sample and hold circuit samples the voltage, at a first time, and maintain the sampled voltage until a second time. The comparator (i) detects a loop gain associated with the input signal based on the sampled voltage and the voltage at the second time and (ii) outputs a loop gain signal for adjustment of the input signal. The controller is coupled to the phase detector, the comparator, and the sample and hold circuit. The controller generates a plurality of control signals for automatically controlling operation of the phase detector, the comparator, and the sample and hold circuit.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are described herein for aligning a phase of a ring oscillator and removing jitter. An oscillator includes a resistor bank array, an operational amplifier, a first and second transistor, and a realignment circuit. The resistor bank array has a plurality of resistors configured to generate a first signal. The operational amplifier is coupled to a PLL circuit and is configured to compare a voltage of the PLL circuit with a voltage of the resistor bank array. The first transistor is coupled between the operational amplifier and a ring oscillator. The first transistor is configured to generate a second signal to control a frequency of the ring oscillator during a realignment state. The realignment circuit is coupled to the first transistor and the ring oscillator. The realignment circuit is configured to generate a realignment signal to align the ring oscillator with a first clock signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a phase locked loop. A phase/frequency detector is configured to receive a reference signal and a feedback signal. A charge pump is configured to receive outputs from the phase/frequency detector and to generate pulses. An oscillator is configured to generate an output waveform based on the charge pump pulses. A realignment path is configured to generate a clock realignment signal that is provided to the oscillator based on the outputs from the phase/frequency detector.

Abstract: A device includes a capacitive element that is coupled between first and second nodes and that includes a first well region, a second well region, and a transistor. The second well region is formed in the first well region, has a different conductivity type than the first well region, and is coupled to the second node. The transistor includes source and drain regions formed in the second well region and coupled to each other and to the second node, a channel region between the source and drain regions, and a gate region over the channel region. The first well region and the gate region are coupled to each other and to the first node, whereby a capacitance of the capacitive element is increased without substantially enlarging a physical size of the capacitive element.

Abstract: An electrical system is provided. The electrical system comprises a first phase lock circuit embedded within a first chip for receiving a first periodic signal having a first frequency. The electrical system comprises a first buffering circuit embedded within the first chip for receiving a second periodic signal having the first frequency, wherein the first buffering circuit is configured to provide a third periodic signal having the first frequency to an output terminal of the first chip.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for optimizing circuit design are disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes receiving a circuit design of an integrated circuit and identifying a first circuit design of a first subsystem of the IC and a second circuit design of a second subsystem of the IC. The first subsystem operates on a plurality of digital variable signals and the second subsystem operates on a plurality of analog variable signals. The method also includes synthesizing a first HDL netlist based on the first circuit design, synthesizing a second HDL netlist based on the second circuit design, and obtaining behaviors of the circuit design of the IC using a single HDL-based simulator with both the first HDL netlist and the second HDL netlist as inputs.

Abstract: An information handling system may include one or more illuminable icons to present information to a user of the system, such as information regarding a status of the information handling system. An illuminable icon may be lit by a plurality of light sources, and light from the plurality of light sources may be diffused across the illuminable icon by a light guide film. Some illuminable icons may have multiple portions that may be separately illuminated to convey different information to a user. An isolation block may prevent light from light sources configured to illuminate one portion of an illuminable icon from illuminating other portions of the illuminable icon. Thus, light for illuminating icons of an information handling system may be diffused and/or blocked to enhance aesthetic appeal of the icons and to prevent user confusion that may result from bleeding of light from one portion of an illuminable icon to another and/or uneven illumination of an icon.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a digitally controlled oscillator (DCO), two charge-sharing capacitors, two charge-sharing switches, two pre-charge switches, and two DACs. The DCO has a first inverter and a second inverter. A first charge-sharing capacitor has a first terminal coupled to an input terminal of the first inverter through a first charge-sharing switch. A first DAC has an output terminal coupled to the first terminal of the first charge-sharing capacitor through a first pre-charge switch. A second charge-sharing capacitor has a first terminal coupled to an input terminal or an output terminal of the second inverter through a second charge-sharing switch. A second DAC has an output terminal coupled to the first terminal of the second charge-sharing capacitor through a second pre-charge switch.

Abstract: Digital delay lock circuits and methods for operating digital delay lock circuits are provided. A phase detector is configured to receive first and second clock signals and generate a digital signal indicating a relationship between a phase of the first clock signal and a phase of the second clock signal. A phase accumulator circuit is configured to receive the digital signal and generate a phase signal based on values of the digital signal over multiple clock cycles. A decoder is configured to receive the phase signal and generate a digital control word based on the phase signal. A delay element is configured to receive the digital control word. The delay element is further configured to change the relationship between the phase of the first clock signal and the phase of the second clock signal by modifying the phase of the second clock signal according to the digital control word.

Abstract: A device includes a phase detector circuit, a charge pump circuit, a sample and hold circuit, a comparator, and a controller. The phase detector circuit detects a clock skew between a reference signal and an input signal. The charge pump circuit translates the clock skew into a voltage. A sample and hold circuit samples the voltage, at a first time, and maintain the sampled voltage until a second time. The comparator (i) detects a loop gain associated with the input signal based on the sampled voltage and the voltage at the second time and (ii) outputs a loop gain signal for adjustment of the input signal. The controller is coupled to the phase detector, the comparator, and the sample and hold circuit. The controller generates a plurality of control signals for automatically controlling operation of the phase detector, the comparator, and the sample and hold circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that comprises a first structure configured to be connected to a chassis, a second structure configured to be attached to the first structure, the second structure including at least one first connector and a damper disposed between the first structure and the second structure, the damper configured to allow the second structure to move in one dimension relative to the first structure when the first connector is moved in a direction to be coupled to a second connector that is not aligned with the first connector.

Abstract: Digital delay lock circuits and methods for operating digital delay lock circuits are provided. A phase detector is configured to receive first and second clock signals and generate a digital signal indicating a relationship between a phase of the first clock signal and a phase of the second clock signal. A phase accumulator circuit is configured to receive the digital signal and generate a phase signal based on values of the digital signal over multiple clock cycles. A decoder is configured to receive the phase signal and generate a digital control word based on the phase signal. A delay element is configured to receive the digital control word. The delay element is further configured to change the relationship between the phase of the first clock signal and the phase of the second clock signal by modifying the phase of the second clock signal according to the digital control word.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of generating precision phase skews is disclosed. In some embodiments, a phase skew generator includes: a charge pump having a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, wherein the first mode of operation provides a first current path during a first time period, and the second mode of operation provides a second current path during a second time period following the first time period; a sample and hold circuit, coupled to a capacitor, and configured to sample a voltage level of the capacitor at predetermined times and provide an output voltage during a third time period following the second time period; and a voltage controlled delay line, coupled to the sample and hold circuit, and having M delay line stages each configured to output a signal having a phase skew offset with respect to preceding or succeeding signal.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and circuits for determining a duty cycle of a periodic input signal are provided. A delay element is configured to delay the periodic input signal based on a digital control word. A digital circuit is configured to generate a first digital control word used to delay the periodic input signal a first amount of time corresponding to a period of the periodic input signal, generate a second digital control word used to delay the periodic input signal a second amount of time corresponding to a portion of the periodic input signal having a logic-level high value, and generate a third digital control word used to delay the periodic input signal a third amount of time corresponding to a portion of the periodic input signal having a logic-level low value. A controller is configured to determine the duty cycle based on the first, second, and third digital control words.

Abstract: A controlling circuit for ring oscillator is provided. A first transistor and a second transistor of a first conductive type are coupled in series and between a node and a first power source. A third transistor and a fourth transistor of a second conductive type are coupled in parallel and between the node and a second power source. The node is coupled to an input of a delay chain of the ring oscillator. The second and third transistors are coupled in series. Gates of the second and third transistors are configured to receive an output signal of the delay chain. When the first transistor is turned off and the fourth transistor is turned on, the node is pulled to a first logic level from a second logic level in order to align a phase of a waveform of the ring oscillator.

Abstract: A circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes a time-to-digital converter (TDC), and an evaluation circuit coupled to the TDC and a phase-locked loop (PLL) external to the circuit.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a phase locked loop. A phase/frequency detector is configured to receive a reference signal and a feedback signal. A charge pump is configured to receive outputs from the phase/frequency detector and to generate pulses. An oscillator is configured to generate an output waveform based on the charge pump pulses. A realignment path is configured to generate a clock realignment signal that is provided to the oscillator based on the outputs from the phase/frequency detector.

Abstract: An impedance measurement circuit and an operating method thereof are provided. The impedance measurement circuit includes a current source, a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), an operation circuit, and a first delay circuit. The current source, electrically connected to a power rail, is able to sink a current from the power rail according to the delayed clock signal. The VCO is configured to generate an oscillation signal according to a power voltage on the power rail. The operation circuit is electrically connected to the VCO and is configured to receive a sampling clock signal and the oscillation signal, sense the power voltage to generate a sampled signal, and accumulate the sampled signal to generate a measurement result. The first delay circuit, electrically connected to the current source and the operation circuit, is able to receive the sampling clock signal and transmit the delayed clock signal to the current source.

Abstract: An electrical system is provided. The electrical system comprises a first phase lock circuit embedded within a first chip for receiving a first periodic signal having a first frequency. The electrical system comprises a first buffering circuit embedded within the first chip for receiving a second periodic signal having the first frequency, wherein the first buffering circuit is configured to provide a third periodic signal having the first frequency to an output terminal of the first chip.