Abstract: An active power supply filter effectively eliminates power supply noise using a resistive element and a capacitive element coupled at a node, and a switch with a control terminal controlled by the node. The active power supply filter is suitable for high frequency operation of a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) in a phase-locked loop (PLL) of a high-speed microprocessor. The active power supply filter removes VCO noise that would otherwise create jitter that reduces the effective clock cycle of the microprocessor. The active power supply filter is similarly useful in applications other than VCOs, PLLs, and microprocessors in which removal of substantial amounts of noise from the power supply is useful.

Abstract: A circuit and operating technique acquires input write data available at the beginning of the first half cycle and passes the write data to read terminals, bypassing read data from a memory cell that is read during the first half cycle, while incurring no read access penalty. The circuit and operating technique bypass the input write data to the read terminal in place of data transferred from the memory cells. The data is forwarded to an node having a relatively large capacitance by connecting to the node very small devices with a small capacitance and with the small devices operating in saturation. The relatively large capacitance of the node is exploited to achieve a multiplexing functionality with effectively no delay.

Abstract: In a circuit that generates a plurality of dynamic signals in a self-resetting signal path, none of which may occur in some cycles, a handshake circuit generates a signal indicative of whether none of the signals occurred and incorporates the plurality of dynamic signals and the signal indicative that none of the signals occurred into a handshake signal. The handshake circuit generates a "normal operation" signal designating that one of the plurality of dynamic signals occurred. The handshake circuit also generates a "reset" signal indicative that none of the signals occurred.

Abstract: A multiple-bit comparator achieves a fast operating speed and accurate operation through the connection of multiple individual-bit comparison devices to a first line and the connection of a timing device to a second line. The first line and the second line are differentially sensed to generate a signal designating whether all bits match or not. In some embodiments, the replica timing device is timed using a timing signal replicating the application of data to the individual-bit comparison devices and generates a signal on the second line that is delayed in comparison to the multiple-bit comparison signal on the first line by reduced sizing of the timing device in comparison to the individual-bit comparison devices. In some embodiments, a differential comparator includes a sense amplifier that is self-timed rather than utilizing a strobe signal to supply timing. In some embodiments, the sense amplifier includes a cross-coupled device that sources current between differential sides of the sense amplifier.

Abstract: An active power supply filter effectively eliminates power supply noise using a resistive element and a capacitive element coupled at a node, and a switch with a control terminal controlled by the node. The active power supply filter is suitable for high frequency operation of a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) in a phase-locked loop (PLL) of a high-speed microprocessor. The active power supply filter removes VCO noise that would otherwise create jitter that reduces the effective clock cycle of the microprocessor. The active power supply filter is similarly useful in applications other than VCOs, PLLs, and microprocessors in which removal of substantial amounts of noise from the power supply is useful.

Abstract: A Self-Timed Pulse Control circuit and operating method is highly useful for adjusting delays of timing circuits to prevent logic races. In an illustrative example, the STPC circuit is used to adjust timing in self-timed sense amplifiers. The Self-Timed Pulse Control (STPC) circuit is integrated onto an integrated circuit chip along with the circuit structures that are timed using timing structures that are adjusted using STPC. The STPC is also advantageously used to modify the duty cycle of clocks, determine critical timing paths so that overall circuit speed is optimized, and adjusting dynamic circuit timing so that inoperable circuits become useful.

Abstract: A circuit and operating technique acquires input write data available at the beginning of the first half cycle and passes the write data to read terminals, bypassing read data from a memory cell that is read during the first half cycle, while incurring no read access penalty. The circuit and operating technique bypass the input write data to the read terminal in place of data transferred from the memory cells. The data is forwarded to an node having a relatively large capacitance by connecting to the node very small devices with a small capacitance and with the small devices operating in saturation. The relatively large capacitance of the node is exploited to achieve a multiplexing functionality with effectively no delay.

Abstract: A highly suitable power conservation technique involves extending multiple word lines over a memory array row and connecting a portion of the memory cells of the memory array row to each of the word lines. Power is supplied only to the portion of the memory cells that is accessed, eliminating the static power consumption of the non-accessed memory cells. By connecting multiple word lines to select a portion of a memory row, a column address of the memory is mapped into a row decode space. Multiple metal layers in a complex integrated circuit may be exploited to form cache block select lines using multiple word lines per cell row. A storage includes a plurality of storage cells arranged in an array of rows and columns, a plurality of bit lines connecting the array of storage cells into columns, and a plurality of word lines connecting the array of storage cells into rows.