Abstract: A clock signal can be synthesized by performing a clock and data recovery (CDR) operation on a potentially noisy clock source signal which has a known transition density. The CDR operation produces a desired clock signal in response to the clock source signal. In order to reduce crosstalk between plesiochronous receive and transmit clock domains of a serial data transceiver, a single common PLL is used both to recover the receive clock from the received data and to synthesize the transmit clock from a potentially noisy transmit clock source signal.

Abstract: A data sampler including a first stage and a second stage. The first stage is configured to receive differential signals and provide a first edge rate in a first output signal and a second edge rate in a second output signal based on the differential signals. The second stage is configured to amplify the difference between the first output signal and the second output signal to provide regenerated output signals. The second stage provides a third edge rate in a first internal signal and a fourth edge rate in a second internal signal based on the first edge rate and the second edge rate.

Abstract: A signal converter circuit including an input circuit and an output circuit. The input circuit is configured to receive current mode logic signals and provide differential input signals based on the current mode logic signals. The output circuit is configured to receive the differential input signals and provide rail-to-rail output signals based on the differential input signals. The output circuit is configured to switch the rail-to-rail output signals in response to a common edge type in each of the differential input signals.

Abstract: An operational amplifier including a first current mirror, a second current mirror, and a differential pair of transistors. The differential pair of transistors are configured to receive two inputs to direct current through the first current mirror and the second current mirror. The first current mirror provides a first current to a first high impedance node and the second current mirror provides a second current to a second high impedance node.

Abstract: An electrical idle detection circuit including a full wave rectifier and a first amplifier. The full wave rectifier is configured to receive differential input signals and provide a rectified output signal based on the differential input signals. The first amplifier is configured to receive a first input signal based on the rectified output signal and a second input signal based on a reference signal. The first amplifier is configured to provide an output signal that indicates the differential input signals are one of active and in electrical idle based on the first input signal and the second input signal.

Abstract: A clock data recovery circuit includes a first circuit, a second circuit, and a third circuit. The first circuit is configured to receive data and a clock signal and to detect transitions in the data and provide a first signal based on the clock signal and the transitions in the data. The second circuit is configured to receive the first signal and provide a first shift signal based on the first signal. The third circuit is configured to receive the first shift signal, wherein the first circuit, the second circuit, and the third circuit are configured to form a first circuit loop and the third circuit is configured to disable the first circuit loop and shift the clock signal based on the first shift signal.

Abstract: An amplitude control circuit comprises a first circuit configured to receive differential signals and provide a first signal based on the amplitudes of the differential signals, a second circuit configured to receive a bias signal and provide a second signal based on the bias signal, and a third circuit configured to provide bias to the first circuit and the bias signal to the second circuit. The bias signal is set to provide selected amplitudes of the differential signals.

Abstract: An amplitude control circuit comprises a first circuit configured to receive differential signals and provide a first signal based on the amplitudes of the differential signals, a second circuit configured to receive a bias signal and provide a second signal based on the bias signal, and a third circuit configured to provide bias to the first circuit and the bias signal to the second circuit. The bias signal is set to provide selected amplitudes of the differential signals.

Abstract: A clock signal can be synthesized by performing a clock and data recovery (CDR) operation on a potentially noisy clock source signal which has a known transition density. The CDR operation produces a desired clock signal in response to the clock source signal. In order to reduce crosstalk between plesiochronous receive and transmit clock domains of a serial data transceiver, a single common PLL is used both to recover the receive clock from the received data and to synthesize the transmit clock from a potentially noisy transmit clock source signal.

Abstract: The capacitance between the gate of a transistor and local interconnect is reduced employing SiC as an etch stop layer. Embodiments include depositing a SiC etch stop layer having a thickness of about 500-1000 Å and a dielectric constant of less than about 3.2, thereby providing a composite dielectric constant between the gate and local interconnect of between about 3.7 to about 4.7. The SiC etch stop layer can be deposited by PECVD or HDP techniques.

Abstract: Air gap insulation regions are formed selectively within high parasitic capacitance regions in which conductive lines are closely proximate and generates an intolerable amount of parasitic capacitance. The selective formation of air gap insulation regions improves circuit performance by reducing the parasitic capacitance and device reliability by reducing the stress fracture problem of conventional air gap insulation schemes.

Abstract: A flip-flop circuit includes a differential stage coupled to a transparent latch. Respective sides of the differential stage, referred to as the “output side” and the “reference side,” are precharged high during a precharge phase. During an evaluation phase, the state of a data input signal is sensed. Depending upon the state of the data input signal, either the output side or the reference side is discharged. Also, during the evaluation phase, the transparent latch is enabled, and thereby samples and stores an output signal from the output side of the differential stage. Upon initiation of the next precharge phase, the transparent latch is quickly disabled (i.e., is placed in an opaque state), and retains its present state. Since only a single side of the differential stage is used to drive the transparent latch, the differential stage may advantageously be implemented in an asymmetric fashion.

Abstract: The capacitance between a gate electrode of a transistor and local interconnect is reduced by employing SiC sidewall spacers on the side surfaces of the gate electrode when forming the source/drain regions with shallow extensions. Embodiments include forming SiC sidewall spacers at a width of about 500 .ANG. to about 800 .ANG. having a dielectric constant of less than about 3.2, depositing a silicon oxide inter-dielectric layer, and forming the local interconnect through the inter-dielectric layer. The resulting composite dielectric constant between the gate electrode and local interconnect is about 4.2 to about 4.7.

Abstract: A high-performance dynamic flip-flop circuit implementation. The dynamic flip-flop circuit comprises an "implicit" one-shot to generate a delayed clock output (319). The flip-flop comprises a delay block (317) coupled to a clock input (305). The flip-flop may be a D-type flip-flop. In a positive-edge-triggered embodiment of the flip-flop, a falling edge (440) of the delayed clock output (319) follows a rising edge (444) of a clock signal after a delay period (448). The flip-flop clocks in new data at a data input (305) in response to the clock input (310) during this delay period (448). Data is held in a storage block (360). The flip-flop has extremely good transient characteristics, especially set-up and clock-to-output times. The flip-flop consumes no static power.

Abstract: A NOR gate pair includes a first and second NOR gate, each with a plurality of inputs and an output. A first NAND gate has a first input coupled to the output of the first NOR gate, a second input coupled to the output of the second NOR gate through a first input inverter, and an output. A second NAND gate has a first input coupled to the output of the second NOR gate, a second input coupled to the output of the first NOR gate through a second input inverter, and an output. A first output inverter is coupled to the output of the first NAND gate and a second output inverter is coupled to the output of the second NAND gate. This configuration assures that NOR gates used in a one-hot-decode decoder will all have logic-low outputs during a precharge phase.

Abstract: A circuit which protects an integrated circuit (IC) device from damage due to electrostatic discharge (ESD). The protection circuit includes an N-channel metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) clamping device and a gate modulation circuit. The source and drain of the MOSFET clamp are connected between an input/output (I/O) pad of the IC and a ground reference voltage. During normal operation of the IC, the gate modulation circuit disables the MOSFET clamp by connecting its gate terminal to a ground reference voltage. This permits signal voltages to pass between the I/O pad and any operating circuits connected to the pad. During an ESD event, the gate modulation circuit connects the gate to the I/O pad, which enables the MOSFET clamp, causing any ESD voltages and resulting currents to be shunted through the MOSFET clamp to ground. As a result, the ESD clamp reaches its clamped-to snapback voltage via an increase in MOSFET channel current, and not via junction breakdown.

Abstract: A high-performance flip-flop circuit implementation. The flip-flop circuit comprises an "implicit" one-shot to generate a delayed clock output (407). The flip-flop comprises a delay block (405) coupled to a clock input (210). The flip-flop may be a D-type flip-flop. In a positive-edge-triggered embodiment of the flip-flop, a falling edge (540) of the delayed clock output (407) follows a rising edge (544) of a clock signal after a delay period (548). The flip-flop clocks in new data at a data input (205) in response to the clock input (210) during this delay period (548). Data is held in a storage block (450). The flip-flop has extremely good transient characteristics, especially set-up and clock-to-output times. The flip-flop consumes no static power.

Abstract: A current-sensing static amplifier-based flip-flop is useful for high-performance VLSI circuitry. The flip-flop has a short latency and a small hold time, advantageous features in high-performance microprocessors. A flip-flop circuit includes an amplifier stage and a static stage. The amplifier stage has a data input terminal and a clock input terminal. The amplifier stage includes a dual-output amplifier having two output lines connected respectively to two current pulldown paths and a gate connected between the current pulldown paths. The static stage is connected to the amplifier stage and including a static latch.

Abstract: An output buffer with improved tolerance to overvoltage conditions. Among other features, especially when in a high-impedance state, the output buffer prevents a leakage path from a pad (108) through a pull-up driver (101) to supply voltage VDD when any voltage above VDD is placed on the pad (108). Further, the output buffer provides improved transient response characteristics. In one embodiment, the output buffer includes a pull-up driver (101), a first tracking transistor (120), a second tracking transistor (122), a voltage bias generator (112), and a coupling capacitor (124).

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.