Abstract: An apparatus and method for using electrical fuses (eFuses) to store phase-locked loop (PLL) configuration data are provided. With the apparatus and method, a portion of the eFuses present in the integrated circuit are reserved for the PLL configuration data. Upon power up, a power up controller and eFuse controller direct the sensing and serial transfer of the data in the portion of eFuses to the PLL under the reference clock. When the transfer is complete, the power up controller directs the PLL logic to load the configuration data and start. The mechanism of the present invention allows manufacturing to tailor the PLL configuration on a given device based on the characteristics of that device and its intended usage. Thus, the same PLL may be used in the same or different architectures to perform different operations based on the configuration data passed into the PLL from the eFuses.

Abstract: An information handling system including a frequency synthesizer lock detection system is disclosed that distributes a frequency synthesizer output signal across a distribution network to one or more receptor circuits. The distribution network may exhibit delay and other distortion that may cause the downstream signal arriving at the receptor circuit to lose frequency lock with both the frequency synthesizer output signal and a reference clock signal that controls the frequency of the synthesizer output signal. The lock detection system tests the downstream signal to determine if the downstream signal exhibits a lock with respect to the reference clock that determines the operating frequency of the frequency synthesizer. In this manner, lock of the downstream signal to the reference clock signal may be accurately assessed in one embodiment.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer lock detection system is disclosed that distributes a frequency synthesizer output signal across a distribution network to one or more receptor circuits. The distribution network may exhibit delay and other distortion that may cause the downstream signal arriving at the receptor circuit to lose frequency lock with both the frequency synthesizer output signal and a reference clock signal that controls the frequency of the synthesizer output signal. The lock detection system tests the downstream signal to determine if the downstream signal exhibits a lock with respect to the reference clock that determines the operating frequency of the frequency synthesizer. In this manner, lock of the downstream signal to the reference clock signal may be accurately assessed in one embodiment.