Patents by Inventor Matthias Ringe

Matthias Ringe has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20190103861
    Abstract: A skew control loop circuit for controlling a skew between a plurality of digital signals, and a semiconductor device, and a method of operation, for the same, may be provided. The skew control loop circuit comprises a skew detector for detecting a phase difference between the digital signals, a skew control circuit adapted for controlling an operation of the skew control loop circuit. The skew control circuit is operable in a first operating mode and in a second operating mode. The skew control loop circuit comprises also an enable input of the skew detector, wherein the enable input is adapted for receiving an enable input signal, generated by the skew control circuit, wherein the enable input is adapted for selectively enable or disable a phase detection operation of the skew detector, and wherein the enable input signal is only active during the first operating mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Andreas H. A. Arp, Fatih Cilek, Michael V. Koch, Matthias Ringe
  • Publication number: 20190097619
    Abstract: Duty cycle correction devices for static compensation of an active clock edge shift. A duty cycle correction circuit in the duty cycle correction device corrects a clock input signal, according to a first control signal. A programmable delay circuit or a modified duty cycle correction circuit in the duty cycle correction device compensates a shift of an active clock edge in a clock output signal of the duty cycle correction circuit, according to a second control signal. A mapping circuit in the duty cycle correction device generates the second control signal by mapping a digital value of the first control signal and a digital value of the second control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Andreas H.A. Arp, Fatih Cilek, Michael V. Koch, Matthias Ringe
  • Publication number: 20190097616
    Abstract: Duty cycle correction devices for static compensation of an active clock edge shift. A duty cycle correction circuit in the duty cycle correction device corrects a clock input signal, according to a first control signal. A programmable delay circuit or a modified duty cycle correction circuit in the duty cycle correction device compensates a shift of an active clock edge in a clock output signal of the duty cycle correction circuit, according to a second control signal. A mapping circuit in the duty cycle correction device generates the second control signal by mapping a digital value of the first control signal and a digital value of the second control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Andreas H. A. Arp, Fatih Cilek, Michael V. Koch, Matthias Ringe
  • Publication number: 20190097618
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method of correcting duty cycle (DC) and compensating for active clock edge shift. In an embodiment, the system includes at least one control circuit to receive DCC control signals and to output at least one first adjustment signal, at least one second adjustment signal, at least one first correction signal, and at least one second correction signal, at least one adjustment circuit to change a DC value of an input clock signal, at least one correction circuit to compensate for a shift of an active clock edge of the input clock signal, and where one of the at least one adjustment circuit and the at least one correction circuit is to receive the input clock signal and wherein one of the at least one adjustment circuit and the at least one correction circuit is to transmit a corrected output clock signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Koch, Matthias Ringe, Andreas Arp, Fatih Cilek
  • Publication number: 20190097620
    Abstract: A duty cycle correction device may be provided for correcting a duty cycle of an input signal. The device includes a first duty cycle correction circuit. The first duty cycle correction circuit receives the input signal. The first duty cycle correction circuit generates a first intermediate signal. The device includes a first programmable delay circuit. The first programmable delay circuit is controlled by a first delay control signal. The first programmable delay circuit receives the first intermediate signal. The first programmable delay circuit generates an output signal. The device includes a second duty cycle correction circuit. The second duty cycle correction circuit receives the input signal. The second duty cycle correction circuit generates a second intermediate signal. The device includes a second programmable delay circuit. The second programmable delay circuit generates a reference signal. The device includes a skew control arrangement operable for generating the first delay control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Andreas H.A. Arp, Fatih Cilek, Michael V. Koch, Matthias Ringe
  • Publication number: 20190097617
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method of correcting duty cycle (DC) and compensating for active clock edge shift. In an embodiment, the system includes at least one control circuit to receive DCC control signals and to output at least one first adjustment signal, at least one second adjustment signal, at least one first correction signal, and at least one second correction signal, at least one adjustment circuit to change a DC value of an input clock signal, at least one correction circuit to compensate for a shift of an active clock edge of the input clock signal, and where one of the at least one adjustment circuit and the at least one correction circuit is to receive the input clock signal and wherein one of the at least one adjustment circuit and the at least one correction circuit is to transmit a corrected output clock signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Koch, Matthias Ringe, Andreas Arp, Fatih Cilek
  • Publication number: 20190020333
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a skew control circuit for controlling the skew between at least three clock signals, the clock signals being forwarded to different clock domains associated with the respective clock signals. The skew control circuit comprises multiple programmable delay elements arranged within a signal flow before the respective clock domain, a skew detector arrangement operable for detecting skews between at least two pairs of the clock signals, and a control circuit operable for adjusting delays caused by the programmable delay elements. The control circuit is operable for carrying out a de-skewing operation. The de-skewing operation comprises determining an order of occurrence of edges of the signals, selecting one of the programmable delay elements based on the determined order, and adjusting the delay caused by the selected programmable delay element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Michael V. Koch, Andreas H.A. Arp, Matthias Ringe, Fatih Cilek
  • Publication number: 20190020334
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a skew control circuit for controlling the skew between at least three clock signals, the clock signals being forwarded to different clock domains associated with the respective clock signals. The skew control circuit comprises multiple programmable delay elements arranged within a signal flow before the respective clock domain, a skew detector arrangement operable for detecting skews between at least two pairs of the clock signals, and a control circuit operable for adjusting delays caused by the programmable delay elements. The control circuit is operable for carrying out a de-skewing operation. The de-skewing operation comprises determining an order of occurrence of edges of the signals, selecting one of the programmable delay elements based on the determined order, and adjusting the delay caused by the selected programmable delay element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Michael V. Koch, Andreas H.A. Arp, Matthias Ringe, Fatih Cilek
  • Patent number: 10175297
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product for measuring a slew rate of a digital high speed repeating signal on-chip including, transforming the rising and the falling edges of the signal into a digital pulse signal each; and selecting the digital pulse signals corresponding either to the rising edge or to the falling edge of the signal. Further the method including converting the selected digital pulse signals into an average DC voltage equivalent to the pulse width of the respective digital pulse signal; as well as converting each DC voltage into a binary value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Fatih Cilek, Guenther Hutzl, Michael Koch, Christian I. Menolfi, Dieter Nissler, Matthias Ringe
  • Patent number: 10158351
    Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, a skew control circuit for controlling the skew between at least two digital signals is provided. The skew control circuit may include a pulse generator that may generate a pulse with a pulse width, whereby the pulse width of the pulse may depend on a skew between edges of the two digital signals. The skew control circuit may also include a pulse width sensor that may output a pulse width value that represents the pulse width of the generated pulse. The skew control circuit may further include a skew controller that may adjust a delay of the at least one of the digital signals based on a target skew value and the pulse width value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andreas H. A. Arp, Fatih Cilek, Michael V. Koch, Matthias Ringe
  • Patent number: 10148259
    Abstract: A skew control loop circuit for controlling a skew between a plurality of digital signals, and a semiconductor device, and a method of operation, for the same, may be provided. The skew control loop circuit comprises a skew detector for detecting a phase difference between the digital signals, a skew control circuit adapted for controlling an operation of the skew control loop circuit. The skew control circuit is operable in a first operating mode and in a second operating mode. The skew control loop circuit comprises also an enable input of the skew detector, wherein the enable input is adapted for receiving an enable input signal, generated by the skew control circuit, wherein the enable input is adapted for selectively enable or disable a phase detection operation of the skew detector, and wherein the enable input signal is only active during the first operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andreas H. A. Arp, Fatih Cilek, Michael V. Koch, Matthias Ringe
  • Publication number: 20180329448
    Abstract: Disclosed aspects relate to a clock distribution network of a synchronous logic device. The synchronous logic device has sub-circuits having different clock domains. The clock domains form a hierarchical structure. The clock distribution network has a clock source to provide a global clock signal. A programmable delay line associated with a sub-circuit generates a local clock signal for the sub-circuit by delaying the signal. A global skew control circuit can manage clock skew between the local clock signals. The global skew control circuit may adjust a delay, determine initial operations for the delay lines, verify whether it is possible to perform the initial operations, and perform a correction operation. The correction operation can include correcting the control commands such that the corrected commands lead to the same change of skew adjustment between the local clocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Andreas Arp, Andre Hertwig, Michael Koch, Matthias Ringe
  • Publication number: 20180331676
    Abstract: Disclosed aspects relate to a clock distribution network of a synchronous logic device. The synchronous logic device comprises multiple sub-circuits belonging to different clock domains. The clock distribution network comprises a clock source operable for providing a global clock signal, at least one programmable delay line associated with a certain sub-circuit operable for generating a local clock signal for said sub-circuit by delaying the global clock signal or a signal derived therefrom and a global skew control circuit for managing clock skew between the local clock signals. The global skew control circuit is operable for managing clock skew between at least some local clock signals by regularly adjusting the delay caused by at least one programmable delay line when in a deskewing operating mode, and disabling adjusting the delays of the programmable delay lines when in a locked operating mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Andreas Arp, Fatih Cilek, Michael Koch, Matthias Ringe
  • Publication number: 20180323773
    Abstract: An apparatus of performing a clock skew adjustment between at least first and second clock signals includes first and second skew sensors and a skew controller. The first skew sensor receives a third clock signal obtained by delaying the first clock signal by a first delay and a fourth clock signal obtained by delaying the second clock signal by a second delay, and generates first information based on the third and fourth clock signals. The second skew sensor receives a fifth clock signal obtained by delaying the first clock signal by a third delay and a sixth clock signal obtained by delaying the second clock signal by a fourth delay, and generates second information based on the fifth and sixth clock signals. Each of the first and second information varies depending on the clock skew. The skew controller performs the clock skew adjustment based on the first and second information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Andreas Arp, Fatih Cilek, Andre Hertwig, Michael Koch, Matthias Ringe
  • Patent number: 10110205
    Abstract: An apparatus of performing a clock skew adjustment between at least first and second clock signals includes first and second skew sensors and a skew controller. The first skew sensor receives a third clock signal obtained by delaying the first clock signal by a first delay and a fourth clock signal obtained by delaying the second clock signal by a second delay, and generates first information based on the third and fourth clock signals. The second skew sensor receives a fifth clock signal obtained by delaying the first clock signal by a third delay and a sixth clock signal obtained by delaying the second clock signal by a fourth delay, and generates second information based on the fifth and sixth clock signals. Each of the first and second information varies depending on the clock skew. The skew controller performs the clock skew adjustment based on the first and second information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andreas Arp, Fatih Cilek, Andre Hertwig, Michael Koch, Matthias Ringe
  • Patent number: 10063222
    Abstract: A duty cycle correction device may be provided for correcting a duty cycle of an input signal. The device includes a first duty cycle correction circuit. The first duty cycle correction circuit receives the input signal. The first duty cycle correction circuit generates a first intermediate signal. The device includes a first programmable delay circuit. The first programmable delay circuit is controlled by a first delay control signal. The first programmable delay circuit receives the first intermediate signal. The first programmable delay circuit generates an output signal. The device includes a second duty cycle correction circuit. The second duty cycle correction circuit receives the input signal. The second duty cycle correction circuit generates a second intermediate signal. The device includes a second programmable delay circuit. The second programmable delay circuit generates a reference signal. The device includes a skew control arrangement operable for generating the first delay control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andreas H. A. Arp, Fatih Cilek, Michael V. Koch, Matthias Ringe
  • Publication number: 20180189437
    Abstract: In an approach for generating a file, a computer generates a modified layout for an integrated circuit. The computer receives a draft layout for an integrated circuit. The computer identifies a resonator, wherein the resonator comprises a capacitor connected to ground and an inductor connected to a clock grid. The computer creates alternative resonator wiring of the received draft layout associated with the identified resonator. The computer generates a modified draft layout based on the created alternative resonator wiring for the integrated circuit. The computer causes manufacture of an integrated circuit based on the generated modified draft layout.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Andreas H.A. Arp, Michael Koch, Matthias Ringe
  • Patent number: 9953124
    Abstract: In an approach for generating a file, a computer generates a modified layout for an integrated circuit. The computer receives a draft layout for an integrated circuit. The computer identifies a resonator, wherein the resonator comprises a capacitor connected to ground and an inductor connected to a clock grid. The computer creates alternative resonator wiring of the received draft layout associated with the identified resonator. The computer generates a modified draft layout based on the created alternative resonator wiring for the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andreas H. A. Arp, Michael Koch, Matthias Ringe
  • Patent number: 9916409
    Abstract: In an approach for generating a file, a computer generates a modified layout for an integrated circuit. The computer receives a draft layout for an integrated circuit. The computer identifies a resonator, wherein the resonator comprises a capacitor connected to ground and an inductor connected to a clock grid. The computer creates alternative resonator wiring of the received draft layout associated with the identified resonator. The computer generates a modified draft layout based on the created alternative resonator wiring for the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventors: Andreas H. A. Arp, Michael Koch, Matthias Ringe
  • Publication number: 20180069540
    Abstract: An apparatus of performing a clock skew adjustment between at least first and second clock signals includes first and second skew sensors and a skew controller. The first skew sensor receives a third clock signal obtained by delaying the first clock signal by a first delay and a fourth clock signal obtained by delaying the second clock signal by a second delay, and generates first information based on the third and fourth clock signals. The second skew sensor receives a fifth clock signal obtained by delaying the first clock signal by a third delay and a sixth clock signal obtained by delaying the second clock signal by a fourth delay, and generates second information based on the fifth and sixth clock signals. Each of the first and second information varies depending on the clock skew. The skew controller performs the clock skew adjustment based on the first and second information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Andreas Arp, Fatih Cilek, Andre Hertwig, Michael Koch, Matthias Ringe