Abstract: A system and method for configuring a receiver such that the duty cycle of the receiver clock accurately matches the duty cycle of the data signal received. This adaptive system and method calibrates a receiver's duty cycle to optimize the receiver timing margin for different data signal types and different slave devices. In one embodiment, a duty cycle correction circuit matches the receiver clock to a predetermined duty cycle. The receiver clock is then configured to have a duty cycle skewed from the predetermined duty cycle based on the specific data signal received. In a receiver system utilizing a clock tree, individual branches of the clock tree are configured to have respective duty cycles skewed to match the duty cycle of a data signal received from a specific transmitting device.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device having a select circuit, a summing circuit and a phase mixer. The select circuit selects one of a plurality of offset values as a selected offset. The summing circuit sums the selected offset with a phase count value, the phase count value indicating a phase difference between a reference clock signal and a first plurality of clock signals. The phase mixer combines the first plurality of clock signals in accordance with the sum of the selected offset and the phase count value to generate an output clock signal.

Abstract: A circuit and method for interfacing to a bus via an on-die termination pad are shown. The present invention derives an output low reference voltage from an external terminating voltage and an external reference voltage corresponding to the middle of a logic voltage range. A feedback loop is used to compare a voltage at the pad to the output low reference voltage. An on-die termination current sourced to the pad is adjusted accordingly. This allows the present invention to adapt to a variety of external termination voltages. Further, the output low reference voltage is utilized to generate a reference current sourced to an output amplifier, which causes the output swing of the amplifier to track along with the external terminating voltage and the external reference voltage. In another aspect of the present invention, an alternating pattern of logic high and logic low voltage values is transmitted at the pad and received.

Abstract: A circuit and method for level-shifting an input signal are disclosed that provide for level-shifting of a the input signal where an external voltage level is greater than an internal voltage of the signal. In the present invention, the input signal is compared to a reference signal to produce a differential current signal reflecting the logic level of the input signal. The differential current signal is reflected through a pair of current mirrors operating from the external voltage level to drive a pair of resistive loads. Each of the resistive loads is coupled in series with a current sink between the internal supply voltage and a ground voltage. As a result, the input signal may be received and level-shifted with gain even when the internal supply voltage is less than twice a transistor threshold voltage without introducing significant distortion to the received signal.

Abstract: An improved, open-loop push-pull driver is described. Closed-loop feedback loop techniques for control of the push-pull driver are described. These techniques are particularly well adapted to control shoot-through current in a push-pull driver circuit.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a receiver, a register and a clock circuit. The receiver samples data from an external signal line in response to an internal clock signal. The register stores a value that represents a timing offset to adjust the time at which the data is sampled. The clock circuit generates the internal clock signal such that the internal clock signal maintains a controlled timing relationship with respect to an external clock signal. The clock circuit includes an interpolator that phase mixes a set of reference clock signals such that the internal clock signal is phase offset in accordance with the value.

Abstract: A system includes a first integrated circuit device and a second integrated circuit device. The first device transmits a data sequence to the second integrated circuit device, and the second device samples the data sequence to produce receiver data. The second device then transmits the receiver data back to the first device. Within the first integrated circuit device, a comparison between the data sequence and the receiver data is performed, and based on the comparison, the first device generates information representative of a calibrated timing offset. The first device uses the information representative of the calibrated timing offset to adjust timing associated with transferring write data from the first integrated circuit to the second integrated circuit.

Abstract: Adjusting a clock duty cycle. An incremental error signal is generated in response to the clock signal. A cumulative error signal is generated in response to the incremental error signal. The incremental error signal is reset and the duty cycle of the clock signal is adjusted in response to the cumulative error signal.

Abstract: A bus system comprising a master connected to one or more slave devices via a bus is disclosed. The bus system is able to effectively communicate control information during a calibration phase and to individually determine appropriate timing and/or voltage offsets for each slave device. The offsets are used to optimize transfer timing (including duty cycle characteristics), signal equalization, and voltage levels for data exchanged between the master and the slave devices.

Abstract: A duty cycle correction circuit operates by alternately speeding and slowing successive transitions of an input clock signal. By altering the rising and falling edge rates of a clock signal asymmetrically, the duty cycle of the clock signal is adjusted without shifting the DC level of the clock signal. In one embodiment, the duty cycle correction circuit includes current sources in place of resistive loads to avoid shifting the DC level of output clock signals. Frequency-dependent current sources that generate increased bias currents at higher frequency are used to achieve duty cycle correction over a broad range of input frequencies.

Abstract: A circuit and method for interfacing to a bus via an on-die termination pad are shown. The present invention derives an output low reference voltage from an external terminating voltage and an external reference voltage corresponding to the middle of a logic voltage range. A feedback loop is used to compare a voltage at the pad to the output low reference voltage. An on-die termination current sourced to the pad is adjusted accordingly. This allows the present invention to adapt to a variety of external termination voltages. Further, the output low reference voltage is utilized to generate a reference current sourced to an output amplifier, which causes the output swing of the amplifier to track along with the external terminating voltage and the external reference voltage. In another aspect of the present invention, an alternating pattern of logic high and logic low voltage values is transmitted at the pad and received.

Abstract: A circuit and method for level-shifting an input signal are disclosed that provide for level-shifting of a the input signal where an external voltage level is greater than an internal voltage of the signal. In the present invention, the input signal is compared to a reference signal to produce a differential current signal reflecting the logic level of the input signal. The differential current signal is reflected through a pair of current mirrors operating from the external voltage level to drive a pair of resistive loads. Each of the resistive loads is coupled in series with a current sink between the internal supply voltage and a ground voltage. As a result, the input signal may be received and level-shifted with gain even when the internal supply voltage is less than twice a transistor threshold voltage without introducing significant distortion to the received signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an adjustable phase interpolator is provided. The adjustable phase interpolator includes a phase interpolator circuit that has a voltage input and a voltage output. The adjustable phase interpolator further includes a controllable capacitive load coupled to either the input or the output of the phase interpolator circuit. The controllable capacitive load is designed to add or subtract capacitance to the adjustable phase interpolator.