Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention a circuit that is to be coupled to a reference voltage line. The circuit includes a noise coupling circuit that is to couple noise from the circuit to a reference voltage line based upon whether a driver is driving a data line.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention a circuit that is to be coupled to a reference voltage line. The circuit includes a noise coupling circuit that is to couple noise from the circuit to a reference voltage line based upon whether a driver is driving a data line.

Abstract: A GTL I/O transceiver circuit having a pulsed latch receiver. A pulse generator generate a first pulse and a second pulse within the first pulse in response to a rising edge of the bus clock. The first pulse turns on the differential amplifier of the receiver circuit just long enough to provide a valid amplifier output signal. The second pulse controls a tristate latch such that the value of the amplifier output signal is latched before the differential amplifier is turned off. The pulsed latch receiver turns the differential amplifier on for only a fraction of the period of the bus clock such that power dissipation of the pulsed latch receiver circuit is significantly reduced. By using the pulsed latch receiver in VLSI components having hundreds of I/Os, significant reduction in overall component power dissipation can be achieved and static DC power is eliminated. The GTL I/O transceiver is useful for interfacing VLSI CMOS components to a terminated bus.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an integrated circuit is disclosed that includes a first input/output (I/O) circuit and a leakage detection circuit coupled to the first I/O circuit. In a test mode of operation, the leakage detection circuit tests the first I/O circuit for excessive leakage current. According to another embodiment, the integrated circuit also includes a first resistor coupled between a line voltage and the first I/O circuit and a second resistor coupled between the first I/O circuit and ground. Further, the integrated circuit includes a second I/O circuit coupled to the leakage detection circuit and the first and second resistors. The leakage circuit also tests the second I/O circuit for excessive leakage current in the test mode of operation.

Abstract: A circuit for reducing the effect of noise on signals. The circuit includes a plurality of information signal lines having a substantially matched routing, and a reference voltage line having a routing substantially matched to the routing of the plurality of information signal lines. The circuit further includes a transmitting agent coupled to the plurality of information signal lines and to the reference voltage signal line, including a noise coupling circuit for coupling noise from the transmitting agent to the reference voltage line.

Abstract: A GTL I/O transceiver circuit having a pulsed latch receiver. A pulse generator generates a first pulse and a second pulse within the first pulse in response to a rising edge of the bus clock. The first pulse turns on the differential amplifier of the receiver circuit just long enough to provide a valid amplifier output signal. The second pulse controls a tristate latch such that the value of the amplifier output signal is latched before the differential amplifier is turned off. The pulsed latch receiver turns the differential amplifier on for only a fraction of the period of the bus clock such that power dissipation of the pulsed latch receiver circuit is significantly reduced. By using the pulsed latch receiver in VLSI components having hundreds of I/Os, significant reduction in overall component power dissipation can be achieved and static DC power is eliminated. The GTL I/O transceiver is useful for interfacing VLSI CMOS components to a terminated bus.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a pulse clock signal for a multiple-stage synchronizer provides a pulse clock signal to a synchronizer. The synchronizer synchronizes data received in a first clock domain, which is referenced to a first clock signal, to a second clock domain, which is referenced to a second clock signal. The apparatus includes a synchronization pulse generator and a multiplexer. The synchronization pulse generator generates a synchronization pulse based on the first clock signal and the second clock signal. The multiplexer outputs one of either the first clock signal or the synchronization pulse as the pulse clock signal based on an input control signal.

Abstract: A GTL phased-output driver is provided which employs a pre-driver, a set of phasing elements or delay elements, and a set of output transistors. The pre-driver includes pull up devices, such as PMOS devices, and pull down devices, such as NMOS devices. The PMOS devices of the pre-driver are configured to route output transistor-triggering signals through the phasing elements in one direction whereas the NMOS devices are configured to route output transistor-releasing signals through the phasing devices in an opposite direction. Output transistors of differing sizes are employed. During a pull down operation, controlled by the PMOS pre-driver transistors, the output transistors are triggered sequentially in order from smallest to largest. During a pull up phase, controlled by the NMOS pre-driver transistors, the output transistors are released in a reverse order from largest to smallest. Hence, the largest transistor is triggered first during a pull down phase but is released last during a pull up phase.