With Digital Element Patents (Class 327/150)
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Patent number: 8179173Abstract: An electronic circuit for distributing a clock signal to several clock destinations includes phase adjustment circuits for adjusting phase shifts of the clock at the respective one of the clock destinations responsive to a respective DC voltage feedback signal receive from the respective one of the clock destinations; phase detectors for detecting a phase shift of the clock signal at the respective one of the clock destinations according to a nearest neighbor clock destination; loop filters for generating and transmitting respective DC voltage feedback signals; current sources, each configured to receive the respective DC voltage feedback signal and output a respective current to a respective one of the phase adjustment circuits according to said respective DC voltage feedback signals to adjust the phase shift of the clock signal for the respective one of the clock destinations.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2010Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Erick M. Hirata, Lloyd F. Linder
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Patent number: 8154329Abstract: A frequency generation unit is provided that permits a receiver to tune from channel to channel without cycle skipping and in which compensation for phase offset introduced during tuning is provided. The frequency generation unit includes a fractional-N synthesizer, a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), and a direct digital synthesizer (DDS). The fractional-N synthesizer generates frequencies from the VCO as well as a temperature controlled crystal oscillator. Outputs from the fractional-N synthesizer are supplied both the VCO and the DDS to control the VCO and DDS. The combination of the voltage controlled oscillator and fractional-N synthesizer is perpetually locked. The fractional-N synthesizer is maintained in a locked condition. The VCO output is provided to the DDS. An output from the DDS or from the fractional-N synthesizer forms the output signal of the frequency generation unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2009Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Lawrence M. Ecklund, Robert E. Stengel
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Patent number: 8149035Abstract: Controlling a PLL includes providing a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) and coupling an output of the VCO to a shifter circuit. The shifter circuit has a shifter circuit output, the shifter circuit also including an activation input for receiving an activation signal, the shifter circuit causing at least one pulse of the output signal to be suppressed at the shifter output upon receipt of the activation signal. Controlling also includes coupling the shifter circuit output to a first frequency divider.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2010Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: James Eckhardt, Shiu Chung Ho, Paul D. Muench, Scot H. Rider
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Patent number: 8120400Abstract: A Phase Locked Loop circuit, includes: a main path through which an input signal is propagated, and an actual signal is output; a main feedback path through which the actual signal is fed back to an input stage of the main path; and a local feedback path through which feedback is carried out from a path middle of the main path to a path middle of an input stage side; the main path including a phase detector, a loop filter, and a controlled oscillator, and the local feedback path including a replica portion, a delay portion, a first subtracter, and a second subtracter.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2010Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Yuji Gendai
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Patent number: 8106692Abstract: A method for tracking a delay locked loop (DLL) clock is described. An external clock signal is allowed to pass through delay cells of a DLL during a first period of the external clock signal when a transition edge of a track signal applied on the DLL occurs. Then, when a transition edge of a sensing signal applied on the DLL occurs at a start of a second period of the external clock signal, the external clock signal is inhibited to pass through the delay cells and the number of the delay cells through which the external signal pass during the first period of the external clock signal is counted. When a reset signal is asserted, a delay time of each delay cell is reset such that a ratio of the delay time to the period of the external clock signal is kept from 10% to 15%.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2010Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: Elite Semiconductor Memory Technology Inc.Inventor: Chung-Zen Chen
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Patent number: 8098786Abstract: In a reception apparatus 1, a multiphase sampling clock signal is generated by a sampling clock signal generation circuit 40, based on a clock signal which has been phase-adjusted by a phase adjustment circuit 50. The data of each of the bits of a serial data signal is sampled and output by a sampler block circuit 30n, with timing indicated by the sampling clock signal. The amount of phase adjustment of the clock signal in the phase adjustment circuit 50 is set such that the delay time from generation of the multiphase sampling clock signal in the sampling clock signal generation circuit 40 until indication of the sampling timing by the sampling clock signal in the sampler block circuit 30n is canceled.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2008Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignee: Thine Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Kazuyuki Omote, Ryutaro Saito
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Patent number: 8093933Abstract: A method for fast tracking and jitter improvement in an asynchronous sample rate conversion includes a digital phase locked loop (DPLL) for an asynchronous sample rate conversion (ASRC) device. A control apparatus in the DPLL includes a gain controller that sets and maintains gains (Ki, Kp) of two branches of the control apparatus at a fixed value, which enables searching of a desired value by the DPLL to determine a neighborhood of the desired value, and reduces the gains when the number of samples reaches a predetermined number. Processing units in the DPLL generate and process first and second input signals based on an input clock, an output clock, and a system clock. The second input signal is processed using two branches. Signals resulting from the two branches are re-aligned according to a changed status of the first processed input signal such that the signals resulting from the two branches are sampled in the same input clock interval.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2009Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Yong Wang, Odi Dahan, Zheng Wu, Jianbin Zhao
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Patent number: 8058915Abstract: A digital phase-locked loop and a digital phase-frequency detector thereof are provided. The digital PFD includes a divisor switch unit, a low-resolution phase-error detecting unit, an accumulating unit, a high-resolution phase-error detecting unit, a constant unit, and a selector. The divisor switch unit receives and removes partial pulses of a feedback signal for obtaining a feedback clock. The low-resolution phase-error detecting unit detects phase error between a reference signal and the feedback clock to obtain a phase-error pulse width. The accumulating unit accumulates the feedback signal during the phase-error pulse width for obtaining an output selection signal. The high-resolution phase-error detecting unit detects phase error between the reference signal and the feedback signal to obtain a phase-error value. The constant unit provides at least one constant value. The selector selects and outputs one of the phase-error value and the constant value according to the output selection signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2009Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Industrial Technology Research InstituteInventors: Huan-Ke Chiu, Tzu-Chan Chueh
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Patent number: 8037336Abstract: The present disclosure provides a spread spectrum clock generation system having a digitally controlled phase locked loop (PLL) and a digital frequency profile generator to create a near optimal frequency modulation profile for the purpose of achieving spectral flatness in the output frequency modulated clock. The circuit is combined with a multilevel error feedback noise shaping structure that provides the required noise transfer function for the quantization noise but maintains a unity gain all pass signal transfer function. This arrangement offers minimal degradation of the in-band signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the cost of higher out-of-band noise.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2007Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignee: STMicroelectronics PVT, Ltd.Inventor: Nitin Chawla
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Patent number: 8022738Abstract: An apparatus is provided for detecting the loss of an input clock signal for a phase-locked loop (PLL). The apparatus includes a time delay circuit, a first frequency divider and a digital logic circuit. The time delay circuit receives the input clock signal and outputs a first time-delayed clock signal. The first frequency divider receives an input signal from an internal clock of the PLL and outputs a clock signal having the same frequency or a lower frequency than that of the time-delayed clock signal. The digital logic circuit that receives the first frequency divider output signal and the first time-delayed clock signal and outputs a signal indicating the loss of the input clock signal if there is no first time-delayed clock signal for a cycle of the first frequency divider output signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2009Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: Integrated Device Technology, Inc.Inventor: Tao Jing
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Patent number: 8024686Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for retiming of multirate system for clock period minimization with a polynomial time without sub-optimality. In an embodiment, a normalized factor vector for the nodes of multirate graph is introduced, allowing the formulation of the multirate graph retiming constraints to a form similar to a single rate graph. In an aspect, the retiming constraints are formulated to allowed the usage of linear programming methodology instead of integer linear programming, thus significantly reducing the complexity of the solving algorithm. The present methodology also uses multirate constraints, avoiding unfolding to single rate equivalent, thus avoiding graph size increase. In a preferred embodiment, the parameters of the multirate system are normalized to the normalized factor vector, providing efficient algorithm in term of computational time and memory usage, without any sub-optimality.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2008Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.Inventors: Mustafa Ispir, Levent Oktem
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Patent number: 8000430Abstract: A delay locked loop operates over a wide range of frequencies and has high accuracy, small silicon area usage, low power consumption and a short lock time. The DLL combines an analog domain and a digital domain. The digital domain is responsible for initial lock and operational point stability and is frozen after the lock is reached. The analog domain is responsible for normal operation after lock is reached and provides high accuracy using smaller silicon area and low power.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2007Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Mosaid Technologies IncorporatedInventors: Peter Vlasenko, Dieter Haerle
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Patent number: 7965115Abstract: A phase locked loop includes a digital controlled oscillator and a number of phase detectors, each having a first input connected to a reference source and a second input coupled to the output of the digital controlled oscillator, and an output for producing a phase error signal. A loop filter coupled to the output of each phase detector has an output and a feedback input. An adjustment unit for derives an adjustment signal for the digital controlled oscillator from one or more of the loop filters by selecting or combining output signals from the loop filters taking into account the stability of said reference sources. The adjustment signal for the digital controlled oscillator produced by the adjustment unit is coupled to each of the feedback inputs of the loop filters. This arrangement results in hitless reference switching.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2009Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: Zarlink Semiconductor Inc.Inventor: Qu Gary Jin
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Patent number: 7948288Abstract: A phase determination section determines the quantity of first fixed delay elements for delaying a clock signal by one cycle and generates a selection signal indicating the determination result. A phase adjustment section determines, based on the selection signal, the quantity of second fixed delay elements for delaying an input signal and generates the output signal by delaying the input signal by a certain phase amount. The phase adjustment section includes a variable delay unit which generates, based on the selection signal, a variable delay time allowing the delay time of the output signal to be adjusted in steps of ½n the delay time of one of the second fixed delay elements.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2009Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor LimitedInventor: Yoshikazu Miyamoto
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Patent number: 7948290Abstract: An input clock dividing unit frequency-divides an input clock, and an input clock multiplying unit frequency-multiplies the input clock. An operation clock selecting unit selects the frequency-divided clock when the input clock is fast and selects the frequency-multiplied clock when the input clock is slow, based on the frequency detection result of frequency detecting unit. The operation clock selecting unit then outputs the selected clock to a phase comparing unit as an operation clock. The phase comparing unit operates according to the frequency-divided or frequency-multiplied clock, and controls an oscillating unit so that the phase difference between a reference signal and a comparison signal becomes zero. The phase of an output clock is thus caused to track the phase of the reference signal.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2008Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Syuji Kato
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Patent number: 7940099Abstract: An all-digital phase locked loop (ADPLL) generates a feedback word representing a continuous-time oscillating signal. The ADPLL includes a time-to-digital converter (TDC) configured to be input with the continuous-time oscillating signal and a reference signal. The reference signal is a function of a reference clock signal. The TDC is configured to generate a digital word, the feedback word being a function of the digital word. The ADPLL includes a delay circuit configured to be input with at least one of the reference clock signal and the continuous-time oscillating signal and to be controlled by a first dither signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2009Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.Inventors: Colin Weltin-Wu, Enrico Stefano Temporiti Milani, Daniele Baldi
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Patent number: 7911241Abstract: A frequency synthesizer circuit that reduces undesired spurious sidebands while maintaining phase noise performance having a phase locked loop circuit comprising at least a phase detector, a controlled oscillator, a frequency divider coupled to the controlled oscillator for adjusting a frequency division of the frequency divider in response to a received control signal generated from a divisor value, a dithering circuit for providing a dither signal, and a sigma-delta modulator comprising an input for receiving a multi-bit input signal indicative of at least part of the divisor value. The input of the sigma-delta modulator is coupled with the dithering circuit for receiving the dither signal as a most significant bit of the multi-bit input signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2009Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: STMicroelectronics Design and Application GmbHInventor: Sebastian Zeller
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Patent number: 7880519Abstract: A delay synchronization loop type clock signal generating circuit includes: a digital delay line for delaying a first clock signal and generating a second clock signal; a ring-type shift register for setting the delay time length of the digital delay line by flip-flop output of each stage thereof; and a delay amount control unit for controlling supply of shift clocks to the ring-type shift register, based on phase relation between the first clock signal and the second clock signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2008Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Michiru Senda, Hiroshi Mizuhashi
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Patent number: 7863952Abstract: A technique to mitigate noise spikes in an electronic circuit device such as an integrated circuit. The clock frequency of a clock signal used by the electronic circuit is controlled such that instantaneously large changes to the clock frequency are avoided by use of a frequency filter that is capable of generating frequency ramps having a linear slope which is used as a feedback signal in a digital phase-locked loop clock circuit in lieu of a discrete, stair-stepped feedback control signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2008Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Daniel Joseph Friedman, Alexander V. Rylyakov, Jose A. Tierno
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Patent number: 7848473Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for generating phase controlled data, based on a roaming tap interpolator. The present invention recognizes that roaming tap interpolators have inherent nonlinearities and discontinuities at the boundaries of each interpolation region. A roaming tap interpolator is disclosed that shifts the interpolation curve in time in order to avoid the undesired artifacts in the interpolation curve. A roaming tap interpolator generally comprises a plurality of delay elements that delays a first signal to generate a plurality of interpolation regions each having an associated phase; a multiplexer to select one or more of the interpolation regions; and an interpolator to process the selected one or more of the interpolation regions to generate a second signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2004Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.Inventors: Ronald L. Freyman, Vladimir Sindalovsky, Lane A. Smith
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Patent number: 7834674Abstract: A delay circuit includes a delay line unit including a plurality of delay units configured to generate a plurality of delay input clocks by delaying an input clock by a unit delay amount in response to at least one delay control signal; and a signal selection unit configured to selectively output at least one of the plurality of delay input clocks in response to the delay control signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2008Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.Inventor: Kwang-Jun Cho
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Patent number: 7826582Abstract: A system and method for performing output clock phase smoothing. A phase smoothing circuit is described and includes a numerically-controlled oscillator (NCO) configured to produce a plurality of NCO clock pulses at a selectable frequency that is based on an input clock. Edges of the plurality of NCO clock pulses are aligned to edges of the input clock. A phase error calculation module is coupled to the NCO and is configured to generate a corresponding phase error for each of the plurality of NCO clock pulses. A clock phase selectable delay is coupled to the phase error calculation module and is configured to adjust each of the plurality of NCO clock pulses according to the corresponding phase error to generate an output clock at the selectable frequency that are phase-adjusted to more closely match an ideal output clock phase. Edges of the output clock need not necessarily align to the edges of the input clock.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2006Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: National Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Mark D. Kuhns, Daniel L. Simon
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Patent number: 7791385Abstract: A spread spectrum clock generating apparatus is disclosed. The spread spectrum clock generating apparatus includes a phase lock loop module and a spread spectrum module. The phase lock loop module is used for dynamically tuning frequency of an output clock. The spread spectrum module includes a counter, a plurality of delta-sigma counters and a data shifter. These delta-sigma counters accumulate input signals, and enable a first overflow signal while accumulation of a last stage delta-sigma counter is overflowed. The frequency of the output clock can be tuned dynamically according to the first overflow signal, and the spectrum of the output clock can be spread.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2008Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: Industrial Technology Research InstituteInventors: Hong-Yi Huang, Li-Wei Huang, Yuan-Hua Chu
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Patent number: 7759993Abstract: Techniques for converting an accumulated phase of a signal into a digital value in a digital phase-locked loop (DPLL). In an exemplary embodiment, a signal is coupled to a divide-by-N module that divides the frequency of the signal down by a divider ratio N. The divided signal is input to a delta phase-to-digital converter, which measures the phase difference between a rising edge of the divided signal and a rising edge of a reference signal. The accumulated divider ratios and the measured phase differences are combined to give an accumulated digital phase. Further techniques for varying the divider ratio N using a sigma-to-delta modulator are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2008Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventor: Gang Zhang
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Patent number: 7755403Abstract: An apparatus for setting an operation mode in a DLL circuit generates a locking completion signal according to a level of a phase comparing signal obtained by comparing phases of a reference clock and a feedback clock. During three or more cycles of a pulse signal, it is determined whether a logic value of levels of the phase comparing signal is a specific combination, and the locking completion signal is selectively enabled.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2007Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.Inventors: Won-Joo Yun, Hyun-Woo Lee, Nak-Kyu Park
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Patent number: 7724862Abstract: The phase locked loop (PLL) with adjustable phase shift is described. The PLL includes a voltage controlled oscillator which is capable of generating multiple phase shifted output signals, and multiple phase detectors capable of determining the phase differences between the output signals and a reference clock. The PLL further includes a weighting device capable of weighting the phase differences and generating a control signal for the voltage controlled oscillator.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2008Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Christian Ivo Menolfi, Thomas Helmut Toifl
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Patent number: 7724048Abstract: A circuit for receiving an input signal having a first frequency and generating an output signal having a second frequency. The circuit comprises a forward branch for receiving the input signal and generating the output signal and a return branch for generating a feedback signal from the output signal. The forward branch comprises a frequency detector for receiving the input signal and the feedback signal and outputting a value based on a ratio of a frequency of the feedback signal to the first frequency; a word length reduction block for receiving a fractional component of a first division factor and generating a modulated output; an adder for forming a sum of an integer component of the first division factor and the modulated output of the word length reduction block; a subtracting element for subtracting the output value of the frequency detector from the sum; and an oscillator controlled by an output from the subtracting element.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2008Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Wolfson Microelectronics plcInventor: John Paul Lesso
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Patent number: 7693248Abstract: A timing recovery system and method for accelerated clock synchronization of remotely distributed electronic devices is provided. The system includes a phase locked loop, a linear estimator and control logic. The method includes sampling a clock signal received from an electronic device, applying a linear estimation technique to estimate the frequency and phase of the received signal and providing those estimates to a phase locked loop to accelerate the phase locked loop acquisition rate and secure signal lock quickly.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2006Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Broadcom CorporationInventors: Kevin Miller, Anders Hebsgaard
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Patent number: 7671644Abstract: A delay line including a phase detector having two inputs and one output. The first input of the phase detector is connected to an input of the delay line. The second input of the phase detector is connected to an output of the delay line. The output of the phase detector is connected to a control circuit which controls current flow at a control node to produce a control voltage at the node. A voltage-controlled delay unit is responsible to the control voltage to control a delay applied to a signal at an input of the delay line.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2006Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: Micron Technology Inc.Inventor: Hai Yan
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Patent number: 7656208Abstract: A digitally controlled PLL oscillation circuit has a VCO, a frequency divider, a reference oscillation circuit, an A/D converter, a phase comparator, a digital filter, a D/A converter, and an analog filter. A reference signal supplied from the reference oscillation circuit is output through a narrow-band crystal filter (MCF) to the A/D converter to cancel noise, jitter and a spurious wave included in the reference signal, making it possible to prevent the phase noise characteristic and spurious characteristic of a VCO output from being degraded.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2007Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroki Kimura, Tsukasa Kobata, Yasuo Kitayama, Naoki Onishi
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Publication number: 20100013530Abstract: The present invention relates to a delay-locked loop-based multiphase clock generator that generates a plurality of multiphase clocks from an input clock signal using a voltage controlled delay line including a plurality of dummy cells. The delay-locked loop-based multiphase clock generator includes an anti-harmonic lock circuit that receives an input clock and a reference clock of multiple clocks, determines whether a pulse signal derived from the input clock is within a normal locking range of the reference clock, and outputs a compulsory control signal to compulsorily control an output signal of a phase detector if it is determined that the pulse signal is not within the normal locking range.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2009Publication date: January 21, 2010Applicant: Korea University Industrial & Academic Collaboration FoundationInventors: Chulwoo Kim, Ja Bum Koo, Sung Hwa Ok
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Patent number: 7622971Abstract: A delay locked loop circuit includes a phase detector configured to compare a phase of a reference clock signal with a phase of an output clock signal and to output a comparison signal, a control voltage generator configured to output a control voltage based on the comparison signal, a voltage controlled delay line comprising a plurality of delay elements and configured to delay the reference clock signal based on the control voltage and to output the output clock signal, and a control voltage initializer configured to generate digital codes based on characteristics of the voltage controlled delay line and to generate an initial control voltage based on the digital codes.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2007Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Moon-Sook Park, Young-Don Choi
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Publication number: 20090256600Abstract: An apparatus is provided for detecting the loss of an input clock signal for a phase-locked loop (PLL). The apparatus includes a time delay circuit, a first frequency divider and a digital logic circuit. The time delay circuit receives the input clock signal and outputs a first time-delayed clock signal. The first frequency divider receives an input signal from an internal clock of the PLL and outputs a clock signal having the same frequency or a lower frequency than that of the time-delayed clock signal. The digital logic circuit that receives the first frequency divider output signal and the first time-delayed clock signal and outputs a signal indicating the loss of the input clock signal if there is no first time-delayed clock signal for a cycle of the first frequency divider output signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2009Publication date: October 15, 2009Applicant: INTEGRATED DEVICE TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventor: Tao Jing
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Patent number: 7577225Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an integrated circuit including a phase-locked loop (PLL). The integrated circuit includes a phase detector, a frequency detector, a loop filter, a digitally-controlled oscillator and a corresponding plurality of frequency dividers. The phase detector generates a first binary output based on a phase comparison of a reference clock signal to a plurality of clock phase inputs. The frequency detector generates a second binary output based on a frequency comparison of the reference clock signal to the clock phase inputs. The loop filter generates a third binary output based on the first binary output and the second binary output. The DCO feeds back the clock phase inputs, via the frequency dividers, to the phase detector based on the third binary output, and feeds back one of the clock phases to the frequency detector based on the third binary output.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2005Date of Patent: August 18, 2009Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.Inventors: Kameran Azadet, Fuji Yang
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Patent number: 7567100Abstract: An apparatus is provided for detecting the loss of an input clock signal for a phase-locked loop (PLL). The apparatus includes a time delay circuit, a first frequency divider and a digital logic circuit. The time delay circuit receives the input clock signal and outputs a first time-delayed clock signal. The first frequency divider receives an input signal from an internal clock of the PLL and outputs a clock signal having the same frequency or a lower frequency than that of the time-delayed clock signal. The digital logic circuit that receives the first frequency divider output signal and the first time-delayed clock signal and outputs a signal indicating the loss of the input clock signal if there is no first time-delayed clock signal for a cycle of the first frequency divider output signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2007Date of Patent: July 28, 2009Assignee: Integrated Device Technology, Inc.Inventor: Tao Jing
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Patent number: 7555073Abstract: Provided is a frequency control loop circuit changing division ratios of a frequency synthesizer to oscillate frequencies in a broadband with high precision. The circuit comprises a clock oscillator, a frequency synthesizer, and a demodulator.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2006Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: Integrant Technologies Inc.Inventor: Minsu Jeong
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Patent number: 7545168Abstract: A clock tree distribution network for a field programmable gate array comprises an interface with a root signal chosen from at least one of an external clock signal, an internal clock signal, a plurality of phase lock loop cell output signals and programmable elements. The FPGA includes a logic array with programmable elements coupling the logic array to a programmable routing architecture and the interface. A routed clock network selects a signal from a clock signal from the interface, a local signal from the logic array through the routing architecture, Vcc or ground, and routes the selected signal to the logic array through the clock tree distribution network. A hardwired clock network selects a signal from a clock signal from the interface or a local signal from the routing architecture, and routes the selected signal to a plurality of flip-flops in the logic array through the clock tree distribution network.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2008Date of Patent: June 9, 2009Assignee: Actel CorporationInventor: Arunangshu Kundu
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Patent number: 7538591Abstract: A fast locking phase locked loop includes a first phase frequency detector (PFD), a second PFD, a lock detector, an up-signal output unit, a down-signal output unit, a selective charge pump, a loop filter, and a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). The first PFD outputs a first up-signal and a first down-signal. The second PFD outputs a second up-signal and a second down-signal. The lock detector outputs an inverted lock signal. The selective charge pump outputs a pumping current. The loop filter generates a control voltage in response to the pumping current. The VCO generates the external clock signal having a frequency determined in accordance with the control voltage. The PLL has a faster locking time because the PFDs included in the PLL are capable of detecting a phase difference in a missing edge.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2007Date of Patent: May 26, 2009Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jung-Hoon Oh
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Patent number: 7519140Abstract: An automatic frequency correction phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit includes an analog control circuit and a digital control circuit. The digital control circuit includes a High-side comparator and a Low-side comparator which receive an analog control voltage, a state monitor circuit, and a counter and decoder circuit. At least one of the High-side comparator and the Low-side comparator includes a threshold switching circuit which selectively provides a first threshold voltage and a second threshold voltage, the first and second threshold voltages having different magnitudes. When the analog control voltage remains stable between the High-side threshold voltage and the Low-side threshold voltage and the threshold switching circuit is providing the first threshold voltage, the state monitor circuit switches the threshold switching circuit from the first threshold voltage to the second threshold voltage, thereby expanding the interval between the High-side threshold voltage and the Low-side threshold voltage.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2005Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tsutomu Yoshimura
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Patent number: 7492850Abstract: The phase locked loop (PLL) with adjustable phase shift is described. The PLL includes a voltage controlled oscillator which is capable of generating multiple phase shifted output signals, and multiple phase detectors capable of determining the phase differences between the output signals and a reference clock. The PLL further includes a weighting device capable of weighting the phase differences and generating a control signal for the voltage controlled oscillator.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2005Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Christian Ivo Menolfi, Thomas Helmut Toifl
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Patent number: 7482850Abstract: A technology capable of avoiding malfunction of a delay locked loop without generating a constant phase error in a delay locked loop circuit is provided. In a delay locked loop circuit, a control circuit is disposed in the outside of a delay locked loop, and in phase comparison of the delay locked loop, the control circuit outputs a control signal to the delay locked loop so that the relation in the phase comparison between a reference signal and an output signal is shifted by a set cycle.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2007Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.Inventor: Takashi Kawamoto
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Patent number: 7477083Abstract: A delay amount variable circuit (8) adapted to change a delay amount according to a ZQ calibration result is inserted in a path of a DQ replica system. The delay amount of the path of the DQ replica system is variable and is adjusted so as to make constant a timing skew difference between a DQ buffer system and the DQ replica system. The ZQ calibration result changes depending on variations in temperature, voltage, and manufacture. Therefore, by obtaining the delay amount corresponding to these variations, there are obtained a DLL circuit with high accuracy that can make the skew difference constant, and a semiconductor device incorporating such a DLL circuit.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2006Date of Patent: January 13, 2009Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.Inventors: Hiroki Fujisawa, Ryuji Takishita
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Patent number: 7457392Abstract: A delay locked loop includes a first delay device for obtaining a fine setting and a downstream-connected second delay device for obtaining a coarse setting of the delay time. The control signals for controlling the respective delay devices are provided by synchronization latches, which receive a clock obtained by the output signal of the first delay device for obtaining the fine setting. The delay locked loop enables a linear operating behavior at a high operating frequency and is particularly suitable when a differential embodiment of the two delay devices is used.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2002Date of Patent: November 25, 2008Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Christian Weis, Thomas Miller, Patrick Heyne
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Patent number: 7449928Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor device including: a phase locked loop circuit having, a phase frequency detector which receives a reference signal and a frequency-divided signal, and outputs a phase difference detection signal by performing phase comparison, a charge pump which receives the phase difference detection signal and outputs a charge pump signal by converting a voltage change into a current change, a loop filter which receives the charge pump signal, and outputs a control voltage by passing components having frequencies not more than a predetermined frequency, a voltage controlled oscillator which outputs a frequency signal having a frequency based on the control voltage, and a frequency divider which receives the frequency signal, and outputs the frequency-divided signal by dividing the frequency; a mask signal generator which generates a mask signal masking a timing at which the phase frequency detector compares phases of the frequency-divided signal and theType: GrantFiled: January 11, 2007Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Hiroyuki Kobayashi
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Patent number: 7428286Abstract: The present invention is directed to a duty cycle correction apparatus that can be implemented in a small size, and is capable of performing a phase lock more rapidly, and reducing the amount of current being consumed, and to a method thereof. The duty cycle correction apparatus in accordance with the present invention for use in a semiconductor memory device includes a delay line unit for delaying a first clock signal to produce a first delayed clock signal; an output tap unit for delaying the first delayed clock signal by a pulse width of a first logic state of the first clock signal under the control of a toss control signal derived from a second clock signal; and a phase mixer for mixing the clock signal from the output tap unit and one of the first and second clock signals.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2004Date of Patent: September 23, 2008Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.Inventor: Kyung-Hoon Kim
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Publication number: 20080191740Abstract: A clock tree distribution network for a field programmable gate array comprises an interface with a root signal chosen from at least one of an external clock signal, an internal clock signal, a plurality of phase lock loop cell output signals and programmable elements. The FPGA includes a logic array with programmable elements coupling the logic array to a programmable routing architecture and the interface. A routed clock network selects a signal from a clock signal from the interface, a local signal from the logic array through the routing architecture, Vcc or ground, and routes the selected signal to the logic array through the clock tree distribution network. A hardwired clock network selects a signal from a clock signal from the interface or a local signal from the routing architecture, and routes the selected signal to a plurality of flip-flops in the logic array through the clock tree distribution network.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2008Publication date: August 14, 2008Applicant: ACTEL CORPORATIONInventor: Arunangshu Kundu
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Patent number: 7397882Abstract: A digital phase locked circuit provides an output clock signal whose phase is synchronous with the phase of an input clock signal under a desired level of a phase absorption characteristic even if the input clock signal is supplied in a burst fashion. A phase comparing part compares the phase of the output clock signal with the phase of the input clock signal. A phase comparison result detecting part outputs an INC/DEC request signal for controlling a division operation based on a phase comparison signal. An execution rate computing part computes a phase difference between the input clock signal and the output clock signal based on the INC/DEC request signal and outputs an execution rate corresponding to the phase difference. A clock generating part controls a division operation for the master clock signal in accordance with the INC/DEC request signal and changes phase absorption speed of the output clock signal in accordance with the execution rate.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2003Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Ichiro Yokokura, Yuji Obana, Hideaki Mochizuki
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Patent number: 7375553Abstract: A clock tree distribution network for a field programmable gate array comprises an interface with a root signal chosen from at least one of an external clock signal, an internal clock signal, a plurality of phase lock loop cell output signals and programmable elements. The FPGA includes a logic array with programmable elements coupling the logic array to a programmable routing architecture and the interface. A routed clock network selects a signal from a clock signal from the interface, a local signal from the logic array through the routing architecture, Vcc or ground, and routes the selected signal to the logic array through the clock tree distribution network. A hardwired clock network selects a signal from a clock signal from the interface or a local signal from the routing architecture, and routes the selected signal to a plurality of flip-flops in the logic array through the clock tree distribution network.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2006Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Assignee: Actel CorporationInventor: Arunangshu Kundu
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Patent number: 7352253Abstract: The invention discloses an oscillator circuit (100, 200, 300, 400), comprising an oscillating element (110, 210, 310, 410) and output means (115, 215, 315, 415) for outputting an oscillation frequency from the oscillating circuit. The circuit further comprises a signal delay means (120, 220, 320, 420) which is arranged in series with the oscillating element and feeds the output signal back to the oscillating element. The delay means is (120, 220, 320, 420) tuneable with respect to the delay it provides. The oscillating element can be an amplifier or a VCO, and the delay means can be a Delay Locked Loop or a tuneable delay line, depending on the embodiment of the invention.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2003Date of Patent: April 1, 2008Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)Inventors: Harald Jacobsson, Spartak Gevorgian, Thomas Lewin
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Patent number: RE41691Abstract: Method and apparatus for performing joint timing recovery in a digital receiver using multiple input signals. The apparatus comprises a plurality of phase detectors, a summer, a level shifter, a loop filter and a numerically controlled oscillator NCO. The phase detectors produce a phase signal by comparing a timing signal produced by the NCO with the input signals. The phase signals are then summed and the level shifter adjusts the summed value to compensate for the number of signals used to form the sum, i.e., the summed value is adjusted to be within the input range of the NCO.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2007Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Inventor: Charles Reed, Jr.