Abstract: A multi-phase signal generators and methods for generating multi-phase signals are described. In one embodiment, a clock generator generates quadrature signals including those having 90, 180, 270 and 360 degrees phase difference with a first signal. The rising edge of an intermediate signal is compared with the rising edges of two of the other signals to generate an UP and DN pulse signal, respectively. The UP and DN signals are used to adjust the delay of a delay line producing the signals to synchronize the signals. In some embodiments, a reset signal generator is used to truncate the UP or DN signal pulse.

Abstract: An apparatus that compensates for misalignment on a synchronous data bus, including a resistor network, a transmitting device, and a receiving device. The resistor network indicates an amount to advance a synchronous data strobe associated with a data group. The transmitting device has a core clocks generator and a synchronous strobe driver. The core clocks generator advances a data strobe clock by the amount. The synchronous strobe driver employs the data strobe clock to generate the synchronous data strobe, where the synchronous data strobe is advanced also by the amount. The receiving device has a composite delay element and delay-locked loops (DLLs). The composite delay element equalizes delay paths within the receiving device, where the delay paths correspond to the synchronous data strobe that is received from the transmitting device.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing clock signals may include generating a replicated delay associated with a delay of a clock signal path. The clock signal path may be associated with communication of a slave clock signal by a master block of a circuit to a slave block of the circuit. The method may further include selecting the slave clock signal from one of multiple clock signals based on the replicated delay. Each of the multiple clock signals may have a same frequency and a different phase.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device that includes a delay line that includes n delay circuits cascade-connected and delays an input clock signal by k cycles, and a routing circuit that generates multi-phase clock signals having different phases based on at least a part of n output clock signals output from the n delay circuits, respectively. The n and the k are both integers more than 1 and a greatest common divisor thereof is 1.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a delay unit configured to delay an inputted clock to generate a delay clock, a selection unit configured to select and output one of the inputted clock and the delay clock, a delay locked loop configured to perform a delay locking operation using a signal delivered from the selection unit, and a selection control unit configured to control the selection unit in response to a comparison of one period of the inputted clock and a maximum delay value of the delay locked loop.

Abstract: A method for detecting and determining a position of faults using reflectometry in a wired electrical network including: injecting a test signal e(t) into a cable in the electrical network, a timing of successive injections being controlled by a synchronization module that generates an emission clock signal and a reception clock signal; retrieving a reflected signal on the cable; sampling the reflected signal at a frequency Fe=1/Te, where Te is a sampling period; counting a number of samples obtained for the reflected signal and comparing the number of samples obtained with a number n predefined as a function of a length of the cable or the electrical network to be diagnosed, where n is an integer; repeating the injecting, the sampling, and the counting steps N times, shifting the emission clock signal by a duration ?; reconstituting the reflected signal from n*N samples obtained; and analyzing the reconstituted reflected signal to detect a fault.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for controlling a delay line for achieving power reduction. The device comprises a delay lock loop to provide an output signal based upon a phase difference between a reference signal and a feedback signal, said delay lock loop comprising at least one delay circuit comprising a plurality of logic gates configured to provide for substantially uniform degradation of a plurality of NAND gates in a static state.

Abstract: A circuit for detecting a time skew, including: at least two comparators; a first set of paths respectively connecting a first source of a first signal to said comparators; and a second set of paths respectively connecting a second source of a second signal to said comparators, each comparator detecting a possible skew between said first and second signals.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a CDR circuit including delay elements, including: a divider having a delay element and configured to extract a clock by using, as a trigger, a data input with a signal transition regularly inserted; and a latch configured to latch an input data signal in synchronization with the clock extracted by the divider.

Abstract: A device characteristic compensation circuit includes a device characteristic detection block configured to detect one or more of a frequency of a clock signal and characteristics of devices, and generate a control code signal according to a detection result; and an internal voltage regulation unit configured to regulate a level of an internal voltage in response to the control code signal and generate a corrected internal voltage.

Abstract: A charge domain filter (CDF) is provided. The CDF includes a switched-capacitor network (SCN) and a clock generator. An input of the SCN receives an input signal. The SCN samples the input signal according to clock signals with different phases. The clock generator is coupled to the SCN for providing the clock signals. The clock generator adjusts phase differences of the clock signals or pulse widths of the clock signals in accordance with a control signal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device that includes a delay line that includes n delay circuits cascade-connected and delays an input clock signal by k cycles, and a routing circuit that generates multi-phase clock signals having different phases based on at least a part of n output clock signals output from the n delay circuits, respectively. The n and the k are both integers more than 1 and a greatest common divisor thereof is 1.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed that operate to adjust power received by a clock distribution network at least partially based on operating conditions of an integrated circuit. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) compensation circuit and a method of continuously generating a delay measure are provided. The compensation circuit includes two delay lines, each delay line providing a delay output. The two delay lines may each include a number of delay elements, which in turn may include one or more current-starved inverters. The number of delay lines may differ between the two delay lines. The delay outputs are provided to a combining circuit that determines an offset pulse based on the two delay outputs and then averages the voltage of the offset pulse to determine a delay measure. The delay measure may be one or more currents or voltages indicating an amount of PVT compensation to apply to input or output signals of an application circuit, such as a memory-bus driver, dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a synchronous DRAM, a processor or other clocked circuit.

Abstract: A data receiver identifies an alignment symbol in a parallel data stream including encoded symbols, generates a bit order indicator indicating a bit order of the alignment symbol identified in the parallel data stream, and generates a symbol stream including the encoded symbols. Further, the data receiver decodes symbols in the symbol stream and generates a bit polarity indicator indicating a bit polarity of the parallel data stream based on the decoded symbols. Additionally, the data receiver generates a formatted symbol stream having a predetermined bit order and a predetermined bit polarity, based on the symbol stream, the bit order indicator, and the bit polarity indicator. In some embodiments, the data receives a serial data stream and generates the parallel data stream by deserializing data in the serial data stream.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a clock generator that comprises a master or first oscillator having an output terminal which provides a master clock signal and at least one slave or second oscillator having an output terminal which provides a slave clock signal, the master and slave oscillators comprising respective time delay stages and latches, the slave oscillator also comprising logic gates connected to the outputs of the latches and configured to logically combine said outputs to generate a slave clock signal having a different phase with respect to a master clock signal.

Abstract: There is a need to ensure operation performance of a circuit region under DVFS control at low costs and highly precisely while a power-supply voltage change is made to the region. A first circuit (FVA) uses a first power-supply voltage (VDDA) for operation. A second circuit (NFVA) uses a second power-supply voltage (VDDB) for operation. A clock delay may be adjusted between paths for transmitting a clock to these circuits. When VDDA equals VDDB, a clock is distributed to FVA through a path that does not contain a delay device for phase adjustment. When the power-supply voltage for the FVA region is reduced, a clock is distributed to the FVA region based on a phase equivalent to one or two cycles of the clock displaced. Synchronization control is provided to synchronize clocks (CKAF and CKBF) and ensures operation so that a phase of two clocks to be compared fits in a range of design values while the power-supply voltage for the first circuit is changed.

Abstract: A D-type flip-flop 2 includes tristate inverter circuitry 4, 6 passing a processing signal through to storage circuitry 8 from where the processing signal passes via a transmission gate 10 to slave storage circuitry 12. A transition detector 16 is coupled to the input node nm of the storage circuitry 8 and serves to generate an error signal if a transition is detected upon that input node during an error detecting period. Other forms of this technique may provide clock gating circuitry.

Abstract: Provided is a memory interface circuit connected to a memory device that outputs a first data signal, and including: a first delay unit delaying a first strobe signal outputted from the memory device by a first delay amount to generate a first delayed strobe signal; a first data latch unit latching the first data signal as a first latched data signal in synchronization with the first delayed strobe signal; a first range calculating unit calculating a first delay range width that is a width of a range of values of the first delay amount which allow the first data latch unit to correctly latch the first data signal as the first latched data signal; and a drive capability setting unit adjusting the drive capability of the memory device so as to widen the first delay range width.

Abstract: Embodiments of phase-generation circuitry and methods for generating a multiphase signal with duty-cycle correction are generally described herein. The phase-generation circuitry may include a plurality of controllable delay stages arranged in series and phase detector circuitry. Each delay stage may be configured to phase shift a differential signal based on a control signal. The phase detector circuitry may be configured to generate the control signal based on a first time difference and a second time difference. The first time difference may be a time difference between rising edges of a first component of the differential signal and a second component of a phase-shifted signal. The second time difference may be a time difference between falling edges of the first component of the differential signal and the second component of the phase-shifted signal. Other circuits, systems, and methods are described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a false lock prevention circuit and method which is used to cause a delayed locked loop (DLL) to escape from false lock such as harmonic lock or stuck lock, when the false lock occurred in the DLL, and a DLL using the same. The false lock prevention circuit includes a harmonic lock detector configured to detect harmonic lock and a stuck lock detector configured to detect stuck lock. The harmonic lock detector includes a plurality of flip-flops configured to sample a plurality of delayed clocks and a logic unit. The harmonic lock detector compares a reference clock signal with the plurality of delayed clock signals, and detects whether or not the positive edges deviate from one cycle of the reference clock signal.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a nonvolatile variable resistor, includes: a resistance value conversion circuit unit configured to convert a resistance value of the nonvolatile variable resistor into a potential or a current and which outputs the converted potential or current; a comparison circuit unit configured to compare the output from the resistance value conversion circuit unit and a potential or current at a node of a portion within the semiconductor device; and a resistance value changing circuit unit configured to change the resistance value of the nonvolatile variable resistor based on the comparison results from the comparison circuit unit.

Abstract: A clock buffer includes a reference enable signal generator configured to generate a reference enable signal enabled in synchronization with a rising edge of a first period of a second clock after a clock enable signal is enabled, a delay enable signal generator configured to generate a delayed enable signal enabled in synchronization with a rising edge of a second period of a first clock after the reference enable signal is enabled, a first output unit configured to receive the reference enable signal and the first clock to generate a first internal clock, and a second output unit configured to receive the delayed enable signal and the second clock to generate a second internal clock.

Abstract: A driver circuit includes pull-up and pull-down drivers driven by separate pre-drivers operating between different voltage rails. Data signals driving the pull-up driver and the pull-down driver are synchronized, and the pull-up driver and the pull-down driver are coupled together to produce an output signal having a voltage swing based on both the pull-up driver and the pull-down driver.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for the switching of clock signals. A clock network switching system includes a first re-synchronization circuit coupled to a first input clock, and a second re-synchronization circuit coupled to a second input clock. There is also an input select decoder coupled to the first and second re-synchronization circuit that can dynamically select either the first or the second input clock to be active. When an input clock is selected to be active, the re-synchronization circuit associated with the selected input clock generates an output clock synchronized with the selected input clock where both a high pulse width and a low pulse width of the output clock are not less than those of the selected input clock.

Abstract: A variable delay circuit includes at least a fixed delay unit, a first selection unit, and variable delay unit. The fixed delay unit receives an input signal and a first delay selection signal indicative of a first delay, and outputs a first delayed signal that is substantially the input signal delayed by the first delay. The first selection unit receives the input signal, the first delayed signal, and a second delay selection signal, and outputs either the input signal or the first delayed signal based on the second delay selection signal to the variable delay unit. The variable delay unit also receives a third delay selection signal indicative of a third delay, and outputs a output signal that is substantially the output signal of the selection unit delayed by a third delay. The first delay is 0 or X multiples of M delay units. The third delay is a delay selected from 0 to N delay units.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a phase adjuster operates according to a phase difference between a first clock signal and a second clock signal. The adjuster includes an adjustment driving element and a crosstalk driving element. The adjustment driving element drives an input signal and generates an adjusted signal. The crosstalk driving element generates an in-phase and/or a reverse-phase crosstalk signal in parallel to the adjusted signal when the phase difference occurs between the first clock signal and the second clock signal.

Abstract: A delay locked loop (DLL) circuit is disclosed. The DLL circuit includes a delay circuit and a phase adjusting circuit. The phase adjusting circuit is configured to receive a clock signal output from the delay circuit, pass the clock signal through a N-divider and a replica path to create a N-divided delay signal, and detect phase information about an external clock signal in response to a rising edge and a falling edge of the N-divided delay signal, wherein N denotes a natural number. The delay circuit is configured to output the clock signal by adjusting a phase of the external clock signal in response to a result of the detection. A semiconductor device, semiconductor system, and method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for characterizing process variations are provided. A circuit comprises a plurality of inverters arranged in a sequential loop, and a plurality of transmission gates, with each transmission gate coupled between a pair of serially arranged inverters. Each transmission gate comprises a first field effect transistor (FET) having a first channel, and a second FET having a second channel. The first channel and the second channel are coupled in parallel and a gate terminal of the first FET and a gate terminal of the second FET are coupled to a first control signal and a second control signal, respectively.

Abstract: A coarse lock detector for a delayed locked loop (DLL) is disclosed. The coarse lock detector includes multiple detection cells. Each detection cell receives a delayed clock phase and an output of a previous detection cell as inputs. To increase time for the output of the previous detection cell to propagate, the detection cells are arranged in groups such that the output from the previous detection cell is generated by a detection cell which is more than one detection cell previous.

Abstract: A test structure for gathering switching history effect statistics includes a waveform generator circuit that selectively generates a first test waveform representative of a 1SW transistor switching event, and a second test waveform representative of a 2SW transistor switching event; and a history element circuit coupled to the waveform generator circuit, the history element circuit including a device under test (DUT) therein, and a variable delay chain therein, wherein a selected one of the first and second test waveforms are input to the DUT and the variable delay chain; wherein the history element circuit determines fractional a change in signal propagation delay through the DUT between the 1SW and 2SW transistor switching events, with the fractional change in signal propagation delay calibrated with timing measurements of a variable frequency ring oscillator; and wherein the test structure utilizes only external low-speed input and output signals with respect to a chip.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for controlling a delay line for achieving power reduction. The device comprises a delay lock loop to provide an output signal based upon a phase difference between a reference signal and a feedback signal, said delay lock loop comprising at least one delay circuit comprising a plurality of logic gates configured to provide for substantially uniform degradation of a plurality of NAND gates in a static state.

Abstract: Methods, circuits and systems for balanced distribution of source-synchronous clock signals are described. Multiple data sets together with one or more clock signals associated with the multiple data sets may be received at a number of interface devices. The multiple data sets may be captured in a number of data buffers. The clock signals may be programmably distributed to a group of the multiple data buffers that retain the one or more data sets, using a balanced clock network. Additional methods, circuits, and systems are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method to measure a delay of an individual logic gate in an unmodified form on a chip using a digitally reconfigurable ring oscillator (RO) that is on the chip is provided. A system of linear equations is established for different configuration settings of the ring oscillator and solved to determine a delay of an individual gate.

Abstract: A phase selector including a plurality of buffers, a multiplexer, a first inverter, and a selecting circuit is provided. Each of the buffers provides a clock signal, and the clock signals have different phases. The multiplexer selectively outputs one of the clock signals as a switch signal according to a first control signal, wherein the first control signal is first portion of bits of a selecting signal. The input terminal of the first inverter receives a second control signal, wherein the second control signal is second portion of bits of the selecting signal, and the output terminal of the first inverter outputs an inverted signal. The selecting circuit transmits the second control signal of the selecting signal or the inverted signal to the output terminal of the phase selector according to the logic state of the switch signal.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of synchronization clock generators configured to generate a plurality of synchronization clock signals by mixing phases of first and second source clock signals having an identical frequency, a first clock transmission path configured to sequentially apply the first source clock signal to the plurality of synchronization clock generators by transferring the first source clock signal in a forward direction, a second clock transmission path configured to sequentially apply the second source clock signal to the plurality of synchronization clock generators by transferring the second source clock signal in a backward direction, and a plurality of data output units configured to synchronize a plurality of data with the plurality of synchronization clock signals and outputting the synchronized plurality of data.

Abstract: A phase splitter uses digital delay locked loop (DLL) to receive complementary input clock signals to generate a plurality of output signals having different phase shifts. When the DLL is locked, the delay resolution of the phase splitter is equal to two delay stages of the DLL.

Abstract: A first conversion circuit converts a first clock signal based on a signal level of a first voltage into a second clock signal based on a signal level of a second voltage. A flip-flop circuit supplied with the first voltage as an operation voltage latches and outputs a signal, which is based on the signal level of the first voltage, in accordance with the first clock signal. A second conversion circuit supplied with the second voltage as an operation voltage converts a signal level of an input signal, which is based on an output signal of the flip-flop circuit, into the signal level of the second voltage in synchronization with the second clock signal.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An apparatus for clock/voltage scaling includes a device power manager arranged to supply a scalable frequency clock to an interface; a delay-locked loop, supplied by a constant fixed frequency clock and a constant voltage, arranged to generate a unique code depending on process, voltage, and/or temperature; and controlled delay line elements coupled to the delay-locked loop, arranged to generate an appropriate delayed data strobe based on the unique code. A method for a digital phase lock loop high speed bypass mode includes providing a first digital phase lock loop in a first high speed clock domain; providing a second digital phase lock loop in a second clock domain; controlling an output of a first glitchless multiplexer according to preselected settings using a device power manager synchronized locally; and controlling an output of a second glitchless multiplexer using a control logic element of the second digital phase lock loop.

Abstract: There is a need to ensure operation performance of a circuit region under DVFS control at low costs and highly precisely while a power-supply voltage change is made to the region. A first circuit (FVA) uses a first power-supply voltage (VDDA) for operation. A second circuit (NFVA) uses a second power-supply voltage (VDDB) for operation. A clock delay may be adjusted between paths for transmitting a clock to these circuits. When VDDA equals VDDB, a clock is distributed to FVA through a path that does not contain a delay device for phase adjustment. When the power-supply voltage for the FVA region is reduced, a clock is distributed to the FVA region based on a phase equivalent to one or two cycles of the clock displaced. Synchronization control is provided to synchronize clocks (CKAF and CKBF) and ensures operation so that a phase of two clocks to be compared fits in a range of design values while the power-supply voltage for the first circuit is changed.

Abstract: A clock signal having a clock pulse width duration is received. A delay time is received. A first relationship and a second relationship between the clock pulse width duration and the delay time are determined. A new clock is generated that has a first new clock pulse width duration determined by the first relationship and the delay time and a second new clock pulse width duration determined by the second relationship and the clock pulse width duration. Switching between the first new clock pulse width duration and the second new clock pulse width duration is automatic based on the first relationship and the second relationship.

Abstract: To include a first level shift circuit that converts a first internal clock signal having an amplitude value of a first voltage into a second internal clock signal having an amplitude value of a second voltage, a second level shift circuit that converts a first internal data signal having the amplitude value of the first voltage into a second internal data signal having the amplitude value of the second voltage, a clock dividing circuit that generates third and fourth internal clock signals, which are complementary signals, based on the second internal clock signal, and an output circuit that outputs external data signals continuously from a data output terminal in synchronization with the third and fourth internal clock signals based on the second internal data signal. According to the present invention, because a level shift of a signal is performed before it is input to the output circuit, there occurs no skew in output data.

Abstract: A memory device is provided. The memory device includes a plurality of memory chips coupled in series, and a register serially coupled to the memory chips. The register includes an integrated delay-locked loop. The memory device may be included in a processing system. Moreover, a method for improving timing budgets in a registered dual in-line memory module (RDIMM) may be implemented using the memory device having a register with an integrated delay-locked loop.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for aligning the phases of a master clock and a slave clock; and the method comprises the following steps: A. locking a phase of a master clock; B. measuring phase difference between a slave clock and the master clock; and C. adjusting a phase output by the slave clock so as to align it with the phase of the master clock based on the phase difference measured in Step B. The present invention also discloses an apparatus for aligning the phases of a master clock and a slave clock. By measuring the phase difference between the master clock and the slave clock, and aligning the phases of the master clock and the slave clock according to the phase difference the present invention improves the precision of phase alignment without increasing costs.

Abstract: A system and method for closed loop clock correction includes adjusting two or more input signals comprising at least one in-phase clock and one quadrature clock, and applying adjusted quadrature clock signals to a device capable of generating a 4-quadrant interpolated output clock phase. An interpolated output clock phase is delayed to form a clock for a measurement device. Two or more adjusted input signals are measured on a measurement device over a range of interpolated output clock phases. Errors are determined on the in-phase clock and the quadrature clock using sampled information from the measurement device. The in-phase clock and the quadrature clock are adapted using determined error information.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the dynamic detection and compensation of performance variations within an integrated circuit (IC) is provided to detect performance variations within the IC at any stage of test or operation. An arbitrary reference signal is utilized in conjunction with an internal oscillation device to establish a speed reference that may be used to characterize the IC. Dynamic detection and compensation may also be configured within a plurality of geographic locations within the IC, so that performance variations may be detected and compensated. Test data that is indicative of the IC's performance may be dynamically generated continuously, or at programmable intervals, so that performance variations caused by virtually any source may be substantially detected and compensated at any point in time of the IC's life cycle.

Abstract: Multi-phase signal generators and methods for generating multi-phase signals are described. In one embodiment, the clock generator generates quadrature clock signals including those having 90, 180, 270 and 360 degrees phase difference with a first clock signal. One of the intermediate clock signals may be used as an enable signal to guide locking of all signals. For example, the 180 degree clock signal may be inverted and used as an enable signal to guide locking of the initial and 360 degree signals in a single phase adjustment procedure. The 0 and 360 degree signals may be delayed before their phase is compared to compensate for duty cycle error in the clock signals.

Abstract: A sampling section (100A) includes a sampling filter (102) that converts a continuous-time signal into a discrete-time signal and applies filtering of low-pass characteristics and a one-bit quantizer (107) that outputs a quantized signal representing a time-dependent change in the discrete-time signal. A synchronization section (100B) includes a phase difference detector (110) that calculates the phase difference between an inspection signal and the quantized signal and a delay control circuit (114) that feeds back the inspection signal to the phase difference detector at the timing set in consideration of a delay amount corresponding to the phase difference. When the phase difference between the inspection signal and the current quantized signal shows the same phase, the phase of the inspection signal is detected as a reference phase.

Abstract: A delay locked loop (DLL) apparatus includes a first delay unit converting a reference clock into a rising clock. A second delay unit converts the reference clock into a falling clock, and a replica delay unit replica-delays the rising clock. A first phase detector compares the phases of the reference clock and the delayed rising clock to output a first detection signal corresponding to the compared phases. A controller synchronizes the rising edge of the rising clock with the rising edge of the reference clock according to the first detection signal of the first phase detector. A second phase detector compares the phases of the synchronized rising clock and the synchronization clock to output a second detection signal corresponding to the compared phases. The DLL apparatus compensates for a skew between an external clock and data and between external and internal clocks by employing a single replica delay unit.