With Digital Element Patents (Class 327/159)
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Patent number: 12249996Abstract: A time-to-digital converter (TDC) includes a counter and a digital core. The counter is designed to generate a sequence of counts representing a number of transitions of interest of a first clock signal. The counter includes an asynchronous circuit and a synchronous circuit to respectively generate a first set of bits and a second set of bits of each of the sequence of numbers. The digital core is designed to process a pair of counts of the sequence.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2022Date of Patent: March 11, 2025Assignee: Shaoxing Yuanfang Semiconductor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Manikanta Sakalabhaktula, Debasish Behera, Raja Prabhu J, Girisha Angadi Basavaraja, Nandakishore Palla, Chandrasekhar BG, Sudarshan Varadarajan
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Patent number: 12222746Abstract: The disclosure provides a microcontroller which has an internal timing device for generating an internal clock signal, at least one terminal contact for receiving an external clock signal, a clock changing device and a timer module, which is electrically conductively connected to the at least one terminal contact and to the internal timing device and, after the microcontroller has been switched on, is set up to determine a frequency of the external clock signal by means of the clock signal, and to determine at least one parameter by means of which the clock changing device can be set up to change the external clock signal into a useful clock signal with a predefined frequency.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2022Date of Patent: February 11, 2025Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventor: Matthias Marquardt
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Patent number: 12028081Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a phase-locked loop (PLL) based on a charge-sharing locking technique, capable of both fractional-N and integer-N operation. The PLL comprises a voltage pre-setting stage; an oscillator: a shared capacitive load; and a switching network configured for selectively connecting the voltage pre-setting stage to the shared capacitive load during a voltage pre-setting stage for applying an expectant voltage to the capacitive load. The switching network is being further configured for selectively connecting the capacitive load to the oscillator during a charge-sharing locking stage for correcting a phase error in response to a difference between the expected voltage of the capacitor and the voltage of the oscillator. Frequency-tracking and waveform-learning stages are also provided for maintaining PVT (process, voltage, temperature) robustness and for suppressing fractional-N spur, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2021Date of Patent: July 2, 2024Assignee: UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN & NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELANDInventors: Yizhe Hu, Teerachot Siriburanon, Robert Bodgan Staszewski
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Patent number: 11777510Abstract: A fractional divider processing circuitry is to receive one of a plurality of clock signals as an input clock signal, and generate a first division clock signal based on the input clock signal and a first control signal. Phases of the plurality of clock signals partially overlap each other. The processing circuitry generates a delta-sigma modulation signal based on the first division clock signal and a frequency control word, and generates a second division clock signal based on the plurality of clock signals, the first division clock signal and a second control signal. The second control signal corresponds to a quantization noise of the delta-sigma modulation signal. The processing circuitry generates the second control signal and a digital control word based on the quantization noise of the delta-sigma modulator. The processing circuitry generates a final division clock signal based on the second division clock signal and the digital control word.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2022Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Baekmin Lim, Seungjin Kim, Seunghyun Oh
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Patent number: 11740650Abstract: Changes in a clock signal, such as phase changes or resets, may propagate glitches, such as shortened clock cycles that may cause undesired effects in subsequent circuitry, to circuitry reliant upon the clock signal. Glitches in the clock signal may not allow a circuit component to finish operating before the shortened next clock cycle arrives, which may cause an unknown or error state in the circuit component. As such, clock change circuitry may reduce or eliminate glitches by holding the clock signal in a particular state (e.g., logically low) while the change occurs, and release the clock signal afterwards, effectively skipping or overall reducing potentially glitched clock cycles.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2021Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Antonio Passamani
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Patent number: 11716087Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for implementing a differential sub-sampling phase locked loop (PLL). A method includes detecting a common-mode voltage on an output of a differential sub-sampling phase detector operating in the differential sub-sampling phase locked loop, and controlling, based on the common-mode voltage, a duty cycle of a feedback signal of the differential sub-sampling phase locked loop that is fed back to the differential sub-sampling phase detector.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2022Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Abhishek Bhat, Romesh Kumar Nandwana
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Patent number: 11671106Abstract: A pulse signal generation circuit includes a clock frequency division component, a time delay component and a selection component. The clock frequency division component is configured to perform frequency division on a clock signal to generate a clock frequency division signal; the time delay component is configured to generate a time delay signal based on the clock frequency division signal; and the selection component is configured to receive the clock frequency division signal and the time delay signal at the same time, and select the clock frequency division signal and the time delay signal according to a preset condition to generate a pulse signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2022Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: CHANGXIN MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Enpeng Gao, Weibing Shang, Kangling Ji
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Patent number: 11601116Abstract: A system for generating a sub-harmonically injection locked phase interpolated output signal. The system comprises ring oscillator (RO) circuitry to generate an output oscillator signal in response to a periodic input signal. The RO circuitry includes a plurality of differential delay RO stages interconnected in cascade within a closed loop, where each RO stage is configured to establish a corresponding delayed version of the output oscillator signal successively shifted in phase by a predetermined phase difference based on a predetermined interpolation mapping scheme. The system further comprises signal injection circuitry coupled to the RO circuitry to apply a first signal having a first input phase and a second signal having a second input phase to the plurality of differential delay RO stages based on the predetermined interpolation mapping scheme to lock a frequency of the output oscillator signal at one half the frequency of the periodic input signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2021Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Gunjan Mandal, Vishnu Kalyanamahadevi Gopalan Jawarlal
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Patent number: 11539353Abstract: Rotary traveling wave oscillator-based (RTWO-based) frequency multipliers are provided herein. In certain embodiments, an RTWO-based frequency multiplier includes an RTWO that generates a plurality of clock signal phases of a first frequency, and an edge combiner that processes the clock signal phases to generate an output clock signal having a second frequency that is a multiple of the first frequency. The edge combiner can be implemented as a logic-based combining circuit that combines the clock signal phases from the RTWO. For example, the edge combiner can include parallel stacks of transistors operating on different clock signal phases, with the stacks selectively activating based on timing of the clock signal phases to generate the output clock signal of multiplied frequency.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2021Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited CompanyInventors: Mohamed A. Shehata, James Breslin, Michael F. Keaveney, Hyman Shanan
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Patent number: 11424748Abstract: A PID loop filter control method and apparatus are provided for generating a control signal to control a digitally controlled oscillator which generates a phase locked loop clock signal, where the PID loop filter includes a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller connected and configured to produce a PID controller output signal, and a transformed feedback module having a feedback summer circuit and internal gain stage connected in series to produce an M-bit control signal in response to the PID controller output signal, wherein an output from internal gain stage is provided over a feedback path comprising a feedback gain stage having a configurable Kfb gain value (e.g., 0<Kfb<4) and a filter element to produce the internal feedback signal which is summed with the PID controller output signal to low pass filter high frequency spurs and noise from the PID controller output signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2021Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: NXP B.V.Inventor: Ravichandar Reddy Geetla
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Patent number: 11385675Abstract: A multi-chip system includes a first chip and a second chip. The first chip is configured to generate a first symbol clock signal according to a first clock signal from a first oscillator. The second chip is configured to generate a second symbol clock signal according a second clock signal from a second oscillator, detect a difference between the second symbol clock signal and the first symbol clock signal to generate an error signal, and synchronize the first symbol clock signal and the second symbol clock signal according to the error signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2021Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATIONInventor: Ping-I Chang
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Patent number: 11341015Abstract: A system includes a battery and a monitoring circuit coupled to the battery. The monitoring circuit includes a sense circuit and a peripheral device coupled to the sense circuit. The peripheral device includes a universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter (UART) receiver having an adaptive sample timing circuit with a numerically-controlled oscillator (NCO) circuit. The peripheral device also includes memory coupled to the UART receiver and configured to store battery monitoring data.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2019Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Timothy Murphy, Srinadh Madhavapeddi, Terry Lee Sculley
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Patent number: 11313906Abstract: Disclosed is an auto-calibration circuit and method to generate the precise pulses that are required for energy savings achieved by using wide-band resonating cells for digital circuits. The calibration circuit performs a calibration technique by programming the number of PMOS devices and NMOS devices in parallel to an inverter, and these numbers are dynamically changed based on a target reference voltage that is defined by a resistance ratio or any PVT-independent reference voltages could also be set as a target voltage level.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2019Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: Rezonent Microchips Pvt. Ltd.Inventors: Ignatius Bezzam, Neelam Rawat
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Patent number: 11245387Abstract: A system for generating an RFPWM signal comprises a delta sigma modulator having a plurality of outputs, a phase-locked loop comprising a plurality of phase quantization outputs, at least one multiplexer having a plurality of signal inputs, a plurality of selector inputs, and at least one output, the signal inputs communicatively connected to the phase quantization outputs of the phase-locked loop and the selector inputs electrically connected to the outputs of the delta sigma modulator, and a driver having an input communicatively connected to the output of the multiplexer and an output generating an RFPWM signal. A method of generating an RFPWM signal is also described.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2021Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State UniversityInventor: Kevin Grout
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Patent number: 11223290Abstract: A power conversion device includes a transformer, and a first bridge circuit connected to a primary-side of the transformer and capable of switching a polarity of a connection between a pair of DC bus bars on the primary-side and the transformer. A second bridge circuit is connected to a secondary-side of the transformer and capable of switching a polarity of a connection between a pair of DC bus bars on the secondary-side and the transformer. A control device is provided which is capable of performing control of switching the first bridge circuit and the second bridge circuit with a phase difference. The control device has a frequency adjustment unit for adjusting a frequency of switching of the first bridge circuit and the second bridge circuit, according to an output from the first bridge circuit or the second bridge circuit and a target value.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2020Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventor: Ryuji Yamada
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Patent number: 11201638Abstract: Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology exploits modulated coded impulses over a wide frequency spectrum with very low power over a short distance for digital data transmission. Today's leading edge modulated sinusoidal wave wireless communication standards and systems achieve power efficiencies of 50 nJ/bit employing narrowband signaling schemes and traditional RF transceiver architectures. However, such designs severely limit the achievable energy efficiency, especially at lower data rates such as below 1 Mbps. Further, it is important that peak power consumption is supportable by common battery or energy harvesting technologies and long term power consumption neither leads to limited battery lifetimes or an inability for alternate energy sources to sustain them. Accordingly, it would be beneficial for next generation applications to exploit inventive transceiver structures and communication schemes in order to achieve the sub nJ per bit energy efficiencies required by next generation applications.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2019Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: Transfert Plus Societe en CommanditeInventors: Frederic Nabki, Dominic Deslandes, Mohammad Taherzadeh-Sani, Michiel Soer
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Patent number: 11159151Abstract: Systems and methods related to calibrating a phase interpolator by amplifying timing differences are described. An example system includes a calibration stage configured to output a calibration code for a phase interpolator. The system further includes control logic configured to: (1) at least partially discharge a first pre-charged capacitive load in response to a signal output by the phase interpolator based on the calibration code, and (2) at least partially discharge a second pre-charged capacitive load in response to a reference signal associated with the phase interpolator. The system further includes a feedback path configured to provide feedback to the calibration stage to allow for a modification of the calibration code, where the feedback is dependent on a first voltage provided by the first pre-charged capacitive load and a second voltage provided by the second pre-charged capacitive load.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2020Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Ping Lu, Minhan Chen
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Patent number: 11133808Abstract: A tracking system for a digital Phase Locked Loop (PLL), the tracking system including a PLL model configured to emulate an actual internal PLL signal, wherein the emulation is based on another internal PLL signal received from the digital PLL and on an estimated analog PLL parameter of the PLL model; and a tracker configured to compare the emulated internal PLL signal with the actual internal PLL signal, and to update the estimated analog PLL parameter according to a minimization algorithm that minimizes a result of the comparison.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2019Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventor: Francesco Brandonisio
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Patent number: 11031926Abstract: A digital clock circuit is provided. The digital clock circuit includes a first sub-circuit comprising a first digitally-controlled oscillator driven by a frequency control word to control a first output frequency synthesized from multiple first pulses, and a first frequency divider to generate a trigger signal having a frequency equal to 1/M of the first output frequency. The digital clock circuit also includes a second sub-circuit comprising a loop of feedback including a frequency detector to compare an input frequency with a feedback frequency, a controller to adjust the frequency control word, a second digitally-controlled oscillator driven by the frequency control word plus a constant to control a second output frequency synthesized from multiple second pulses induced by the trigger signal, and a second frequency divider to set the feedback frequency equal to 1/N of the second output frequency in the loop of feedback.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2019Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignees: Beijing BOE Technology Development Co., Ltd., BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.Inventors: Xiangye Wei, Liming Xiu, Yiming Bai, Xin Li
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Patent number: 10972080Abstract: Clock generation and control in a semiconductor system having process, voltage and temperature (PVT) variation. A semiconductor device may include at least first and second ring oscillators, each disposed at locations respectively closest to first and second logic circuits of an operation circuit, and generating first and second oscillating signals. A detecting circuit is configured to perform a predetermined logic operation on the first oscillating signal and the second oscillating signal to generate a first clock signal. A calibration circuit is configured to receive the first clock signal from the detecting circuit and perform a delay control on each of the first ring oscillator and the second ring oscillator to generate a second clock signal for operating the operation circuit.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2020Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Yong Hwan Kim, Wook Kim, Ji Youn Kim
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Patent number: 10958491Abstract: The present disclosure includes a time-to-digital converter (TDC) based RF-to-digital (RDC) data converter for time domain signal processing polar receivers. Polar data conversion achieves better SNR tolerance owing to its phase convergence near the origin in a polar coordinate. The proposed RDC consists of a TDC for phase detection and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for amplitude conversion. Unlike the conversional data converter, the proposed ADC's sampling position is guided by the detected phase result from the TDC's output. This TDC assisted data-converter architecture reduces the number of bits required for the ADC. In addition, oversampling is no longer needed. With precisely controlled tunable delay cells and gain compensator, this hybrid data convertor is capable to directly convert Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) waveforms and Amplitude Phase Shift Keying (APSK) waveforms directly from the RF signal without down-conversion.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2020Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: Auburn UniversityInventors: Fa Dai, Hechen Wang
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Patent number: 10958162Abstract: A dual loop regulated switched-capacitor converter circuit includes a switched capacitor array that includes a plurality of switches and capacitors; a digital controller for controlling the switched capacitor array; a pulse modulator connected to the digital controller; a clock generator connected to the digital controller; a first comparator connected to the pulse modulator; and a feedback network connected to the first comparator.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2019Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: Vidatronic, Inc.Inventors: Sameh Assem Ibrahim, Mohammad Ahmed Radwan, Michael A Nix
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Patent number: 10944412Abstract: Methods and circuits are provided for range extension of a phase-locked loop (PLL). The PLL uses a phase subtractor with a limited unextended range. It also includes first and second registers and combinatorial logic. The phase subtractor calculates the current phase difference. The first register stores the previous phase difference. The combinatorial logic determines, from the current phase difference and the previous phase difference, if a range excursion occurs, and if it is upward or downward. When an upward excursion occurs, the value in the second register is incremented. When a downward excursion occurs, the value of the second register is decremented. The bits in the second register are combined with the bits of the current phase difference to obtain an extended current phase difference.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2019Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: Perceptia IP Pty LtdInventor: Julian Jenkins
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Patent number: 10848137Abstract: A C-element circuit for use in an oscillator or the like includes a first input terminal for receiving a first input signal, a second input terminal for receiving a second input signal, and an output latch for providing an output signal based on a relationship between the two input signals. A stack of input transistors is included with an outer pair of input transistors with gates connected to the first input terminal and an inner pair of input transistors with gates connected to a second input terminal. A balancing circuit operates to equalize a first delay of a change in the first input signal affecting the output signal with a second delay of a change in the second input signal affecting the output signal. Bypass control techniques are provided for using the C-element circuit with a single input.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2019Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignees: ATI Technologies ULC, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.Inventors: Mikhail Rodionov, Stephen Victor Kosonocky, Joyce Cheuk Wai Wong
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Patent number: 10727846Abstract: A phase-locked loop (PLL) including a multiplexer with multiple inputs, each input coupled to receive a different reference clock. A time-to-digital converter (TDC) generates a TDC output value based on a phase difference between a reference clock from the multiplexer and a feedback clock. An averager circuit coupled to an output of the TDC. An adder circuit is coupled to outputs of the TDC and the averager circuit. A loop filter is coupled to an output of the adder circuit.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2019Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Jayawardan Janardhanan, Christopher Andrew Schell, Arvind Sridhar, Sinjeet Dhanvantray Parekh
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Patent number: 10693480Abstract: A PLL has a frequency comparator that is active during lock-in. It outputs a signal related to the difference between the oscillator frequency and a target frequency. It captures an initial phase and observes change in phase relative to the initial phase. Two ways of capturing the initial phase are provided. The frequency comparator can provide input signals for the loop filter and make the PLL act as a frequency-locked loop during lock-in. Alternatively, it can provide input signals for a search controller that may perform a binary or other search. The frequency comparator may wait one or more cycles of the reference clock signal to reduce noise, or it may set a threshold to eliminate some noise. It may signal that the oscillator frequency equals the target frequency when the threshold has not been exceeded after a timeout. The search controller may directly or indirectly control the PLL's oscillator.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2019Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Inventor: Julian Jenkins
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Patent number: 10685617Abstract: A display device having a charging compensation circuit to reduce/eliminate display stains based on pixels being charged at unequal charging rates. A data driving circuit of a display device includes an output circuit for converting an image signal into a data signal in response to a clock signal, and providing the data signal to a plurality of data lines, and a clock generating and compensating circuit for receiving a main clock signal and generating the clock signal, wherein the clock generating and compensating circuit detects a slew rate of the data signal provided to at least one of the plurality of data lines, and adjusts a phase of the clock signal depending on the detected slew rate.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2018Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.Inventors: Taegon Im, Boyeon Kim, Dongwon Park, Junghwan Cho
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Patent number: 10651862Abstract: A phase-locked loop (PLL) has a first divider that receives a first reference clock signal and supplies a first divided reference clock signal. A second divider receives a second reference clock signal and supplies a second divided reference clock signal. On switching between use of reference clock signals, when the phase difference between the first divided signal and the second divided signal includes one or more clock periods of the second reference clock signal, the PLL performs a phase adjust to remove the one or more clock periods. The phase adjust can be performed in the feedback divider or as an offset in the loop if digital edges of the clock signals are available. The phase adjust ensures the phase adjust on the PLL output caused by switching reference clocks is the phase difference between the reference clock signals before division.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2019Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.Inventors: James D. Barnette, Krishnan Balakrishnan
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Patent number: 10637637Abstract: A method for fixing a dead-zone in a clock and data recovery (CDR) circuit is disclosed herein. The CDR circuit includes a CDR block and a phase interpolator, the CDR block is configured to generate phase codes based on signals from a phase detector, and the phase interpolator is configured to adjust a phase of a clock signal based on the phase codes. The method includes waiting for the CDR circuit to lock, reading a first phase code from the CDR block, changing the first phase code by a first amount to obtain a second phase code, and inputting the second phase code to the phase interpolator.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2019Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Hadi Goudarzi, Jon Boyette, Eskinder Hailu, Julian Puscar
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Patent number: 10630299Abstract: A system for assigning a characterization and calibrating a parameter is disclosed. The system includes a frequency measurement circuit and a finite state machine. The frequency measurement circuit is configured to measure frequencies of an oscillatory signal and to generate a measurement signal including measured frequencies. The finite state machine is configured to control measurements by the frequency measurement circuit, to assign a characterization to a parameter based on the measurement signal, and to generate a calibration signal based on the characterized parameter.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2019Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Cho-Ying Lu, William Yee Li, Khoa Minh Nguyen, Ashoke Ravi, Maneesha Yellepeddi, Binta M. Patel
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Patent number: 10605861Abstract: The present invention discloses a test device for testing an integrated circuit. An embodiment of the test device includes an on-chip-clock controller (OCC), a pulse debugging circuit and a register circuit. The OCC is configured to generate an output clock according to an input clock, in which the output clock is for testing a circuitry under test (CUT) that is included in the test device. The pulse debugging circuit is configured to generate a pulse record according to a pulse number of the output clock, in which the pulse record is used to find out whether a test status dependent upon the output clock is abnormal. The register circuit is configured to store and output the pulse record according to a reliable clock.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2018Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Po-Lin Chen, Chun-Yi Kuo, Ying-Yen Chen
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Patent number: 10594300Abstract: A frequency synthesizer includes a hardware digital controlled oscillator (HDCO) running at a first clock rate fS for generating an output clock signal in response to a control input, and a digital phase locked loop (DPLL) responsive to a reference input sampled at a second clock rate fsamp, the first clock rate fS being N times greater than the second clock rate fsamp, The DPLL includes a loop filter and a software digital controlled oscillator (SDCO). A first, first order linear interpolation anti-imaging filter running at a clock rate higher than said second clock rate fsamp is coupled to an output of the loop filter for providing the control input to the HDCO. A second, first order linear interpolation anti-imaging filter running at said second clock rate coupled to the output of said loop filter to provide an input to said SDCO.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2018Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Microsemi Semiconductor ULCInventor: Qu Gary Jin
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Patent number: 10567154Abstract: A Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) transmitter is presented for used in ultra-low-power radios in short range IoT applications. The power consumption of state-of-the-art BLE transmitter has been limited by the relatively power-hungry local oscillator due to the use of LC oscillators for superior phase noise performance. This disclosure addresses this issue by analyzing the phase noise limit of a BLE TX and proposes a ring oscillator-based solution for power and cost savings. The proposed transmitter features: 1) a wideband all-digital phase locked loop (ADPLL) featuring an fRF/4 RO, with an embedded 5-bit TDC; 2) a 4× frequency edge combiner to generate the 2.4 GHz signal; and 3) a switch-capacitor digital PA optimized for high efficiency at low transmit power levels. These not only help reduce the power consumption and improve phase noise performance, but also enhance the transmitter efficiency for short range applications.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2018Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGANInventors: David D. Wentzloff, Xing Chen
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Patent number: 10560109Abstract: An integrated circuit includes phase locked loop (PLL) circuitry, voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) circuitry, and interface circuitry. The PLL circuitry includes a reference signal input terminal, a reference frequency divider circuit, a reference signal output terminal, a switch, a phase detector, a charge pump, and a control voltage output terminal. The reference frequency divider circuit is coupled to the reference signal input terminal. The switch is coupled to the reference frequency divider circuit and to the reference signal output terminal. The switch is configured to switchably connect the reference frequency divider circuit to the reference signal output terminal. The VCO circuitry includes a control voltage input terminal, a VCO, calibration circuitry, and a calibration input/output (I/O) terminal. The VCO is coupled to the control voltage input terminal. The calibration circuitry is coupled to the VCO. The calibration I/O terminal is coupled to the calibration circuitry.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2018Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventor: Simon Jacques Damphousse
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Patent number: 10498344Abstract: A phase-locked loop (PLL) including a multiplexer with multiple inputs, each input coupled to receive a different reference clock. A time-to-digital converter (TDC) generates a TDC output value based on a phase difference between a reference clock from the multiplexer and a feedback clock. An averager circuit coupled to an output of the TDC. An adder circuit is coupled to outputs of the TDC and the averager circuit. A loop filter is coupled to an output of the adder circuit.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2018Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Jayawardan Janardhanan, Christopher Andrew Schell, Arvind Sridhar, Sinjeet Dhanvantray Parekh
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Patent number: 10498562Abstract: Provided is an electric signal transmission device which corrects a data error caused by data transition in a pulse amplitude modulation signal to increase an EYE width. The electric signal transmission device can operate as follows: A data pattern determined by an equalizer and a phase relationship between data and a clock detected by a phase detector are used to calculate a correction amount according to the data pattern and the phase relationship, and the received data is corrected to a correct value by adding a correction amount in a data transition direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2016Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventor: Takayasu Norimatsu
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Patent number: 10439561Abstract: An output of a first amplifier is coupled to an input of a first track and hold circuit and an input of a second track and hold circuit. An input of a first summing circuit is also coupled to an output of the first track and hold circuit and an output of the second track and hold circuit. In addition, an input of a second summing circuit is coupled to the output of the first track and hold circuit and the output of the second track and hold circuit. Moreover, an input of a third summing circuit coupled to an output of a modulator and an output of the second summing circuit, and an output of the third summing circuit coupled to an input of the first amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2018Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventor: Adam Lee Shook
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Patent number: 10389366Abstract: A gear-shifting serializer-deserializer (SerDes) is provided that uses a first divisor value to form a divided clock while de-serializing a serial data stream prior to a lock detection and that uses a second divisor value to form the divided clock value after the lock detection, wherein the second divisor value is greater than the first divisor value.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2018Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Eskinder Hailu, Bupesh Pandita, Jon Boyette
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Patent number: 10374614Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods using the apparatuses. Some of the apparatuses include a phase frequency detector to generate output information having a value based on a relationship between a first clock signal and a second clock signal, a memory element to store the values of the output information, a digital control oscillator to generate the second clock signal having a phase and frequency based on a digital code, the digital code having a value based on control information, and circuitry to generate the control information based on conditions determined at least from the values stored in the memory element.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2017Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Gerhard Schrom, Sarath Makala, Kowshik Gandham, Chun Lee
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Patent number: 10340923Abstract: A system for assigning a characterization and calibrating a parameter is disclosed. The system includes a frequency measurement circuit and a finite state machine. The frequency measurement circuit is configured to measure frequencies of an oscillatory signal and to generate a measurement signal including measured frequencies. The finite state machine is configured to control measurements by the frequency measurement circuit, to assign a characterization to a parameter based on the measurement signal, and to generate a calibration signal based on the characterized parameter.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2016Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Cho-Ying Lu, William Yee Li, Khoa Minh Nguyen, Ashoke Ravi, Maneesha Yellepeddi, Binta M. Patel
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Patent number: 10298244Abstract: A frequency synthesizer generates a wide range of frequencies from a single oscillator while achieving good noise performance. A cascaded phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit includes a first PLL circuit with an LC voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) and a second PLL circuit with a ring VCO. A feedforward path from the first PLL circuit to the second PLL circuit provides means and signal path for cancellation of phase noise, thereby reducing or eliminating spur and quantization effects. The frequency synthesizer can directly generate in-phase and quadrature phase output signals. A split-tuned ring-based VCO is controlled via a phase error detection loop to reduce or eliminate phase error between the quadrature signals.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2017Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: Rambus Inc.Inventors: Masum Hossain, Farshid Aryanfar
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Patent number: 10218364Abstract: A time to digital converter has a counter to measure the number of cycles of a first signal, a first phase difference detector to generate a phase difference signal having a pulse width corresponding to a phase difference, a first capacitor to be charged with an electric charge, a second capacitor including capacitance N times the capacitance of the first capacitor, the N being a real number larger than 1, a comparator to compare a charge voltage of the first capacitor and a charge voltage of the second capacitor, a first charge controller to continue to charge the second capacitor until the comparator detects that the charge voltage of the second capacitor has reached the charge voltage of the first capacitor or more, and a first phase difference arithmetic unit to operate the phase difference between the first signal and the second signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2017Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Akihide Sai, Masanori Furuta, Tetsuro Itakura, Satoshi Kondo, Hidenori Okuni, Tuan Thanh Ta
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Patent number: 10181856Abstract: A Digital Phase Locked Loop (DPLL), including a Time-to-Digital Converter (TDC) configured generate quantized phase values of a Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) signal; and a frequency estimation circuit configured to receive the quantized phase values, determine wraparound phase of the quantized phase values, and least-squares estimate a frequency based on the quantized phase values and the wraparound phase.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Intel IP CorporationInventors: Elan Banin, Roy Amel, Ran Shimon, Ashoke Ravi, Nati Dinur
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Patent number: 10169140Abstract: A mechanism is provided for loading a phase-locked loop (PLL) configuration into a PLL module using Flash memory. A Flash data image configuration from the Flash memory is loaded into a set of holding registers in response to the PLL module locking a current PLL configuration from a set of current configuration registers. The Flash data image configuration in the set of holding registers is compared to the current PLL configuration in the set of current configuration registers in response to the Flash data image configuration failing to be corrupted. The Flash data image configuration onto a PLL module input in response to the Flash data image configuration differing from the current PLL configuration. The Flash data image configuration is loaded in the set of holding registers into the set of current configuration registers in response to the PLL module locking the Flash data image configuration.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2016Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Gerald M. Grabowski, Daniel F. Moertl, Michael J. Palmer, Kelvin Wong
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Patent number: 10128881Abstract: A time to digital converter has a counter, a first phase difference detector, a first capacitor, a second capacitor having capacitance N times a capacitance of the first capacitor, a comparator to compare a charge voltage of the first capacitor with a charge voltage of the second capacitor, a first charge controller, a first phase difference arithmetic unit, a second phase difference detector, a second charge controller, a second phase difference arithmetic unit to operate the phase difference between the first signal and the second signal, and a third phase difference arithmetic unit to detect a fractional phase difference between the first signal and the second signal. The first phase difference arithmetic unit operates the phase difference between the first signal and the second signal, based on a reference phase, when the counter suspends a measurement operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2017Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Satoshi Kondo, Akihide Sai, Tuan Thanh Ta, Hidenori Okuni, Masanori Furuta, Tetsuro Itakura
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Patent number: 10067224Abstract: A time to digital converter (TDC) may include a sampling stage configured to sample an input signal based upon a plurality of timing signals having different respective phases, and provide a respective output for each of the different timing signals. A first synchronization stage may be configured to receive the outputs from the sampling stage, synchronize a first subset of the outputs to a first one of the plurality of timing signals, and synchronize a second subset of the outputs to a second one of the plurality of timing signals. A second synchronization stage may be configured to receive the synchronized outputs from the first synchronization stage, and synchronize all of the synchronized outputs from the first synchronization stage to the first one of the plurality of timing signals.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2015Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITEDInventors: John Kevin Moore, Neale Dutton
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Patent number: 10048719Abstract: The configuration of an apparatus for automatically calibrating a clock of a non-crystal oscillator and method thereof are disclosed. The proposed method for automatically calibrating the clock of the non-crystal oscillator includes sending a NACK signal to a host and fine-tuning the clock of the non-crystal oscillator via a frequency calibration system for non-crystal oscillator when a USB device receives an in-token command from the host, and outputting a datum from the USB device to the host.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2016Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: WELTREND SEMICONDUCTOR INC.Inventor: Fu-Yuan Hsiao
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Patent number: 9954540Abstract: A system that generates a click signal includes a first digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) having a first fundamental frequency, and a second DCO having a second fundamental frequency. The system also includes a Muller C-element, which combines outputs of the first and second DCOs to produce the clock signal, which feeds back into the first and second DCOs. During a calibration operation, while the second DCO is set to a frequency larger than the target frequency, the system adjusts the first DCO with reference to a first feedback loop, which includes the first DCO, so that the clock signal matches the target frequency, and while the first DCO is set to the adjusted first fundamental frequency plus a frequency offset, the system adjusts the second DCO with reference to a second feedback loop, which includes the second DCO, so that the clock signal matches the target frequency.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2017Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: Oracle International CorporationInventors: Yifan YangGong, Sebastian Turullols, Changku Hwang, Nicolas M. Huynh, Daniel S. Woo
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Patent number: 9954538Abstract: A master-slave delay locked loop system comprises a master delay locked loop (“MDLL”) and at least one slave delay locked loop (“SDLL”). The MDLL generates one or more biases. Each of the at least one SDLL has a slave calibration unit and slave delay elements. The slave calibration unit calibrates the slave delay elements using a slave calibration loop and the generated one or more bias. Thus, each of the SDLL is calibrated to account for any electrical noise, pressure, voltage, and temperature variations that the respective SDLL experiences.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2016Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: Invecas, Inc.Inventors: Narasimhan Vasudevan, Venkata N. S. N. Rao, Prasad Chalasani
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Patent number: 9939839Abstract: A clock calibrator for use in an electronic system comprising an integrated circuit such as a microcontroller. The clock calibrator embodies a frequency adjustment facility adapted dynamically to adjust the frequency of one or more high-frequency clock generators as a function of a lower-frequency reference clock.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2015Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: Ambiq Micro, Inc.Inventor: Stephen James Sheafor