With Delay Means Patents (Class 327/161)
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Publication number: 20140062556Abstract: A multiphase clock divider includes: a reference clock generator for generating a plurality of reference clocks; and at least one output clock generator including a first multiplexer for selecting to output a selected reference clock, a second multiplexer for selecting to output a first selected input clock, a third multiplexer for selecting to output a second selected input clock, a first flip-flop for outputting a first sampling clock according to the selected reference clock and the first selected input clock, a second flip-flop for outputting a second sampling clock according to the first sampling clock and the second selected input clock, and a fourth multiplexer for selecting to output the first sampling clock or the second sampling clock to generate an output clock.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2012Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: NOVATEK MICROELECTRONICS CORP.Inventor: Yi-Kuang Chen
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Publication number: 20140055185Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a delay circuit connected between a source of data bits and a data input terminal of a latch circuit. The delay circuit includes a first delay section formed by connecting logic devices in series corresponding to a number of logic devices included in a clock signal path between a clock signal source and the latch circuit data input. The delay circuit also includes a second delay section having a delay time equal to an interconnect delay time corresponding to a wiring length of the clock signal path.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2013Publication date: February 27, 2014Applicant: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: MASAKUNI KAWAGOE
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Publication number: 20140055184Abstract: Apparatuses, integrated circuits, and methods are disclosed for synchronizing data signals with a command signal. In one such example apparatus, an input control circuit is configured to provide an input clock signal responsive to a data clock signal. A delay circuit is configured to delay the data clock signal corresponding to a propagation delay of a command signal. An output control circuit is configured to provide an output clock signal responsive to the delayed data clock signal and a buffer circuit is configured to capture data responsive to the input clock signal, with the buffer circuit further configured to provide the captured data responsive to the output clock signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2012Publication date: February 27, 2014Applicant: Micron Technology, IncInventor: Vijayakrishna J. Vankayala
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Patent number: 8648636Abstract: In one embodiment, multiple (serializer-deserializer) SERDES channels are aligned by selectively slipping one or more of the incoming serial data streams one bit at a time prior to deserialization. Within each SERDES channel, a slip circuit slips the corresponding serial data stream by one bit (i.e., one unit interval (UI)) by extending the high portion of the duty cycle of a corresponding clock signal. The high portion of the clock signal is extended using a 3-to-1 mux that selects a fixed high signal, such as the high power supply rail, as an intermediate mux output signal whenever transitioning between two different applied clock signals that are offset from one another by one UI. In this way, the slip circuit avoids glitches that might otherwise result from switching directly between the two clock signals.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2013Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Lattice Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Phillip Johnson, Richard Booth, Paulius Mosinkis
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Patent number: 8649419Abstract: A method for compensator for comparator offset is provided. A first propagation delay for a first signal traversing a comparator to a first output terminal of the comparator and a second propagation delay for a second signal traversing the comparator to a second output terminal of the comparator are measured. The first and second propagation delays are then compared to generate a comparison result, and the comparator is adjusted to compensate for an input voltage offset based at least in part on the comparison result.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2011Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventor: Robert F. Payne
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Publication number: 20140035639Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device that includes: a plurality of delay circuits each including an input node, an output node, a first power node and a second power node, and a control circuit. The delay circuits are coupled in series with the input node of a leading delay circuit receiving a first clock signal and the output node of a last delay circuit producing a second clock signal. The control circuit coupled to receive the first and second clock signals to control an operating voltage supplied between the first and second power lines. The first power nodes of the delay circuits are connected in common to the first power line, and the second power nodes the delay circuits are connected in common to the second power line.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: Elpida Memory, Inc.Inventors: Katsuhiro KITAGAWA, Hiroki TAKAHASHI
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Patent number: 8643416Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a DLL circuit, which comprises: a delay unit generating a second clock signal by delaying a first clock signal; a phase comparator circuit comparing the first clock signal and a signal generated by further delaying the second clock signal; a counter circuit outputting a count value that determines a delay amount of the delay unit to the delay unit, and up/down operating in response to the result of the phase comparison by the phase comparator circuit; and an initial delay amount control circuit detecting a cycle of the first clock signal at the time of initial setting operation, and outputting an initial value of the count value depending upon the detected cycle to the counter circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2012Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.Inventor: Ryo Fujimaki
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Patent number: 8643417Abstract: A method and apparatus for scaling a DLL code for a slave DLL operating at a different frequency than a master DLL is disclosed. An apparatus includes a master DLL coupled to receive a first clock signal and a group of series-coupled slave DLLs coupled to receive a second clock signal. The master DLL may provide a specified fraction of a cycle of the first clock signal. Scaling circuitry coupled between the master DLL and the group of slave DLLs may determine a ratio of frequencies of the first clock signal to the second clock signal. Based on the ratio and a delay code from the first DLL, the scaling circuitry may generate an adjusted delay code received by the group of slave DLLs to set a delay for the second clock signal to the specified fraction.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2012Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Diarmuid P. Ross, Douglas C. Lee, David S. Warren
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Patent number: 8633750Abstract: The present invention relates to a delay control circuit and a method of controlling delay of an output signal generating based on an input signal, wherein a plurality of delayed replicas of a reference signal are generated with dedicated time delays with respect to the reference signal and are sampled at a predetermined timing defined by the input signal. One of the delayed replicas is selected based on the output of the sampling means, and the output signal is generated based on the selected replica. Thereby, a predetermined phase relationship can be generated even in cases where no strict phase relation is given between data and reference signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2005Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: NXP B.V.Inventor: Bernardus M. Kup
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Patent number: 8627134Abstract: A local skew detecting circuit for a semiconductor apparatus include a reference delay block located on the center of the semiconductor apparatus, the reference delay block being configured to receive a predetermined signal and generate a reference delay signal by delaying the predetermined signal by a delay time and a first timing detecting block located on one edge of the semiconductor apparatus, the first timing detecting block being configured to receive the predetermined signal, generate a first delay signal by delaying the predetermined signal by the delay time, and detect an enable timing order of the reference delay signal and the first delay signal to generate a first detection signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2011Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.Inventor: Hong-Sok Choi
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Patent number: 8624685Abstract: Increasing loop gain is a common practice for reducing lock time of phase locked loops. Very high loop gains, however, often result in increasing the lock time or causing loop instability. For very high loop gains, delaying the feedback clock signal along the feedback path of a phase locked loop decreases lock time and prevents instability. A delay circuit may be used at any location along the feedback path of the phase locked loop.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2011Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Shizhong Mei
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Patent number: 8618853Abstract: A device in which a clock generation circuit is connected to a counter circuit for controlling operation timing of a DLL circuit or the like, and the counter circuit is intermittently operated by intermittently supplying a clock signal to the counter circuit from the clock generation circuit.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2013Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Inventors: Yoshio Mizukane, Hiroki Fujisawa
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Publication number: 20130321052Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for shifting data signals are disclosed herein. An apparatus may comprise a clock generation circuit, a delay path, and a driver. The clock generation circuit may be configured to receive an input clock signal and generate a plurality of clock signals based, at least in part, on the clock signal. A delay path may be coupled to the clock generation circuit and configured to receive the input clock signal and the plurality of clock signals. The delay path may be further configured to receive a data signal and delay the data signal based, at least in part, on the input clock signal and each of the plurality of clock signals. A driver may be coupled to the delay path and configured to receive the delayed data signal, and may further be configured to provide the delayed data signal to a bus.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2012Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Brian Huber, Parthasarathy Gajapathy
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Patent number: 8598925Abstract: Circuits and methods for identifying or verifying frequencies are disclosed herein. A frequency verification circuit comprises: an input port for receiving an input signal; a phase frequency difference detector for determining a difference in phase and frequency between the input signal and a feedback signal and for providing a control signal based on the detected difference; a voltage controlled crystal oscillator for producing an output signal based on the control signal; and a feedback loop including a feedback divider for frequency dividing the output signal by a factor R to produce the feedback signal, the feedback divider being programmable to a plurality of values of the factor R to correspond to a plurality of different test frequencies.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2012Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Nanowave Technologies Inc.Inventors: Charles William Tremlett Nicholls, Walid Hamdane
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Publication number: 20130314136Abstract: Techniques for controlling a driver to reduce data dependent noise, such as simultaneous switching effects and cross-talk effects. A plurality of drivers may each receive a data segment to transmit and a plurality of data segments that other drivers will transmit. A driver controller may adjust the time at which the data segment is transmitted in response to the plurality of data segments that the other drivers will transmit. The adjustment may compensate for simultaneous switching noise and cross-talk by, for example, delaying the transmission of a data segment or changing the slew rate of the signal carrying the data segment.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2013Publication date: November 28, 2013Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Chang Ki Kwon, Greg A. Blodgett
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Publication number: 20130307598Abstract: An apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes an analog timing controller and a digital state machine. An input circuit in the digital state machine is configured to receive a plurality of analog input signals, and an analog event circuit is coupled to the analog timing circuit, the glitch filter, and the input circuit. The analog event circuit and input circuit are configured to generate a composite event signal from the analog input signals and by using the analog timing circuit. The glitch filter is configured to receive the composite event signal. A clock generator also is coupled to the glitch filter, wherein the clock generator is configured to generate an aperiodic clock signal. The aperiodic clock signal is configured to be a synchronous clock signal for the digital state machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2012Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Gary F. Chard, Scott A. Morrison, Susan A. Curtis, Daniel A. King
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Publication number: 20130307599Abstract: An input buffer includes a select signal generation unit configured to detect a phase of a clock at generation times of first and second delayed signals according to a test signal, and generate first and second select signals according to a phase combination of the detected phase of the clock; and a delay output unit configured to output any one of the first and second delayed signals as a delayed command address in response to the first and second select signals and the test signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2012Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: SK HYNIX INC.Inventor: Haeng Seon CHAE
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Publication number: 20130307600Abstract: A delay element 3 delays an output signal Dt from an arithmetic circuit 1 and outputs a delayed signal Dd. An XOR element 4 compares the output signal Dt with the delayed signal Dd, and outputs an XORout signal with the signal value “0” when the signals match each other, and outputs an XORout signal with the signal value “1” when the signals do not match each other. In a flip-flop 61, when the signal value of the XORout signal at the rise of a clock of a clock signal CK is “0”, the output signal Dt is output from a flip-flop 6, and when the signal value of the XORout signal at the rise of the clock becomes “1” even once, a fixed value of the signal value “0” continues to be output.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2011Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Tsuneo Sato, Teruyoshi Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 8588270Abstract: The invention includes a method for transmitting and detecting high speed Ultra Wideband pulses across a wireless interface. The transmitter includes a serializer and pulse generator. The receiver comprises a fixed delay line, multiplier, local serializer (with a sequence matching the transmitter), digital delay lines, low noise amplifier and logic fan-out buffer along with an array of D flip-flop pairs. Each flip-flop pair is enabled, at fixed time increments, to detect signals at a precise time; the timing is controlled by the pseudo-random sequence generated by the local serializer. A local tunable oscillator is controlled by detecting the phase change of the incoming signal and applying compensation to maintain the phase alignment and clock synchronization of the receiver to the clock reference of the transmitter. The invention uses a pair of pulses with a fixed delay and then relies on mixing the two to provide better noise immunity.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2012Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: University of South FloridaInventor: James L. Tucker
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Publication number: 20130300478Abstract: An edge alignment apparatus includes: a signal source, for generating a first and a second square wave signals; a phase delay circuit, for receiving the first and the second square wave signals to generate a delayed first and a delayed second square wave signals; a data circuit, for generating a third square wave signal according to the delayed second square wave signal; and a phase calibrating circuit, for receiving the third square wave signal and the delayed first squared wave signal to generate at least one phase tuning signal to the phase delay circuit for tuning a phase difference between the delayed first and the delayed second square wave signals, such that a signal edge of the third square wave signal aligns with that of the first square wave signal. The first, second and third square wave signals have a same frequency.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2013Publication date: November 14, 2013Applicant: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Ming-Yu Hsieh, Sheng-Che Tseng, Chih-Ming Hung
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Patent number: 8570087Abstract: The present invention provide a clock circuit and a method for providing a clock signal. The clock circuit includes: an adaptive clock generation circuit, configured to output an adaptive clock signal; and an adaptive clock driven circuit, configured to be driven by the adaptive clock signal to work. A maximum workable frequency of the adaptive clock driven circuit is higher than or equal to a frequency of the adaptive clock signal. When a working condition of the adaptive clock driven circuit is changed, the maximum workable frequency of the adaptive clock driven circuit is changed, the frequency of the adaptive clock signal which is output by the adaptive clock generation circuit is changed, and a changing direction of the frequency of an adaptive clock signal is consistent with that of the maximum workable frequency. The clock circuit and method may be used in design or manufacturing of a digital circuit.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2011Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shiming He, Liqian Chen, Cong Yao, Xiang Li, Yu Liu, Jiayin Lu
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Publication number: 20130272079Abstract: Examples of command latency systems and methods are described. In some examples, phase information associated with a received command signal is stored, a received command signal is propagated through a reduced clock flip-flop pipeline and the delayed command signal is combined with the stored phase information. The reduced clock flip-flop pipeline may use a clock having a lower frequency than that used to issue the command signal. Accordingly, fewer flip-flops may be required.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2013Publication date: October 17, 2013Inventor: Donald M. Morgan
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Patent number: 8559581Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2011Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tomokazu Tanaka, Hidekazu Kikuchi
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Publication number: 20130265090Abstract: Apparatuses, circuits, and methods are disclosed for reducing or eliminating unintended operation resulting from metastability in data synchronization. In one such example apparatus, a sampling circuit is configured to provide four samples of a data input signal. A first and a second of the four samples are associated with a first edge of a latching signal, and a third and a fourth of the four samples are associated with a second edge of the latching signal. A masking circuit is configured to selectively mask a signal corresponding to one of the four samples responsive to the four samples not sharing a common logic level. The masking circuit is also configured to provide a decision signal responsive to selectively masking or not masking the signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2012Publication date: October 10, 2013Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Yantao Ma
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Patent number: 8552776Abstract: Apparatuses and methods related to altering the timing of command signals for executing commands is disclosed. One such method includes calculating a forward path delay of a clock circuit in terms of a number of clock cycles of an output clock signal provided by the clock circuit and adding a number of additional clock cycles of delay to a forward path delay of a signal path. The forward path delay of the clock circuit is representative of the forward path delay of the signal path and the number of additional clock cycles is based at least in part on the number of clock cycles of forward path delay.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2012Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jongtae Kwak, Kallol Mazumder
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Patent number: 8553503Abstract: In one embodiment, a timing relationship between two signals on an integrated circuit is measured using a ring oscillator on the die of the integrated circuit. The measured time difference is outputted in a digital form. A delay line coupled to the ring oscillator may be used to reduce uncertainty in measurement which may result from the effects of latch circuit metastability. Other embodiments are described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2008Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Igor V. Molchanov, Matthew W. Heath
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Publication number: 20130249524Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, voltage converters and computed on-time voltage converters. In an example, an on-time generator for a voltage converter can include a timing capacitor configured to provide a timing voltage, a comparator configured to receive the timing voltage and a threshold voltage and to provide the timing signal using a comparison of the timing voltage and the threshold voltage, a current source configured to discharge the timing voltage of the timing capacitor after a start-up delay, and first and second compensation capacitors configured to bias the timing voltage of the timing capacitor to compensate for the start-up delay.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: Fairchild Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Juha-Matti Kujala, Jouni MiKa Kalervo Vuorinen
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Publication number: 20130249612Abstract: A low-power, high-performance source-synchronous chip interface which provides rapid turn-on and facilitates high signaling rates between a transmitter and a receiver located on different chips is described in various embodiments. Some embodiments of the chip interface include, among others: a segmented “fast turn-on” bias circuit to reduce power supply ringing during the rapid power-on process; current mode logic clock buffers in a clock path of the chip interface to further reduce the effect of power supply ringing; a multiplying injection-locked oscillator (MILO) clock generator to generate higher frequency clock signals from a reference clock; a digitally controlled delay line which can be inserted in the clock path to mitigate deterministic jitter caused by the MILO clock generator; and circuits for periodically re-evaluating whether it is safe to retime transmit data signals in the reference clock domain directly with the faster clock signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2012Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: RAMBUS INC.Inventors: Jared L. Zerbe, Brian S. Leibowitz, Hsuan-Jung Su, John Cronan Eble, III, Barry William Daly, Lei Luo, Teva J. Stone, John Wilson, Jihong Ren, Wayne D. Dettloff
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Patent number: 8542552Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a DLL circuit including a delay chain, a plurality of phase comparators, and a controller. The plurality of phase comparators receive the reference clocks individually and receive respectively the clocks from the delay elements in mutually different stages, among the delay elements of the plurality of stages. The controller simultaneously receives comparison results of the plurality of phase comparators, determines the number of stages that generate the clock of which a phase is synchronized with a phase of the reference clock from among the delay elements of the plurality of stages, and selects the number of output stages from among the delay elements of the plurality of stages based on the determined number of stages so that a delay clock having a demanded delay amount with respect to the reference clock is output.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2012Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Akira Aoki
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Patent number: 8542042Abstract: One embodiment relates to a fracture-able PLL circuit. The fracture-able PLL circuit includes a first phase-locked loop circuit generating a first frequency output, a second phase-locked loop circuit; arranged to generate a second frequency output, and a plurality of shared output resources. Reconfigurable circuitry is arranged so that either of the first and second frequency outputs is receivable by each of the plurality of shared output resources. Another embodiment relates to an integrated circuit which includes a plurality of PMA modules, a plurality of multiple-purpose PLL circuits, and a programmable clock network. The programmable clock network is arranged to allow the clock signals output by the multiple-purpose PLL circuits to be selectively used either by the PMA modules for a transceiver application or by other circuitry for a non-transceiver application. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2012Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Altera CorporationInventors: Tien Duc Pham, Sergey Shumarayev, Richard G. Cliff
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Patent number: 8542049Abstract: Various embodiments of a method of configuring a delay circuit for generating a plurality of delays in a delay line and a delay circuit configurable for generating plurality of delays are provided. The method includes determining, through a control circuit coupled with a delay line set, a first number of delay steps corresponding to an intrinsic delay of a delay line from among a plurality of delay lines of the delay line set. The intrinsic delay is a minimum delay contributed by the delay line. The method also includes determining, through the control circuit, a second number of delay steps to provide a delay through the delay line based on the first number of delay steps. The method further includes configuring, through a configuration circuit coupled with the delay line set, the delay line for generating the delay corresponding to the second number of delay steps through the delay line.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2012Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Keshav Chintamani Bhaktavatson, Nagalinga Swamy Basayya Aremallapur
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Patent number: 8542003Abstract: A first timing comparator TCP1 latches a data signal at a timing that corresponds to each edge of a first strobe signal. A first delay element delays a first strobe signal so as to output a first delayed strobe signal. A first clock recovery unit makes a comparison between the phase of the first delayed strobe signal and a clock signal, and outputs a first reference strobe signal which is used to perform phase adjustment such that the phases of these signals match each other. A third delay element delays a first reference strobe signal, and outputs the signal thus delayed as the first strobe signal. A delay amount that corresponds to the amount of skew that occurs between the data signal and the clock signal is set for the third delay element.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2009Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Advantest CorporationInventor: Tomohiro Uetmatsu
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Patent number: 8532583Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises synthesized frequency generation logic arranged to receive a reference signal, and to generate a synthesized frequency signal from the reference signal. The synthesized frequency generation logic comprises programmable divider logic arranged to receive the reference signal and to generate a divided signal comprising a frequency with a period substantially equal to N times that of the reference signal, where N comprises a programmable integer value. The synthesizer frequency generation logic is arranged to generate the synthesized frequency signal comprising a frequency with a period substantially equal to 1/M that of the divided signal, where M comprises a further programmable integer value.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2008Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.Inventors: Norman Beamish, Niall Kearney
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Publication number: 20130229211Abstract: A transmission/reception device includes a transmission circuit configured to apply a delay to at least one of a positive signal and a negative signal of differential signals to be sent to another device, detect a direction of a differential signal skew between the positive signal and the negative signal, to at least one of which the delay is applied, and control the delay in a manner as to reduce the differential signal skew; and a reception circuit configured to apply a delay to at least one of a positive signal and a negative signal of differential signals sent from another transmission/reception device, detect a direction of a differential signal skew between the positive signal and the negative signal, to at least one of which the delay is applied, and control the delay in a manner as to reduce the differential signal skew.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2013Publication date: September 5, 2013Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITEDInventors: Ryuichi Nishiyama, Jun Yamada, Naoya Shibayama
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Patent number: 8525550Abstract: A circuit implementing multiplexer, storage, and repeater functions is disclosed. The circuit includes first and second input stages having first and second data inputs, respectively. An output stage is configured to drive an output signal. The first input stage is configured to activate the output stage responsive to a first condition, while the second input stage is configured to activate the output stage responsive to a second condition. An intermediate stage is configured to deactivate the output stage at a first delay time subsequent to one of the first or second input stages activating the output stage. The repeater circuit also includes a storage element configured to store a state of the output signal, and further configured to cause the output node to be held at the state of the output signal subsequent to deactivation of the output stage.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2010Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Inventors: Robert P. Masleid, Anand Dixit
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Patent number: 8519760Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2011Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.Inventors: Ki Han Kim, Hyun Woo Lee
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Patent number: 8508272Abstract: A data output circuit and a data output method thereof are provided. The data output circuit includes a delay locked loop, a duty ratio correction block, and an output unit. The delay locked loop corrects a duty ratio of a first internal clock. The delay locked loop includes a correction enable signal output unit configured to output a correction enable signal when the operation of correcting the duty ratio of the first internal clock is completed. The duty ratio correction block corrects the duty ratio of the first internal clock by using a duty ratio detection signal in response to the correction enable signal, and outputs the corrected first internal clock as an output clock. The output unit detects a duty ratio of the output clock, generates the duty ratio detection signal to the duty ratio correction block, and outputs a data strobe signal in response to the output clock.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2010Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.Inventor: Jin-Il Chung
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Patent number: 8502574Abstract: Device for generating a signal of parametrizable frequency comprising a phase locked loop including a generator of a reference signal, a phase-frequency comparator comprising a first input for receiving the reference signal, an oscillator controlled on the basis of the result output by the phase-frequency comparator, a fractional divider coupled between an output of the oscillator and a second input of the phase-frequency comparator, and a selector selectively linking an input of the oscillator either with an input of the generator, or with the output of the oscillator as a function of the multiplication ratio of the fractional divider.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2011Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: STMicroelectronics SAInventors: Didier Belot, Pierre-Olivier Lucas De Peslouan, Cédric Majek, Yann Deval, Thierry Taris, Jean-Baptiste Begueret
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Patent number: 8497718Abstract: A data I/O interface for an integrated circuit device includes a noise detector receiving a power supply voltage, detecting a power supply voltage noise component, and providing a clock delay control signal in response to detected power supply voltage noise component. The data I/O interface also includes a clock delay circuit providing a delayed clock signal in response to the clock delay control signal, and a data transfer circuit powered by the power supply voltage and providing output data synchronously with the delayed clock signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Seung Jun Bae, Kwang Il Park, Young-Sik Kim, Sang Hyup Kwak
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Patent number: 8488408Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed relating to semiconductor memory devices. According to some exemplary implementations, there are provided innovations associated with power and ground pads in devices such as static random access memory (“SRAM”) devices and dynamic random access memory (“DRAM”) devices. Moreover, the systems and/or methods may include features such as minimization of simultaneous switching outputs (SSO) effects relating to echo clock circuitry.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2011Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: GSI Technology, Inc.Inventors: Lee-Lean Shu, Tuan Duc Nguyen, William Le
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Patent number: 8489947Abstract: A circuit and method provide built-in measurement of delay changes in integrated circuit paths. The circuit includes a digital shift register to access multiple paths, and may be implemented in digital boundary scan to test I/O pin delays. Synchronous to a first frequency, the circuit applies an alternating signal to the paths and samples the paths' output logic values synchronous with a second frequency that is asynchronous and coherent to the first clock frequency. The shift register conveys the samples to a modulo counter that counts the number of samples between consecutive rising or consecutive falling edges in the signal samples from a selected path. Between the two edges, the path or a path characteristic is changed, and the resulting modulo count after the second edge is proportional to the change in delay. The circuit can compare the count, or the difference between counts, to test limits.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2011Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Mentor Graphics CorporationInventor: Stephen Kenneth Sunter
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Publication number: 20130176063Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes a first chip including a first port configured to receive an operation clock signal, a first circuit configured to operate in synchronization with the operation clock signal, and a second chip mounted on the first chip. The second chip includes a delay control part configured to generate a delay control signal indicating a delay amount based on a cycle of a reference clock signal, plural delay circuits connected in multiple stages and configured to delay clock signals input to the plural delay control circuits based on the delay control signal and sequentially output the delayed clock signals to a subsequent stage, and a second port connected to the first port and configured to receive the operation clock signal based on the delayed clock signals output from the plural delay circuits.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2012Publication date: July 11, 2013Applicant: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITEDInventor: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
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Publication number: 20130176062Abstract: A delay circuit includes an input port, an output port, a first delay circuit block, a second delay circuit block, and an inverter module. The first delay circuit block is coupled to the input port and configured to generate an intermediate signal by applying a first delay to an input signal. The inverter module has an input terminal and an output terminal. The input terminal of the inverter module is coupled to the first delay circuit block, and the inverter module is configured to generate an inverted intermediate signal at the output terminal. The second delay circuit block is coupled to the output terminal of the inverter module and configured to generate a delayed signal by applying a second delay to the inverted intermediate signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2012Publication date: July 11, 2013Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Li-Wen WANG, Yen-Huei CHEN
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Patent number: 8482316Abstract: Circuits, methods, and systems are presented for managing current leakage in an electronic circuit. One circuit includes a keeper circuit, and a controller. The keeper circuit supplies current to a leaker circuit, which is experiencing current leakage, to compensate for the current leakage. Further, the controller provides to the keeper circuit a control signal that is based on the current leakage. The control signal has a cycle equal to the cycle of a clock signal, and the control signal is a pulse having a first value during a first period, and a second value during a second period of the pulse. The keeper circuit provides a current to the leaker circuit during the first period and the keeper circuit withholds the current to the leaker circuit during the second period, where the durations of the first period and the second period are based on the current leakage.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2012Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Oracle International CorporationInventors: Zhen Wu Liu, Shree Kant, Heechoul Park
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Patent number: 8477898Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a phase-locked loop (PLL) for synthesizing a fractional frequency. The PLL can include a 1/N frequency divider, a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), a programmable phase mixer, and a phase detector. The programmable phase mixer can be coupled between an output of the VCO and an input of the frequency divider, wherein the programmable phase mixer is configured to receive the output clock signal from the VCO and generate a first clock signal of frequency f1 by varying a phase of the output clock signal. The frequency divider is configured to receive the first clock signal from the programmable phase mixer and generate a second clock signal of frequency f2=f1/N. The phase detector can receive a reference clock signal and the second clock signal as inputs, and the phase detector's output can be used to generate the control voltage for the VCO.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2010Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.Inventors: James P. Flynn, Richard H. Steeves, John T. Stonick, Daniel K. Weinlader, Jianping Wen, Skye Wolfer, David A. Yokoyama-Martin, Dino A. Toffolon, Jasjeet Singh
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Publication number: 20130162313Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes a first structural body including a first temperature voltage generation unit configured to generate first and second temperature voltages which have different voltage level variations according to a temperature variation, in response to a temperature measurement command, and a first temperature information determination unit configured to generate first temperature information depending on a difference between levels of the first and second temperature voltages; and a second structural body including a second temperature voltage generation unit configured to generate a third temperature voltage and a fourth temperature voltage which have different voltage level variations according to a temperature variation, when a predetermined time elapses after the first and second temperature voltages are generated from the first structural body, and a second temperature information determination unit configured to generate second temperature information depending on a difference betweType: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2012Publication date: June 27, 2013Applicant: SK HYNIX INC.Inventor: Chul KIM
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Patent number: 8471613Abstract: An internal clock signal generation circuit is capable of controlling a unit delay time depending on a frequency of an external clock signal. The internal clock signal generation circuit includes an internal clock signal generation unit configured to generate an internal clock signal corresponding to a plurality of unit delay cells enabled in response to a control signal, and a unit delay time control unit configured to detect a frequency of an external clock signal and control a unit delay time of each of the plurality of unit delay cells.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2009Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.Inventors: Yong-Hoon Kim, Hyun-Woo Lee
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Patent number: 8466726Abstract: Duty cycle correction systems and methods of adjusting duty cycles are provided. One such duty cycle correction system includes a duty cycle adjustor and a variable delay line coupled to the duty cycle adjustor. First and second phase detectors have first inputs coupled to the duty cycle adjustor through an inverter and second inputs coupled to the variable delay line. The phase detectors cause the delay line to align rising or falling edges of signals at the output of the delay line with rising or falling edges, respectively, of signals at the output of the inverter. The controller simultaneously causes the duty cycle adjustor to adjust the duty cycle of the output clock signal until the rising and falling edges of signals at the output of the delay line are aligned with rising and falling edges, respectively, of signals at the output of the inverter.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2012Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Yasuo Satoh, Eric Booth
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Publication number: 20130148702Abstract: A method for compensator for comparator offset is provided. A first propagation delay for a first signal traversing a comparator to a first output terminal of the comparator and a second propagation delay for a second signal traversing the comparator to a second output terminal of the comparator are measured. The first and second propagation delays are then compared to generate a comparison result, and the comparator is adjusted to compensate for an input voltage offset based at least in part on the comparison result.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2011Publication date: June 13, 2013Applicant: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventor: Robert F. Payne
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Patent number: 8462034Abstract: A synchronizing circuit compatible with a quad switching scheme in a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to synchronize turning on or off of switches for steering current to a differential output. The synchronizing circuit receives signals from a decoder and synchronizes control signals to the switches by a clock signal. In one embodiment, the synchronizing circuit includes a predictor circuit and a latch circuit. The latch circuit may include four sets of cross-coupled inverters where a set of cross-coupled inverters are activated at a time. By using the synchronizing circuit in conjunction with the quad switching scheme, linearity of analog output from the DAC can be improved and data dependent noise in the analog output can be removed or reduced.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2011Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.Inventors: Bruno M. S. Santos, Antonio I. R. Leal, Carlos M. A. Azeredo-Leme