Complementary Clock Inputs Patents (Class 327/201)
  • Patent number: 11050414
    Abstract: A dynamic single input-dual output latch includes input, feedback, and output stages. In the input stage, operations are dependent on a clock signal (CLK) and a feedback signal (FB) from the feedback stage. For example, when FB is at a low voltage level and CLK switches to a high voltage level, the input stage enters a data capture mode. Once data has been captured, FB switches back to the high voltage level, placing the input stage in a data hold mode. In the output stage, operations are dependent on CLK but independent of FB. For example, instead of initiating output signal stabilization only after both CLK and FB are at high voltage levels, weak pull-down transistors (including at least one CLK-controlled pull-down transistor) are employed in the output stage to ensure output signal stabilization is initiated after data capture has begun but before FB switches to the high voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES U.S. Inc.
    Inventors: Uttam Saha, Mahbub Rashed
  • Patent number: 10788877
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a low power multiplexer (MUX) circuit, including: a first data input coupled to an input of a first pass gate device; a second data input coupled to an input of a second pass gate device; a hold latch having an input coupled to a data output of the MUX circuit and an output coupled to an input of a supplemental pass gate device; and a pulse generator for generating a HOLD pulse signal, wherein the HOLD pulse signal is coupled to a control input of the supplemental pass gate device. The hold latch is configured to hold a previously valid output data signal of the MUX circuit until a valid input data signal is available at the first data input or the second data input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Sebastian T. Ventrone, Lansing D. Pickup
  • Patent number: 10432198
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lightweight bistable PUF circuit, comprising a decoding circuit, a timing control circuit, a PUF cell array and n sharing foot circuits. The PUF cell array is formed by m*n PUF cells arrayed in m lines and n columns. Each PUF cell includes a first PMOS transistor, a second PMOS transistor, a third PMOS transistor and a fourth PMOS transistor, and the four PMOS transistors have the minimum width-to-length ratio of 120 nm/60 nm under a TSMC 65 nm process. Each sharing foot circuit includes a first NMOS transistor, a second NMOS transistor, a third NMOS transistor, a fourth NMOS transistor, a first two-input NAND gate and a second two-input NAND gate, and the four NMOS transistors have a width-to-length ratio ranging from 2 um/60 nm to 8 um/60 nm. The lightweight bistable PUF circuit has a reset function and the advantages of small area, low power consumption, small time delay and high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Ningbo University
    Inventors: Pengjun Wang, Gang Li, Huihong Zhang, Yuejun Zhang
  • Patent number: 10193536
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided which comprises: a clock node; a first inverter having an input coupled to the clock node; a data node; a master latch with a shared p-type keeper coupled to an output of the first inverter, the master latch coupled to the data node; and a slave latch coupled to an output of the master latch, the slave latch having a shared p-type keeper and a shared n-type footer, wherein the shared p-type keeper and the shared n-type footer of the slave latch are coupled to the clock node and the input of the first inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Amit Agarwal, Steven K. Hsu, Simeon Realov, Iqbal R. Rajwani, Ram K. Krishnamurthy
  • Patent number: 9966935
    Abstract: A latch circuit includes a first input node, a second input node, a first output node, a second output node, a first switching device coupled between the first output node and the second output node, and a first amplification circuit coupled with the first input node, the second input node, the first output node, and the second output node. The first switching device is configured to be turned on in response to a first state of a clock signal and to be turned off in response to a second state of the clock signal. The first amplification circuit is configured to cause a voltage difference across the first switching device based on voltage levels of the first input node and the second input node in response to the first state of the clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tsung-Ching (Jim) Huang, Chan-Hong Chern, Ming-Chieh Huang, Chih-Chang Lin, Tien-Chun Yang
  • Patent number: 9825636
    Abstract: An apparatus for synchronizing an input signal that is asynchronous to a clock signal received by the apparatus. The apparatus comprising selection circuitry configured to select the input signal and to generate a pair of intermediate signals associated with the selected input signal. The apparatus also comprising resolution circuitry configured to provide differential signals based on the pair of intermediate signals and to resolve meta-stability associated with the differential signals. The apparatus also comprising arbiter circuitry configured to determine a dominant value associated with the differential signals and to generate an intermediate output signal based on the determination. The apparatus further comprising latching circuitry configured to generate an output signal based on the intermediate output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: ARM Limited
    Inventors: James Dennis Dodrill, Amanda Ashley Scantlin
  • Patent number: 9768781
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is an identification circuit for generating an identification number (ID). The identification circuit includes a plurality of identification cells each comprising a latch having a first output and a second output that are opposite to each other. The first output and the second output are a function of process variations of the identification circuit. A first buffer and a second buffer are provided on both sides of the latch and connected to the first output and the second output of the latch, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Casinda, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmy Yong Xiao, Surendra Kumar Rathaur, Visvamohan Yegnashankaran
  • Patent number: 9013219
    Abstract: A flip flop circuit has a first stage and a second stage. The first stage and the second stage each have interleaved filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Manuel F. Cabanas-Holmen, Ethan Cannon, Salim A. Rabaa
  • Patent number: 9013218
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, a dual-port negative level sensitive reset data retention latch contains a clocked inverter and a dual-port latch. Data is clocked through the clocked inverter when clock signal CKT goes low, CLKZ goes high, reset control signal REN is high and retention control signal RET is low. The dual-port latch is configured to receive the output of the clocked inverter, a second data bit D2, the clock signals CKT and CLKZ, the retain control signal RET, the reset control signal REN and the control signals SS and SSN. The signals CKT, CLKZ, RET, REN, SS and SSN determine whether the output of the clocked inverter or the second data bit D2 is latched in the dual-port latch. Control signal RET determines when data is stored in the dual-port latch during retention mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven Craig Bartling, Sudhanshu Khanna
  • Patent number: 8994416
    Abstract: Adaptive scaling digital techniques attempt to place the system close to the timing failure so as to maximize energy efficiency. Rapid recovery from potential failures is usually by slowing the system clock and/or providing razor solutions (instruction replay.) These techniques compromise the throughput. This application presents a technique to provide local in-situ fault resilience based on dynamic slack borrowing. This technique is non-intrusive (needs no architecture modification) and has minimal impact on throughput.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics International N.V., STMicroelectronics SA
    Inventors: Chittoor Parthasarathy, Nitin Chawla, Kallol Chatterjee, Pascal Urard
  • Patent number: 8970276
    Abstract: Circuits and methods are introduced to allow for timing relationship between a clock signal and a synchronization signal to be observed. The observations may include observing the timing relationship between a capture edge of the clock signal and a transition of the synchronization signal. Based on the observations the timing of the synchronization signal transition may be adjusted. Observing the timing relationship may include providing a delayed synchronization signal and a delayed clock signal. The delayed synchronization signal may provide what happens before the capture edge of the clock signal. The delayed clock signal may provide what happens after the capture edge of the clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew D. McShea, Scott G. Bardsley, Peter Derounian
  • Patent number: 8933740
    Abstract: A semi-dynamic flip-flop is provided. A selecting circuit selects an input signal from a data signal and a test signal. A charging/discharging circuit charges/discharges an intermediate node according to the input signal, a clock signal and a modulation signal. A first storage circuit stores electric potential of the intermediate node. An adjusting circuit generates an adjustment signal according to the clock signal and the potential of the intermediate node. An output signal adjusts electric potential of an output node according to the clock signal and the potential of the intermediate node. A second storage circuit stores the potential of the output node. A reset circuit sets or resets the potential of the output node. A switch, connected between the adjusting circuit and the charging/discharging circuit, is turned on when the semi-dynamic flip-flop is in a normal operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Wen-Pin Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8928379
    Abstract: A latch circuit that uses two interoperating latches. The latch circuit has the beneficial feature that it switches only a single time during a measurement that uses a stair step or ramp function as an input signal in an analog to digital converter. This feature minimizes the amount of power that is consumed in the latch and also minimizes the amount of high frequency noise that is generated by the latch. An application using a plurality of such latch circuits in a parallel decoding ADC for use in an image sensor is given as an example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Bruce R. Hancock
  • Patent number: 8829966
    Abstract: A current reuse frequency divider including a first latch circuit and a second latch circuit is provided. The first latch circuit includes a first transistor pair and a second transistor pair. The first latch circuit receives a first differential oscillation signal through bodies of the first transistor pair and the second transistor pair and divides the frequency of the first differential oscillation signal to generate a second differential oscillation signal. The second latch circuit is coupled to the first latch circuit and includes a third transistor pair and a fourth transistor pair. The second latch circuit receives the first differential oscillation signal through bodies of the third transistor pair and the fourth transistor pair and divides the frequency of the first differential oscillation signal to generate a third differential oscillation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chih-Hsiang Chang, Nai-Chen Cheng, Yu Lee, Ching-Yuan Yang
  • Patent number: 8791739
    Abstract: A method of operating a circuit includes receiving a first data signal at a first node. The first node is coupled to a second node to couple the first data signal to the second node. After coupling the first node to the second node, an inversion is enabled from the second node to a third node. An inversion from the third node to the fourth node is provided. After the enabling the inversion from the second node to the third node, the first node is decoupled from the second node. After the enabling the inversion from the second node to the third node, the second node is coupled to the third node. An inversion from the fourth node to the third node is enabled and the second node is decoupled from the fourth node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravindraraj Ramaraju, Prashant U. Kenkare
  • Patent number: 8742811
    Abstract: An object is to provide a semiconductor device which can suppress characteristic deterioration in each transistor without destabilizing operation. In a non-selection period, a transistor is turned on at regular intervals, so that a power supply potential is supplied to an output terminal of a shift register circuit. A power supply potential is supplied to the output terminal of the shift register circuit through the transistor. Since the transistor is not always on in a non-selection period, a shift of the threshold voltage of the transistor is suppressed. In addition, a power supply potential is supplied to the output terminal of the shift register circuit through the transistor at regular intervals. Therefore, the shift register circuit can suppress noise which is generated in the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Umezaki
  • Patent number: 8730404
    Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention includes a latch circuit having a first input to receive a data signal and a second input to receive a clock signal. This latch circuit may have a first pair of transistors including a first transistor gated by the data signal and a second transistor gated by an inverted data signal and a second pair of transistors including third and fourth transistors gated by the clock signal. The first transistor may be coupled to the third transistor at a first inter-latch node and the second transistor coupled to the fourth transistor at a second inter-latch node. A reset circuit may be coupled to the latch circuit to maintain the first and second inter-latch nodes at a predetermined voltage level when the clock signal is inactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Clayton Daigle, Abdulkerim L. Coban
  • Patent number: 8618855
    Abstract: An object is to provide a semiconductor device which can suppress characteristic deterioration in each transistor without destabilizing operation. In a non-selection period, a transistor is turned on at regular intervals, so that a power supply potential is supplied to an output terminal of a shift register circuit. A power supply potential is supplied to the output terminal of the shift register circuit through the transistor. Since the transistor is not always on in a non-selection period, a shift of the threshold voltage of the transistor is suppressed. In addition, a power supply potential is supplied to the output terminal of the shift register circuit through the transistor at regular intervals. Therefore, the shift register circuit can suppress noise which is generated in the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Umezaki
  • Publication number: 20130113538
    Abstract: A device and a method for eliminating transitions in discrete signals. The working of the device and method is based on allowing the charge of a capacitor with one state when the state opposite the state to which it has been assigned is produced and allowing their discharge through a corresponding capacitor when their state is active. The signal is advantageously consolidated without needing processors or programmes, is very simple, there is increased reliability, and the device can very easily be integrated in any sensor, such as those used in aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: Eads Construcciones Aeronauticas,S.A., Sociedad Un ipersnoal
    Inventor: Eads Construcciones Aeronauticas,S.A., Socieda
  • Patent number: 8436652
    Abstract: Sequential electronic circuit (10) reacting on a rising edge and a falling edge of a clock signal (CK), comprising a first (1) and a second (2) D-type flip-flop, a main multiplexer (3) coupled at input to the flip-flops (1 and 2), the circuit (10) comprising a first input receiving the clock signal (CK) and a second input receiving a control signal (TE) so as to control the circuit (10) according to a normal operating mode and a test operating mode making it possible to check the proper operation of the sequential electronic circuit (10). The clock signal (CK) used in the normal operating mode is used to gate the circuit (10) during the test operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, SA
    Inventor: Sylvain Engels
  • Patent number: 8432181
    Abstract: A reconfigurable number of at-speed pulses and reconfigurable dead cycles between pulses is utilized to enhance test coverage of an Integrated Circuit. A reconfigurable number of programmable at-speed phase-locked loop clock pulses without a dead cycle is emitted through an integrated circuit. Further, a plurality of programmable at-speed phase-locked loop clock pulses is emitted through the Integrated Circuit such that a reconfigurable number of dead cycles is between the plurality of programmable at-speed phase locked loop clock pulses. In addition, data associated with the reconfigurable number of programmable at-speed phase-locked loop clock pulses is capture. Finally, data associated with the reconfigurable number of dead cycles is captured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Dinakaran Chiadambaram
  • Patent number: 8421513
    Abstract: A master-slave flip-flop circuit comprises a master stage for retaining a master signal, a slave stage for retaining a slave signal and a retention stage. During a normal mode of operation, the retention stage captures a retention signal having a value dependent upon the slave signal. During a retention mode of operation, the retention stage isolates the retention signal from changes in the stage signal and retains the retention signal. During the retention mode the retention stage also provides a master restore signal to the master stage and provides a slave restore signal to the slave stage. The master restore signal and the slave restore signal have values dependent on the retention signal for configuring the master stage and slave stage such that the master and slave signals have values corresponding to the retention signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: ARM Limited
    Inventor: Sumana Pal
  • Patent number: 8421514
    Abstract: A hazard-free minimal-latency flip-flop (HFML-FF) is provided. A master latch includes an input to accept a D1 signal, an input to accept a clock signal, an input to accept an inverted shadow-D2 signal, and an output to supply a D2 signal. The master latch has an input to accept a shadow-D1 signal, an input to accept the clock signal, and an output to supply a shadow-D2 signal and the inverted shadow-D2 signal. The slave latch has an input to accept the D2 signal, an input to accept the clock signal, an input to accept an inverted shadow-Q signal, and an output to supply a Q signal. The slave latch has an input to accept either the D2 signal or the shadow-D2 signal, an input to accept the clock signal, and an output to supply a shadow-Q signal and the inverted shadow-Q signal. The design may use clocked inverters or pass gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Micro Circuits Corporation
    Inventors: Alfred Yeung, Hamid Partovi, Luca Ravezzi, John Ngai
  • Patent number: 8415978
    Abstract: A state machine for generating signals configured for generating different signals according to the current state of the machine. The state machine is configured to change state both as a function of an internal timer and as a function of signals representative of events external to the state machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics s.r.l., STMicroelectronics Design and Application s.r.o.
    Inventors: Ales Loidl, Ignazio Bellomo, Luca Giussani, David Vincenzoni
  • Patent number: 8253464
    Abstract: A multi-threshold complementary metal-oxide semiconductor technology (MTCMOS technology) master slave flip-flop with a single clock signal includes a master storage element configured to store an input data in response to a clock signal transition and a slave storage element configured to receive data from the master storage element and to output the received data in response to an opposite clock signal transition. The master storage element includes low threshold voltage transistors, the slave storage element includes high threshold voltage transistors, and the master and the slave storage elements are provided with a single clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V.
    Inventor: Abhishek Jain
  • Patent number: 8195990
    Abstract: In a proximity communication system, transmit elements on one chip are aligned with receive elements on a second chip juxtaposed with the first chip. However, if the elements are misaligned, either statically or dynamically, the coupling between chips is degraded. The misalignment may be compensated by controllably degrading performance of the system. For example, the transmit signal strength may be increased. The bit period or the time period for biasing each bit may be increased, thereby decreasing the bandwidth. Multiple coupling elements, such as capacitors, may be ganged together, thereby decreasing the number of channels. The granularity of symbols, such as images, may be increased by decreasing the number of bits per symbol. Multiple coupling elements, such as capacitors, may be ganged together, thereby decreasing the number of channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Ho, Ashok V. Krishnamoorthy, John E. Cunningham, Robert J. Drost
  • Patent number: 8166286
    Abstract: The invention relates to a data pipeline comprising a first stage with a data input for receiving a digital data input signal, a clock input and a data output, and a first bi-stable element being adapted to be switched in response to an edge of a first clock signal, and a dynamic latch stage comprising an input transfer element, and a second bi-stable element coupled between the input transfer element and a dynamic latch data output, wherein the input transfer element is adapted to be switched by a second clock signal and a delayed second clock signal, which is delayed with respect to the second clock signal by a first period of time being shorter than half a period of the second clock signal, such that the input transfer element allows signal transfer only during the first period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Ingolf Frank, Gerd Rombach
  • Patent number: 8089427
    Abstract: The invention provides display control circuits for Vacuum Fluorescent Displays (VFDs). The display control circuit controls a plurality of display units of the VFD and comprises an image signal generator generating a plurality of image signals, a clock signal generator generating a clock signal, and a plurality of control signal generators. Each control signal generator receives one of the image signals and the clock signal, generates a control signal for one of the display unit, and determines the duty cycle of the control signal according to the received image signal and the clock signal. The brightness of one display unit varies with the duty cycles of the corresponding control signal. The clock signal generator comprises a plurality of flip-flops coupled in series and a plurality of logic gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Princeton Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Yen-Ynn Chou
  • Patent number: 8063685
    Abstract: A flip-flop circuit includes a data input, a clock input for receiving a clock signal having active edges and inactive edges, a data output, an input circuit, a pulse generator, and a latch. The input circuit sets first and second nodes to different initial logic states in response to an inactive edge of the clock signal, and selectively changes the logic state of either the first node or the second node in response to a pulse input signal to control the state of a third node, such that the selection depends on the logic state of the data input. The pulse generator circuit enables the pulse input signal in response to an active edge of the clock signal, and disables the pulse input signal in response to detecting the change in the initial logic state of either the first node or the second node. The latch stores a data output signal for output at the data output, the data output signal depending on the logic state of the third node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Kapil Narula, Amol Agarwal, Sumeet Aggarwal, Sunit K. Bansal, Sabaa Sandhu, Harkaran Singh
  • Patent number: 8044694
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a flip-flop circuit, a capacitive element, and a switch circuit. The switch circuit includes a first switch circuit which couples the capacitive element to two nodes of the flip-flop circuit at a first timing, and a second switch circuit which short-circuits ends of the capacitive element connected to the two nodes at a second timing different from the first timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Junji Monden
  • Patent number: 8026752
    Abstract: Disclosed is a delay circuit. The delay circuit includes a pulse generating unit, a timing adjusting unit, and a pulse width adjusting unit. The pulse generating unit is configured to generate a pulse signal having a preset width in response to a rising edge of an input signal. The timing adjusting unit is configured to activate an output signal in response to the pulse signal after a predetermined time has lapsed. The pulse width adjusting unit is configured to adjust a pulse width of the output signal in response to the activation of the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Yun Seok Hong
  • Patent number: 8024623
    Abstract: In a proximity communication system, transmit elements on one chip are aligned with receive elements on a second chip juxtaposed with the first chip. However, if the elements are misaligned, either statically or dynamically, the coupling between chips is degraded. The misalignment may be compensated by controllably degrading performance of the system. For example, the transmit signal strength may be increased. The bit period or the time period for biasing each bit may be increased, thereby decreasing the bandwidth. Multiple coupling elements, such as capacitors, may be ganged together, thereby decreasing the number of channels. The granularity of symbols, such as images, may be increased by decreasing the number of bits per symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Ho, Ashok V. Krishnamoorthy, John E. Cunningham, Robert J. Drost
  • Patent number: 7990180
    Abstract: A fast dynamic register circuit including first and second precharge circuits, a keeper circuit and an output circuit. The first and second precharge circuits each precharge a corresponding one of a pair of precharge nodes and cooperate to minimize setup and hold times. If an input data node is low when the clock goes high, the first precharge node remains high causing the second precharge node to be discharged. Otherwise if the input node is high, the first precharge node is discharged and the second remains charged. Once either precharge node is discharged, the output state of the register remains fixed until the next rising clock edge independent of changes of the input data node. The fast dynamic register may be implemented with multiple inputs to perform common logic operations, such as OR, NOR, AND and NAND logic operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: VIA Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Lundberg, Imran Qureshi
  • Patent number: 7979754
    Abstract: A method of testing a proximity communication system for voltage margin by impressing a voltage upon the data link between the transmitter on one chip and the receiver on the other chip coupled to the transmitter through a capacitively coupling circuit formed by juxtaposed capacitor pads on the respective two chips. The impressed voltage is varied and the output of the receiver is monitored to determine an operational voltage margin. The floating inputs on the receiver may be continuously biased by connecting them to variable biasing supply voltages through high impedances. When the floating inputs are periodically refreshed to a refresh voltage during a quiescent data period, the refresh voltage is varied between successive refresh cycles. The variable test voltage may be applied to transmitter output when it is in a high-impedance state, and the output of the receiver is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Drost, Ronald Ho, Justin M. Schauer
  • Patent number: 7969210
    Abstract: A master stage 101 comprises a differential circuit composed of transistors 1 and 2, a differential circuit composed of transistors 3 and 4, a differential circuit composed of transistors 5 and 6, a load circuit 7 (a first load circuit), a load circuit 8 (a second load circuit), and a current source transistor 9. The load circuit 7 (the first load circuit) is composed of an inductor 7A (a first inductor), an inductor 7B (a fifth inductor), and a capacity 7C (a first capacity). The inductor 7B and capacity 7C cooperates together in forming a parallel resonance circuit (a first LC parallel resonance circuit), while the parallel resonance circuit is connected in series to the inductor 7A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Hosokawa, Noriaki Saito, Yoshito Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7808273
    Abstract: Sequential circuitry comprising a data input, a data output, a clock signal input and a clamp signal input is disclosed. The sequential circuitry is arranged to clock a data signal received at said data input into said sequential circuitry in response to a clock signal received at said clock signal input, and to output a data signal from said sequential circuitry at said data output in response to said clock signal. The sequential circuitry is responsive to a predetermined value at said clamp signal input to switch to a low power mode and to set said data output to a forced value, while retaining said sequential state within said circuitry, said forced value being selected to reduce leakage power from combinatorial circuitry arranged to receive said output data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: ARM Limited
    Inventor: David Walter Flynn
  • Patent number: 7772905
    Abstract: It is made possible to provide a flip-flop circuit capable of implementing the error correction function with a small area increase as far as possible and a pipeline system using such a flip-flop circuit. A flip-flop circuit includes: a flip-flop configured to operate based on a rising edge or a falling edge of a first clock signal; a decision circuit configured to compare an input of the flip-flop with an output thereof and output a request signal when the input of the flip-flop is different from the output thereof; and a control circuit configured to receive a second clock signal from outside and generate the first clock signal and a confirmation signal. When the request signal is sent from the decision circuit after the flip-flop has been activated, the control circuit inverts the first clock signal, sends the confirmation to the decision circuit, and makes the decision circuit cancel the request signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shinichi Yasuda, Keiko Abe
  • Patent number: 7768331
    Abstract: A system for storing state values during standby mode operation comprises a master flip flop that receives and stores state information during active mode operation and an associated slave flip flop that receives and stores state information during active mode and standby mode operation. The system further comprises a standby mode control circuit to control the state of the master and slave flip flops during active and standby mode operation based on at least two control signals. A first transfer gate determines the current flow to and from the master flip flop based on the output of the standby mode control circuit. Similarly, a second transfer gate determines current flow to and from the slave flip flop based on the output of the standby mode control circuit. A first power supply powers the master flip flop during active mode operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventor: Manish Biyani
  • Patent number: 7768330
    Abstract: For example, a gain control part and a common node control part are provided in a logic circuit including a data acquisition part that has a differential amplifier configuration and acquires a data input signal when a click signal is an “H” level and a latch part that latches a data output signal from the data acquisition part when the click signal is an “L” level. The gain control part is provided between common nodes of NMOS transistors in the differential amplifier and serves to make the gain of the differential amplifier higher in a high frequency band than in a low frequency band. When the clock signal is an “L” level, the common node control part serves to control an electrical charge so as to eliminate a potential difference between the common nodes. Thus, the transition time of the data output signal is speeded up and the setup margin is increased in the latch part. The above described technique can therefore speed up operations of various logic circuits such as a latch circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Yuuki, Hiroki Yamashita, Masayoshi Yagyu, Koji Fukuda
  • Patent number: 7719337
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a circuit having a first data holding node and a second data holding node; a first MOS field-effect transistor coupled to the first data holding node; a second MOS field-effect transistor coupled to the second data holding node; and a clock generation circuit coupled to a first gate electrode of the first MOS field-effect transistor for outputting a clock signal, wherein the first gate electrode is coupled to the second data holding node via the second MOS field-effect transistor, and a second gate electrode of the second MOS field-effect transistor is coupled to the first data holding node via the first MOS field-effect transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Microelectronics Limited
    Inventors: Taiki Uemura, Yoshiharu Tosaka
  • Patent number: 7719342
    Abstract: An input latch circuit of a semiconductor device includes a setup time adjusting unit configured to selectively delay a clock signal and a hold time adjusting unit configured to selectively delay an input signal. The input latch circuit also includes a latch unit configured to latch an output signal of the hold time adjusting unit according to an output signal of the setup time adjusting unit. The input latch circuit changes and delays the clock signal and the input signal by cutting a fuse within the setup time adjusting unit and the hold time adjusting unit without requiring a change to a circuit in order to adjust a setup time and a hold time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Hoe Gwon Jeong
  • Patent number: 7688125
    Abstract: Various systems and methods for comparing signals are disclosed herein. For example, some embodiments of the present invention provide comparator circuits with a preamplifier circuit, a latch circuit and a current re-use circuit. The current re-use circuit applies a current to the preamplifier circuit during a transparent phase, and applies a similar current to the latch circuit during a latch phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert F. Payne
  • Patent number: 7626433
    Abstract: A flip-flop circuit arrangement having a total of four differential amplifiers (1, 2, 3, 4), which are connected to one another to produce a D flip-flop, is specified. According to the suggested principle, the two shared emitter nodes (E1, E2) of the differential amplifiers (1, 2, 3, 4) are connected via a switch pair (S1, S2) to supply potential and are activated by a differential input clock signal at a control input (CN, CP). The present flip-flop circuit is operable using especially low supply voltage (VCC) and is preferably suitable for constructing frequency dividers or shift registers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Austriamicrosystems AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Hoess
  • Patent number: 7622975
    Abstract: A circuit having a local power block for leakage reduction is disclosed. The circuit has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is configured to operate at a substantially greater operating frequency than the operating frequency of the second portion. The second portion has a local power block configured to decouple the second portion if the second portion is inactive to reduce leakage current associated with the second portion without sacrificing performance of the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Fad Ad Hamdan, Anthony D. Klein
  • Patent number: 7619455
    Abstract: By adjusting a register's capturing clock edge timing so that the register captures data when the data returns to a correct state, the register may be protected against DSET upsets. If a data glitch occurs near the clock edge, the valid time at the register output is increased (CLK to Q). This valid time increase occurs when the presence of a DSET transient is detected near the clock edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Roy M. Carlson, David O. Erstad
  • Patent number: 7521976
    Abstract: A high-speed latch is disclosed that can function at high-speed input clocking frequencies. The active loads used within the latch design exhibit an input impedance that is inductive to the rest of the circuit to improve the driving capability of the overall latch in the presence of loading capacitances. The latch circuit, when used in a system or stand alone divider, will consume very low power while reducing the silicon die area. Possible applications include but are not limited to frequency dividing and counting applications. Of particular interest is the use of this high-speed latch in a prescaler divider as a part of a charge pump phase-locked loop design for single chip CMOS multi-band and multi-standard radio frequency transceiver integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: NanoAmp Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Sudjian, David H. Shen
  • Patent number: 7501871
    Abstract: A latch circuit comprising, a differential input with a non-inverting input (D+) and an inverting input (D?). The latch further comprises a differential output with a non-inverting output (Q+) and an inverting output (Q?). One of the outputs (Q?) is coupled to one of the inputs input (D+) having an opposite polarity. The latch further comprises a control input for receiving a control signal (VcM) for determining a threshold for an input signal (In) such that if the input signal is at larger than the threshold the non-inverting output is in a HIGH logic state and in a LOW state if the input signal is smaller than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Mihai Adrian Tiberiu Sanduleanu, Eduard Ferdinand Stikvoort, Idrissa Cissé
  • Patent number: 7492192
    Abstract: A logic processing circuit including a plurality of flip-flop including a front stage flip-flop and a rear stage flip-flop, a logic gate circuit network adapted to process data stored in the front stage flip-flop, a result of the process being stored in the rear stage flip-flop, and switching means for switching between a power-on period and a power-off period, the power-on period being a period in which power is being provided to the logic gate circuit network, the power-on period corresponding to either a low-level state period of a clock signal or a high-level state period thereof, the power-off period being a period in which the power is being turned off, the power-off period corresponding to the state period other than the state period corresponding to the power-on period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Ichiro Kumata
  • Patent number: 7489174
    Abstract: A dynamic flip-flop circuit which outputs an output signal on which a digital data signal is reflected based on a clock, includes: a first control stage configured to output a signal having a level inverted from that of the digital data signal within a period within which the clock has a second level; a second control stage configured to output a signal of a first level within the period within which the clock has the second level and a signal of a level within another period within which the clock has the first level; a third control stage configured to output an output signal of the first level within a period within which the signal outputted from the second control stage has the second level; and a phase adjustment circuit configured to adjust the phase to produce a second clock and supply the second clock to the third control stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Yoshizawa
  • Publication number: 20080258788
    Abstract: A dynamic latch includes a first stage for receiving an input data value and for providing true and complement logic values representing the input data value; a second stage for receiving the true and complement logic values into first and second dynamic node, when a control signal is active; and a holding that outputs the true and complement logic values while the control signal is active. The second stage may provide a feedback signal to the first stage to block propagation of changes in the input data value after the true and complement logic values have been received. The feedback signal may be derived, for example, from logic values on the dynamic nodes. A holding circuit may be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Ajay Bhatia, Uttam Saha