Using Delay Patents (Class 713/401)
  • Patent number: 8751852
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided that compensates for misalignment on a synchronous data bus. The apparatus includes a Joint Test Action Group (JTAG) interface, a synchronous bus optimizer, and a delay-locked loop (DLL). The JTAG interface is configured to receive control information over a standard JTAG bus, where the control information indicates an amount to delay a data bit signal associated with a data group. The synchronous bus optimizer is configured to receive the control information, and is configured to develop a value on a ratio bus that indicates the amount. The DLL is coupled to the ratio bus, and is configured generate a delayed data bit signal, where the DLL adds the amount of delay to the data bit signal to generate the delayed data bit signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Via Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Darius D. Gaskins, James R. Lundberg
  • Patent number: 8751851
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a Joint Test Action Group (JTAG) interface, a synchronous bus optimizer, a core clocks generator, and a synchronous strobe driver. The JTAG interface is configured to receive control information over a standard JTAG bus, where the control information indicates an amount to advance a synchronous data strobe associated with a data group. The synchronous bus optimizer is configured to receive the control information, and is configured to develop a value on a ratio bus that indicates the amount. The core clocks generator is coupled to the ratio bus and is configured to advance a data strobe clock by the amount. The synchronous strobe driver is configured to receive the data strobe clock, and is configured to employ the data strobe clock to generate the synchronous data strobe, where the synchronous data strobe, when enabled, is advanced also by the amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: VIA Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Darius D. Gaskins, James R. Lundberg
  • Publication number: 20140157035
    Abstract: A bus interface, for allowing a plurality of devices to communicate with one another via the bus, includes a bit timing symmetrization component for symmetrizing the bit stream. For an incoming bit stream, the bit timing symmetrization component further includes an input delay filter for delaying recessive to dominant edges for a given received bit stream and sampling the delayed input signal at the sample point. In one embodiment, bit timing synchronization may still be performed with the undelayed recessive to dominant edges. For an outgoing bit stream, the bit timing symmetrization component transmits a recessive bit, that followed a previously transmitted dominant bit, before the start of the next bit time, and transmits a dominant bit, that followed a previously transmitted recessive bit, with a delay of a configurable amount of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Achim Vowe
  • Patent number: 8743633
    Abstract: An integrated semiconductor device including: a first semiconductor device having a clock generation section, first data storage sections storing input data as transfer data, data output terminals provided, one for each of the first data storage sections, and a clock output terminal adapted to output a transfer clock; and a second semiconductor device having data input terminals which receive the transfer data, a clock input terminal adapted to receive the transfer clock, second data storage sections associated with the data input terminals respectively to store input data, and selection sections associated with the second data storage sections respectively to select either the transfer data or data shifted and output to the associated second data storage section in a first series circuit which is formed by connecting the second data storage sections in series, the selection sections supplying the selected data to the associated second data storage section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takenori Aoki
  • Patent number: 8736339
    Abstract: This invention includes a clock tree to which clock signals are distributed, and a phase comparison circuit configured to detect the phase difference between a plurality of feedback clock signals upon receiving the plurality of feedback clock signals output from different branching points of the clock tree. The invention includes a feedback clock signal generation circuit configured to generate a variation-corrected feedback clock signal for correcting a manufacture variation in the semiconductor integrated circuit based on the phase difference detected by the phase comparison circuit. The invention includes a phase regulation circuit configured to delay the clock signal so as to reduce the phase difference between a reference clock signal and the variation-corrected feedback clock signal generated by the feedback clock signal generation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeo Kawaoka
  • Patent number: 8731073
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for aligning lanes of low speed serial links coupled to a transceiver. The transceiver cooperatively performs lane alignment operations with a low speed device during initialization of the transceiver and the low speed device. The lane alignment operations are performed in-band using the low speed serial links, and therefore, do not require additional out-of-band-signaling wires between the transceiver and the low speed device to perform the lane alignment operations. The lane alignment operations may be performed by a handshaking process performed by the transceiver and the low speed device, where the transceiver and the low speed device provide training pattern(s) of data that are used to align the low speed serial links. The low speed serial links are continuously monitored after initialization is complete to detect various transient impairments and to re-initiate lane alignment operations in response to detecting such impairments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Whay Sing Lee
  • Patent number: 8732509
    Abstract: An apparatus for synchronizing an output clock signal with an input clock signal includes a first timing synchronization circuit, control logic, and a counter. The first timing synchronization circuit is operable to generate a delay to synchronize a reference clock signal representative of the input clock signal with a feedback clock signal representative of the output clock signal responsive a strobe signal. The control logic is operable to generate an enable signal based on the reference clock signal and generate the strobe signal based on the feedback clock signal. The counter is operable to count cycles of the reference clock signal occurring between the enable signal and the strobe signal to generate a loop count for the first timing synchronization circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Jongtae Kwak
  • Patent number: 8726062
    Abstract: The present invention discloses data recovery architecture (CDR) to improve a multi-link system's tolerance to delay mismatches (or skewing effect) in its different links. The architecture is entirely digital and usable in any multi-link transceiver implementation that makes use of a separate clock link and requires timing synchronization between the different data links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventor: Jose Angelo Rebelo Sarmento
  • Patent number: 8726064
    Abstract: An interconnection system, apparatus and method is described for arranging elements in a network, which may be a data memory system, computing system or communications system where the data paths are arranged and operated so as to control the power consumption and data skew properties of the system. A configurable switching element may be used to form the interconnections at nodes, where a control signal and other information is used to manage the power status of other aspects of the configurable switching element. Time delay skew of data being transmitted between nodes of the network may be altered by exchanging the logical and physical line assignments of the data at one or more nodes of the network. A method of laying out an interconnecting motherboard is disclosed which reduces the complexity of the trace routing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Violin Memory Inc.
    Inventor: Jon C. R. Bennett
  • Patent number: 8726063
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for performing processing including setting a timer associated with a first processing event, scheduling an expected time for the processing event using wall clock time, at the timer, using the expected time to calculate a delay associated with the timer, performing the first processing event in response to the timer, and setting a subsequent timer to compensate for the delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: David W. Shin, Richard J. Kenefic, Saad Karim
  • Patent number: 8719613
    Abstract: A circuit comprising a single-wire serial interface (SWSI), a delay module coupled to the SWSI and operable to introduce a delay during a data transmission, the delay being dependent on a local clock (LC) associated with the circuit, wherein the delay enables the circuit to synchronize the data transmission with a device coupled to the SWSI based on the LC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Neben
  • Patent number: 8719616
    Abstract: A method for encoder frequency-shift compensation includes determining frequency values of an input encoder signal, determining repeatable frequency-shifts of the frequency values and generating a frequency-shift compensated clock using the repeatable frequency-shifts. A frequency-shift compensated clock includes a synthesizer configured to generate a frequency-shift compensated clock signal using repeatable frequency shifts and encoder clock signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Koichi Wago, Sundeep Chauhan, David M. Tung
  • Patent number: 8707001
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a memory access time are provided. A first phase skew is measured between a first clock signal used by a memory and a second clock signal used as a reference clock signal. Then, a second phase skew is measured between a delayed version of the first clock signal output by the memory when the memory completes a given read operation and the second clock signal. The memory access time is determined based on the first and second phase skews.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Nan Chen, Zhiqin Chen, Varun Verma
  • Patent number: 8707080
    Abstract: A clock domain crossing technique that uses a circular buffer toggled by clocks from the two domains with output metastability protection. The resulting output is a pair of enable signals that may be used to pass data between the two clock domains. In one embodiment, a set of storage devices is connected in a circular buffer arrangement. A first subset of the storage devices is clocked by a signal from a first clock domain and a second subset of the flip flops is clocked by a signal taken from a second clock domain. Respective output circuits generate enable signals to be used for transferring data between domains. In some implementations, a pulse is stored and registered by at least two of the storage devices in the first domain before being passed to the devices in the second domain. In other embodiments, the output circuits may include a pair of D flip flops, each clocked by a respective one of the first or second domain signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey T. McLamb
  • Patent number: 8707078
    Abstract: Clock buffers in a clock and data recovery (CDR) system are trimmed by receiving a first transmitted clock-like data pattern in a reduced rate mode, locking the CDR using the received version of the first transmitted clock-like data pattern; and receiving a second transmitted clock-like data pattern. The first transmitted clock-like data pattern is transmitted using a first rate mode and the reduced rate mode divides the first rate mode by an integer value. The second transmitted clock-like data pattern has a run-length that is an integer division of a run-length of the first transmitted clock-like data pattern. A phase of the clock buffers is adjusted using the second transmitted clock-like data pattern. The received first transmitted clock-like data pattern has edges that correspond to only positive or negative edges of the first transmitted clock-like data pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventor: Mohammad S. Mobin
  • Patent number: 8700943
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for recording a time stamp counter (TSC) value of a first TSC counter of a processor before a system suspension, accessing the stored TSC value after the system suspension, and directly updating a thread offset value associated with a first thread executing on a first core of the processor with the stored TSC value, without performing a synchronization between a plurality of cores of the processor. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Martin G. Dixon, Jeremy J. Shrall, Rajesh S. Parthasarathy
  • Patent number: 8700818
    Abstract: Various memory devices (e.g., DRAMs, flash memories) are serially interconnected. The memory devices need their identifiers (IDs). Each of the memory devices generates IDs for neighboring memory devices. The IDs are generated synchronously with clock. Command data and previously generated ID data are synchronously registered. The registered data is synchronously output and provided as parallel data for calculation of a new ID for the neighboring device. The calculation is an addition or subtraction by one. The IDs are generated in a packet basis by interpreting serial packet-basis commands received at the serial input in response to clocks. A clock latency is controlled in response to the interpreted ID and the clock. In accordance with the controlled clock latency, a new ID is provided in a packet basis. In high frequency generation applications (e.g., 1 GHz), two adjacent devices connected in daisy chain fashion are guaranteed enough time margin to perform the interpretation of packet commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Mosaid Technologies Incorporated
    Inventors: Hong Beom Pyeon, HakJune Oh
  • Patent number: 8687436
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing delays between successive write and read accesses in multi-bank memory devices are provided. Computer circuits modify the relative timing between addresses and data of write accesses, reducing delays between successive write and read accesses. Memory devices that interface with these computer circuits use posted write accesses to effectively return the modified relative timing to its original timing before processing the write access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Round Rock Research, LLC
    Inventor: J. Thomas Pawlowski
  • Patent number: 8687799
    Abstract: When an encryption processing circuit encrypts data, a current flows in the encryption processing circuit. A noise current generated by a noise generation circuit is superimposed on the current consumed by the encryption processing circuit. The present invention is applicable to an IC chip that encrypts plaintext data using a key, thus preventing the key from being broken by DPA attacks based on analysis of the current consumption to provide high security.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Arisawa, Seiji Esaka
  • Publication number: 20140089717
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed to provide ad-hoc synchronization in industrial networks between a programmable logic controller and each I/O device without any specific protocol extensions or distributed clock scheme. An embodiment of an industrial control network comprising a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), a network coupled to the PLC, and a plurality of networked input/output (I/O) devices coupled to the network is provided. Each I/O device comprises: inputs coupled to the network to receive data from the PLC as device input data; and outputs coupled to the network to transmit output data from the I/O device to the PLC. The embodiment further comprises a programmable timer initiating an I/O cycle for the device on a periodic basis. The I/O device is operable to determine a first time period starting at the time at which specific output data arrives from the PLC and ending when the period of the timer ends. The first time period is compared to a predetermined time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventor: ANDREW DAVID ALSUP
  • Patent number: 8683253
    Abstract: An apparatus that compensates for misalignment on a synchronous data bus, including a resistor network, a transmitting device, and a receiving device. The resistor network indicates an amount to advance a synchronous data strobe associated with a data group. The transmitting device has a core clocks generator and a synchronous strobe driver. The core clocks generator advances a data strobe clock by the amount. The synchronous strobe driver employs the data strobe clock to generate the synchronous data strobe, where the synchronous data strobe is advanced also by the amount. The receiving device has a composite delay element and delay-locked loops (DLLs). The composite delay element equalizes delay paths within the receiving device, where the delay paths correspond to the synchronous data strobe that is received from the transmitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: VIA Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Darius D. Gaskins, James R. Lundberg
  • Patent number: 8683252
    Abstract: A recording medium, method and apparatus for managing data are discussed. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a method of reproducing main data and additional data. The method includes receiving the additional data associated with the main data, the additional data being divided into a plurality of segment units; and reproducing the additional data in a synchronous manner with the main data using time information if indication information indicates a presence of the time information. The time information indicates a presentation time of the additional data with respect to the main data. The main data and the additional data are reproduced according to management data, the management data including link information for linking the main data and the additional data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyung Sun Kim, Kang Soo Seo, Byung Jin Kim, Soung Hyun Um
  • Publication number: 20140082397
    Abstract: An embedded multimedia card (eMMC) comprises a clock channel configured to receive a clock signal from a host, a command channel configured to receive a command from the host, a plurality of data channels configured to transmit data to the host, a data strobe channel configured to transmit a data strobe signal synchronized with the data to the host, and a data strobe control unit configured to selectively enable or generate the data strobe signal according to a protocol control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: MYUNG SUB SHIN, SUNG HO SEO, KYUNG PHIL YOO, JUNG PIL LEE, HWA SEOK OH, YOUNG GYU KANG, JUN HO CHOI
  • Publication number: 20140082398
    Abstract: An embedded multimedia card (eMMC) is provided. The eMMC includes a clock channel receiving a clock output from a host, data channels receiving data signals from the host, and a command channel receiving a SWITCH command including delay offset values from the host so as to adjust a delay of at least one of the data signals, which are received, in response to the delay offset values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: JUNG PIL LEE, YOUNG GYU KANG, SUNG HO SEO, MYUNG SUB SHIN, KYUNG PHIL YOO, KYOUNG LAE CHO, JIN HYEOK CHOI, SEONG SIK HWANG
  • Publication number: 20140082399
    Abstract: A data bus part (1) with a data bus interface which has a downstream data bus input (2) for receiving data from a higher-order data bus (1), and a clock generator (6) for generating an internal clock signal for the data bus part (1), is described. The data bus part (1) has a synchronization unit (7) to synchronize the clock generator (6) with the clock signal of the higher-order data bus part (1), wherein the synchronization unit (7) is configured to detect transitions in the downstream data stream (D) received at the downstream data input (2), to regulate the frequency of the internal clock signal depending on the detected transitions, and to set a defined phasing of the internal clock signal in relation to the detected transitions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: WAGO Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH
    Inventor: Daniel JEROLM
  • Patent number: 8677170
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating a delayed clock signal. The apparatus is a computer system with a processor to which a memory device is coupled. The memory device has a delay clock generator that has a synchronizing circuit for generating an output clock signal from an input clock signal and further includes a delay circuit having an input coupled to the output of the synchronizing circuit. The delay circuit provides an output clock signal having a delay with respect to the clock signal from the synchronizing circuit according to one of a plurality of programmable time delays selected in accordance with a selection signal. The method of generating a clock signal includes synchronizing an internal clock signal to an external clock signal, and delaying the internal clock signal different amounts based on a selection value indicative of external clock frequency to provide the clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Round Rock Research, LLC
    Inventor: Leel S. Janzen
  • Patent number: 8677173
    Abstract: A circuit for trimming an internal oscillator of a USB device that generates a clock signal as a frequency source of the USB device includes a counter, a first detector for detecting an end of packet from an input data stream to initialize a counter, a second detector for detecting a synchronization sequence, a token packet or a handshake packet in the data stream for the counter to carry out clock counting on the clock signal, and a trimming code controller for comparing the count value with a reference value to determine a trimming code for trimming a clock frequency of the internal oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Elan Microelectronics Corporation
    Inventors: Chun-Chi Wang, Tsung-Yin Chiang, Ching-Shun Lin
  • Publication number: 20140075235
    Abstract: Devices and methods for synchronizing devices over a switched fabric. A switch receives a request packet from a device, transmits a completion packet to the device, determines an in-switch delay, and stores the in-switch delay. Another switch receives a packet from a first device, forwards the packet to a second device, determines an in-switch delay of the packet, and stores the in-switch delay. Storing of in-switch delays may include adding an in-switch delay to values in one or more transaction delay fields of a packet. Storing of in-switch delays may include storing the delays in a storage element of a switch. In-switch delay may be determined as a difference between a receiving time corresponding to reception of a packet and a forwarding or transmittal time corresponding to forwarding or transmitting of a packet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: Sundeep Chandhoke, Rodney D. Greenstreet
  • Patent number: 8671302
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a wireless clock system for multimedia datastream transmission and display. Source clock frames are compared with a reference clock frames and the clock difference are transmitted to a wireless clock receiver which also receives the same reference clock frames. Source clock frames are re-constructed using the reference clock frames, clock difference information and the receiver's local clock system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Picongen Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Sai Manapragada, Alvin Dale Kluesing
  • Patent number: 8671303
    Abstract: Circuits, methods, and apparatus for memory interfaces that compensate for skew between a clock signal and DQ/DQS signals that may be caused by a fly-by routing topology. The skew is compensated by clocking the DQ/DQS signals with a phase delayed clock signal, where the phase delay has been calibrated. In one example calibration routine, a clock signal is provided to a receiving device. A DQ/DQS signal is also provided and the timing of their reception compared. A delay of the DQ/DQS signal is changed incrementally until the DQ/DQS signal is aligned with the clock signal at the receiving device. This delay is then used during device operation to delay a signal that clocks registers providing the DQ/DQS signals. Each DQ/DQS group can be aligned to the clock, or the DQS and DQ signals in a group may be independently aligned to the clock at the receiving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Yan Chong, Bonnie I. Wang, Chiakang Sung, Joseph Huang, Michael H. M. Chu
  • Patent number: 8671301
    Abstract: A recording medium, method and apparatus for managing data are discussed. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a method of reproducing main data and additional data. The method includes receiving the additional data associated with the main data, the additional data being divided into a plurality of segment units; and reproducing the additional data in a synchronous manner with the main data using time information if indication information indicates a presence of the time information. The time information indicates a presentation time of the additional data with respect to the main data. The main data and the additional data are reproduced according to management data, the management data including link information for linking the main data and the additional data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyung Sun Kim, Kang Soo Seo, Byung Jin Kim, Soung Hyun Um
  • Patent number: 8665913
    Abstract: A communication device that is to be connected to a providing server for providing time information via a network is provided. The communication device includes a congestion-degree obtainer to obtain a congestion degree indicating a condition of traffic in the network, a time information obtainer to obtain the time information provided by the providing server, and an obtainment restrictor to compare the obtained congestion degree with a predetermined reference degree of congestion, and restricts the time information obtainer from obtaining the time information if the comparison indicates that the traffic in the network is busier than the reference degree of congestion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yohei Maekawa
  • Patent number: 8661274
    Abstract: Adaptive voltage scalers (AVSs), systems, and related methods are disclosed. The AVSs are configured to adaptively adjust voltage levels powering a functional circuit(s) based on target operating frequencies and delay variation conditions to avoid or reduce voltage margin. In one embodiment, the AVS includes a database. The database can be configured to store voltage levels for various operating frequencies of a functional circuit(s) to avoid or reduce voltage margin. The database allows rapid voltage level decisions. In one embodiment, a voltage offset is added to a voltage level retrieved from the database corresponding to a target operating frequency of the functional circuit(s). In another embodiment, a voltage level is retrieved from the database corresponding to a target operating frequency for and a temperature level of the functional circuit(s). The AVS may partially or fully controllable by a software-based module that consults the database to make voltage level decisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: David W. Hansquine, Richard Gerard Hofmann, Richard Alan Moore
  • Patent number: 8661285
    Abstract: A DDR memory controller is described wherein a core domain capture clock is created by programmably delaying the core clock of the memory controller. The delay of this capture clock is typically calibrated during a power on the initialization sequence in concert with a DDR memory in a system environment, thereby minimizing the effects of system delays and increasing both device and system yield. An additional embodiment also includes programmably delaying the incoming dqs signal. To compensate for voltage and temperature variations over time during normal operation, a runtime dynamic calibration mechanism and procedure is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Uniquify, Incorporated
    Inventors: Jung Lee, Mahesh Goplan
  • Patent number: 8643416
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventor: Ryo Fujimaki
  • Patent number: 8638137
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a delay unit configured to delay an inputted clock to generate a delay clock, a selection unit configured to select and output one of the inputted clock and the delay clock, a delay locked loop configured to perform a delay locking operation using a signal delivered from the selection unit, and a selection control unit configured to control the selection unit in response to a comparison of one period of the inputted clock and a maximum delay value of the delay locked loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Jin Il Chung
  • Patent number: 8631267
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are solutions for addressing the problem of skew of data within a byte lane by factors caused external to the integrated circuit or module providing the data. To compensate for such skew, an on-chip delay is added to the data out paths of those bits in the byte lane with otherwise would arrive early to their destinations. Such on-chip delay is provided delay circuits preferably positioned directly before the output buffers/bond pads of the integrated circuit or module. By intentionally delaying some of the outputs from the integrated circuit or module, external skew is compensated for so that all data in the byte lane arrives at the destination at substantially the same time. In a preferred embodiment, the delay circuits are programmable to allow the integrated circuit or module to be freely tailored to environments having different skew considerations, such as different styles of connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Mircon Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher S. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8631266
    Abstract: A method of tuning a phase of a clock signal includes performing data training on a plurality of data pins through which data are input and output, in synchronization with a data clock signal; determining one of the data pins to be a representative pin; performing clock and data recovery (CDR) on read data of the representative pin; and adjusting a phase of the data clock signal based on the CDR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ho-Seok Seol, Young-Soo Sohn, Dong-Min Kim, Kwang-Il Park, Seung-Jun Bae
  • Publication number: 20140013149
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a DDR memory controller is described. The method provides an optimum delay for a core clock delay element to produce an optimum capture clock signal. The method issues a sequence of read commands so that a delayed version of a dqs signal toggles continuously. The method delays a core clock signal to sample the delayed dqs signal at different delay increments until a 1 to 0 transition is detected on the delayed dqs signal. This core clock delay is recorded as “A.” The method delays the core clock signal to sample the core clock signal at different delay increments until a 0 to 1 transition is detected on the core clock signal. This core clock delay is recorded as “B.” The optimum delay value is computed from the A and B delay values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Uniquify, Incorporated
    Inventors: Jung Lee, Mahesh Goplan
  • Patent number: 8627134
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Hong-Sok Choi
  • Publication number: 20130346785
    Abstract: Embodiments provide bus synchronization system including a source module, a plurality of destination modules, and a data alignment controller. The source module is configured to synchronize a plurality of data segments of a data bus with a source clock signal, and transmit respective synchronized data segments to individual destination modules. The source module is further configured to transmit the source clock signal to the destination modules contemporaneously with the synchronized data segments. The source module thereafter receives feedback clock signals from the individual destination modules, the feedback clock signals being delayed versions of the source clock signal. The data alignment controller adjusts an output delay time for the individual destination modules, based on the received feedback clock signals, to temporally align output signals of the destination modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Yoav Lossin, Aviad Wertheimer
  • Patent number: 8601231
    Abstract: An asynchronously pipelined SDRAM has separate pipeline stages that are controlled by asynchronous signals. Rather than using a clock signal to synchronize data at each stage, an asynchronous signal is used to latch data at every stage. The asynchronous control signals are generated within the chip and are optimized to the different latency stages. Longer latency stages require larger delays elements, while shorter latency states require shorter delay elements. The data is synchronized to the clock at the end of the read data path before being read out of the chip. Because the data has been latched at each pipeline stage, it suffers from less skew than would be seen in a conventional wave pipeline architecture. Furthermore, since the stages are independent of the system clock, the read data path can be run at any CAS latency as long as the re-synchronizing output is built to support it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: MOSAID Technologies Incorporated
    Inventor: Ian Mes
  • Patent number: 8595537
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed to generate and terminate clock shift modes during initialization of a synchronous circuit (e.g., a delay-locked loop or DLL). Upon initialization, the DLL is entered into a ForceSL (Force Shift Left) mode and an Onlx mode (i.e., left shifting on each clock cycle). The feedback clock that tracks the phase of the reference clock (derived from the system clock) is initially delayed in a coarse phase detector prior to applying it to the coarse phase detection window. Two delayed versions of the feedback clock are sampled by the reference clock to generate a pair of phase information signals, which are then used to establish an advanced phase equal (APHEQ) signal. The APHEQ signal is used to terminate the ForceSL and Onlx modes, thereby preventing wrong ForceSL exit due to clock jitter or feedback path overshooting during Onlx exit, and resulting in faster DLL locking time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kang Yong Kim
  • Publication number: 20130311814
    Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure involve an apparatus and/or method for providing a constant frequency timer signal for a microprocessor that operates with varying core clock signals. The apparatus and/or method utilizes a code generator, such as a gray code generator, operating on a reference clock signal that allows the constant frequency timer signal to be either faster or slower than the core clock frequency. More particularly, the apparatus and/or method may compute a difference between previous gray code samples and add the calculated difference to a software visible reference clock signal such that constant frequency timer signal may be faster or slower than the core clock signal. Through the use of the apparatus and/or method, a core clock signal may be reduced as needed to provide operational power savings to the microprocessor and the computing system employing the techniques described herein, while maintaining synchronization between the executing programs of the computing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Sebastian Turullols, Ali Vahidsafa
  • Patent number: 8588355
    Abstract: A timing recovery controller capable of performing timing recovery for a data sequence at twice a symbol rate includes a sampler, a timing base device, a timing error detector and a timing lock detector. The timing error detector includes a first delay unit and a second delay unit, for delaying a data sequence to output a first delay data sequence and a second delay data sequence, respectively, and a timing error calculating module, for generating a timing error value, to adjust a time base. The timing lock detector includes a third delay unit, for delaying the data sequence to output a third delay data sequence, and a timing lock determination module, for generating a timing lock determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: NOVATEK Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Kung-Piao Huang
  • Patent number: 8589720
    Abstract: The rate at which data is provided by one device and the rate at which that data is processed by another device may differ. For example, a transmitting device may transmit data according to a transmit clock while a receiving device that receives the transmitted data may process the data according to a receive clock. If there is a timing mismatch between the transmit and receive clocks, the receiving device may receive data faster or slower than it processes the data. In such a case, there may be errors relating to the processing of the received data. To address timing mismatches such as this, the receiving device may delete data from or insert data into the received data. In conjunction with these operations, the receiving device may modify the received data at or near the insertion point or the deletion point in a manner that mitigates any adverse effect the insertion or deletion may have on a resulting output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Harinath Garudadri, Somdeb Majumdar, Rouzbeh Kashef, Chinnappa K. Ganapathy
  • Patent number: 8583957
    Abstract: System and method for synchronizing devices. A device reads a first counter coupled to and associated with a master clock and a second counter coupled to and associated with the device, where the device is one of one or more devices coupled to the master clock and each other via a switched fabric, where each device includes a respective clock, and is coupled to and associated with a respective second counter. Each of the first counter and the second counters is accessible by each of the one or more devices. The device determines a difference between the device's associated second counter and the first counter, and determines and stores a time reference for the device relative to the master clock based on the determined difference, where the time reference is useable to timestamp events or synchronize future events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Sundeep Chandhoke, Lee E. Mohrmann, Adam C. Ullrich, Rodney D. Greenstreet
  • Publication number: 20130297961
    Abstract: Systems and methods for timing read operations with a memory device are provided. A timing signal is received from the memory device at a gating circuit. The timing signal is passed through as a filtered timing signal during a gating window. The gating window is configured to open the gating window based on a control signal and to close the gating window based on a falling edge of the timing signal. The falling edge is determined based on a counter that is triggered to begin counting by the control signal. The control signal is generated at a timing control circuit after receiving a read request from a memory controller. The timing control circuit is configured to delay generation of the control signal to cause the gating window to open during a preamble portion of the timing signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Jun Zhu, Joseph Jun Cao, Sheng Lu
  • Patent number: 8572425
    Abstract: A microcomputer is provided having a memory card interface capable of correctly latching data even when a card such as an MMC card is connected thereto. In the microcomputer having an interface with an external device such as a memory card, the interface unit is provided with an output driver connected to an external terminal for outputting a clock signal to output the clock signal and with an equivalent load circuit capable of imparting, to the clock signal extracted from an arbitrary position in a stage previous to the output driver in a clock signal path, delay equivalent to delay resulting from an external load connected to the external terminal in order to generate a clock signal for latching data inputted from the memory card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Sakamoto, Naozumi Morino, Ikuo Kudo
  • Patent number: 8560875
    Abstract: An apparatus for clock calibration on a remote device includes a first oscillator, a second oscillator, and a clock calibration module. The first oscillator generates a first clock signal during an active communication mode to facilitate communications between the remote and host devices. The first oscillator is inactive during a sniff mode. The second oscillator generates a second clock signal during both the active communication and sniff modes. The clock calibration module generates an estimated count for the first clock signal approximately at a transition from the sniff mode to the active communication mode. The estimated count is based on a clock ratio of a baseline count of the first clock signal relative to a baseline count of the second clock signal. The clock calibration module also calculates a difference between the estimated count and an actual count from the host device to determine whether to update the clock ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Kang Shen