US5831459A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for adjusting a clock signal within electronic circuitry
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1997-06-18
•
Granted: 1998-11-03
•
Expires: 2017-06-18
Abstract
Abstract A method and system are provided. A clock signal is input and output at first and second nodes of integrated circuitry. The first node is connected through a selected one of a plurality of metallization paths of the integrated circuitry to the second node. Each of the metallization paths is connectable between the first and second nodes for delaying the clock signal by a respective amount of time between the first and second nodes, so that the clock signal at the second node is always delayed relative to the first node by the respective amount of time of the selected metallization path.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas Colvin McDonald
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 19:55
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K5/00; H03K5/13; H03K5/14; G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/04; G06F1/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
An integrated circuit clock adjusting apparatus, comprising: a source of master clock signals; a first clock signal generator circuit, connected to receive master clock signals at an input node and to generate a first clock signal with a first delay at an output node, the first delay defined by a regenerator circuit metallization creating one of at least three possible different metallization selectable incremental delays available within the first clock signal regenerator circuit; a first latch responsive to the first clock signal for latching logic signals outputted from a first logic circuit; a second clock signal regenerator circuit, connected to receive master clock signals at an input node and to generate a second clock signal with a second delay at an output node, the second delay defined by a regenerator circuit metallization creating one of at least three possible different metallization selectable incremental delays available within the second clock signal generator circuit, the second delay of the second clock signal regenerator circuit differing from the first delay of the first clock signal regenerator circuit; and a second latch responsive to the second clock signal for latching logic signals received from said first latch via a second logic circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
An integrated circuit clock adjusting apparatus, comprising: a source of master clock signals; a first clock signal generator circuit, connected to receive master clock signals at an input node and to generate a first clock signal with a first delay at an output node, the first delay defined by a regenerator circuit metallization creating one of at least three possible different metallization selectable incremental delays available within the first clock signal regenerator circuit; a first latch responsive to the first clock signal for latching logic signals outputted from a first logic circuit; a second clock signal regenerator circuit, connected to receive master clock signals at an input node and to generate a second clock signal with a second delay at an output node, the second delay defined by a regenerator circuit metallization creating one of at least three possible different metallization selectable incremental delays available within the second clock signal generator circuit, the second delay of the second clock signal regenerator circuit differing from the first delay of the first clock signal regenerator circuit; and a second latch responsive to the second clock signal for latching logic signals received from said first latch via a second logic circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second clock signal is delayed so that clock skew is substantially optimized between the first and second logic circuits.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said master clock signal is a processor clock signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4415984A
Cited
US4812684A
Cited
US5239215A
Cited
US4914429A
Cited
JPH02199918A
Cited
JPH03175720A
Cited
JPH04150612A
Cited
JPH04207215A
Cited
US5223755A
Cited
US5278873A
Cited
US5307381A
Cited
US5444405A
Cited
US5296748A
Cited
US5387825A
Cited
US5420544A
Cited
US5430397A
Cited
US5521541A
Cited
US5396111A
Cited
US5489867A
Cited
US5519351A
Cited
US5548620A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-11-02 | 2002-05-04 | 2002-11-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-02 | 2006-05-04 | 2006-11-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-02 | 2010-05-04 | 2010-11-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |