US6011749A
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US
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Integrated circuit having output timing control circuit and method thereof
Assignee: NXP USA Inc
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Filing: 1998-03-27
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Granted: 2000-01-04
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Expires: 2018-03-27
Abstract
Abstract An integrated circuit memory having a plurality of memory cells, output timing control means including frequency measurement means providing a frequency measurement count corresponding to a first frequency of the external clock signal and delay control means generating a delayed clock signal at the first frequency, wherein the delayed clock signal is delayed in time from the external clock signal in proportion to the first frequency, and data output control means outputting data from the plurality of memory cells responsive to the delayed clock signal. A method for adjusting output timing in a memory device including the steps of receiving an external clock signal, measuring a frequency of the external clock signal, generating a frequency count, determining an output delay proportional to the frequency, and generating an output clock at the external frequency and delayed from the external clock signal in proportion to the frequency.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan S. Roth
- 👤 Scott G. Nogle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 03:10
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C7/00; G11C7/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
An integrated circuit, comprising: output timing control means, comprising: digital frequency measurement means receiving an external clock signal and in response providing a frequency measurement count corresponding to a first frequency of the external clock signal, the digital frequency measurement means comprising at least one delay element and at least one memory storage unit; and delay control means receiving the frequency measurement count from the digital frequency measurement means and generating a delayed clock signal at the first frequency, wherein the delayed clock signal is delayed in time from the external clock signal in proportion to the first frequency; and data output control means responsive to the delayed clock signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
An integrated circuit, comprising: output timing control means, comprising: digital frequency measurement means receiving an external clock signal and in response providing a frequency measurement count corresponding to a first frequency of the external clock signal, the digital frequency measurement means comprising at least one delay element and at least one memory storage unit; and delay control means receiving the frequency measurement count from the digital frequency measurement means and generating a delayed clock signal at the first frequency, wherein the delayed clock signal is delayed in time from the external clock signal in proportion to the first frequency; and data output control means responsive to the delayed clock signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
128 words
An integrated circuit memory, comprising: a plurality of memory cells; output timing control means, comprising: digital frequency measurement means receiving an external clock signal and in response providing a frequency measurement count corresponding to a first frequency of the external clock signal, the digital frequency measurement means comprising at least one delay element and at least one memory storage unit; and delay control means receiving the frequency measurement count from the digital frequency measurement means and generating a delayed clock signal at the first frequency, wherein the delayed clock signal is delayed in time from the external clock signal in proportion to the first frequency; and data output control means coupled to the plurality of memory cells, the data output control means responsive to the delayed clock signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
128 words
An integrated circuit memory, comprising: a plurality of memory cells; output timing control means, comprising: digital frequency measurement means receiving an external clock signal and in response providing a frequency measurement count corresponding to a first frequency of the external clock signal, the digital frequency measurement means comprising at least one delay element and at least one memory storage unit; and delay control means receiving the frequency measurement count from the digital frequency measurement means and generating a delayed clock signal at the first frequency, wherein the delayed clock signal is delayed in time from the external clock signal in proportion to the first frequency; and data output control means coupled to the plurality of memory cells, the data output control means responsive to the delayed clock signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
An integrated circuit memory as in claim 2, wherein the digital frequency measurement means comprises a clock divider means, the clock divider means dividing the external clock signal into a first signal and a second signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
An integrated circuit memory as in claim 3, wherein the digital frequency measurement means comprises: a first plurality of delay elements, each having an associated storage element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
An integrated circuit memory as in claim 4, wherein the digital frequency measurement means comprises: a second plurality of delay elements, each having an associated storage element; and wherein the first signal is a complement of the second signal; and wherein the clock divider means provides the first signal to the first plurality of delay elements and the second signal to the second plurality of delay elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
91 words
An integrated circuit memory as in claim 4, wherein the delay control means comprises: a third plurality of delay elements, wherein the first plurality of delay elements corresponds to a first timing delay and the third plurality of delay elements corresponds to a second timing delay; and a multiplexer circuit coupled to the third plurality of delay elements, the multiplexer circuit determining a combination of delay elements, wherein the combination is a function of a ratio of the first timing delay to the second timing delay and the frequency measurement count.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
An integrated circuit memory as in claim 6, wherein the first plurality of delay elements corresponds to a first timing delay and the third plurality of delay elements corresponds to second different timing delay.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
An integrated circuit memory as in claim 2, wherein the digital frequency measurement means comprises: a delay element responsive to the external clock signal; and a counter coupled to the delay element, the counter generating the frequency measurement count.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
An integrated circuit memory as in claim 2, wherein the delay control means further comprises: a delay element; and a counter coupled to the delay element, the counter responsive to the frequency measurement count.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for adjusting output timing in a memory device, the method comprising the steps of: receiving an external clock signal; digitally measuring a first frequency of the external clock signal; generating a frequency count signal having a first value corresponding to the first frequency; determining a first output delay proportional to the first value; and generating an output clock signal of the first frequency, the output clock signal delayed from the external clock signal by the first output delay, the output clock signal indicating an output transition.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for adjusting output timing in a memory device, the method comprising the steps of: receiving an external clock signal; digitally measuring a first frequency of the external clock signal; generating a frequency count signal having a first value corresponding to the first frequency; determining a first output delay proportional to the first value; and generating an output clock signal of the first frequency, the output clock signal delayed from the external clock signal by the first output delay, the output clock signal indicating an output transition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method as in claim 10, wherein the step of measuring comprises the steps of: dividing the external clock signal to form a divided clock signal; receiving the divided clock signal; and propagating the divided clock signal at the first frequency through a series of sequential delay elements, and wherein propagation of the divided clock signal through a delay element sets an associated storage element to indicate the first value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 11, wherein the associated storage element is a register.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
120 words
A method as in claim 11, wherein the step of measuring comprises the steps of: receiving the divided clock signal having a true portion and a complement portion; propagating the true portion through a first series of sequential delay elements, wherein propagation of a positive edge of the true portion through a delay element of the first series of sequential delay elements sets an associated storage element; propagating the complement portion through a second series of sequential delay elements, wherein propagation of a positive edge of the complement portion through a delay element of the second series of sequential delay elements sets an associated storage element; and multiplexing outputs of the associated storage elements of true and complement propagation paths.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 11, wherein the step of determining a first output delay comprises the step of: calculating a combination of delay elements, wherein the combination is a function of the frequency count signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 11, wherein the step of measuring comprises the step of: propagating the divided clock signal through a delay element; and incrementing a counter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as in claim 11, wherein the step of determining a first output delay comprises the steps of: initializing a counter according to the first value of the frequency count signal; driving a delay element loop; and decrementing the counter on each iteration of the delay element loop until the counter expires.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 11, wherein the step of determining a first output delay comprises the step of: calculating a combination of delay elements based on the first value of the frequency count signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-01-03 | 2003-07-05 | 2004-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-03 | 2007-07-05 | 2008-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-03 | 2011-07-05 | 2012-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |