Patent US6061418A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6061418A
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Variable clock divider with selectable duty cycle
Assignee: Xilinx Inc
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Filing: 1998-06-22
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Granted: 2000-05-09
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Expires: 2018-06-22
Abstract
Abstract A variable clock divider circuit is provided. The variable clock divider circuit receives an input clock signal and generates an output clock signal having an output clock frequency that is less than the input clock frequency of the input clock signal. In one embodiment, a controller generates a rising-edge control signal and a falling-edge control signal. An output generator drives rising edges on the output clock signal in response to active edges on the rising-edge control signal. Conversely, the output generator drives falling edges on the output clock signal in response to active edges on the falling-edge control signal. The frequency of the rising-edge control signal and the frequency of the falling-edge control signal are variable. Common settings for the frequency of the rising-edge control signal and the falling-edge control signal include the frequency of the input clock signal divided by an integer.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph H. Hassoun
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:50
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K21/00; H03K21/08; H03K21/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
279 words
A variable clock divider circuit for generating an output clock signal from an input clock signal, the variable clock divider circuit comprising: a controller coupled to receive the input clock signal and configured to generate a rising-edge control signal having a plurality of active edges, and a falling-edge control signal having a plurality of active edges, the controller having: a first flip-flop having an input terminal, an output terminal, a set terminal, and a clock input terminal coupled to receive the input clock signal; a second flip-flop having an input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the first flip-flop, a reset terminal, an output terminal and a clock input terminal coupled to receive the input clock signal; a third flip-flop having an input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the second flip-flop, a reset terminal, an output terminal, and a clock input terminal coupled to receive the input clock signal; a first multiplexer having an output terminal coupled to the input terminal of the first flip-flop, a first input terminal coupled to the input terminal of the second flip-flop, and a second input terminal coupled to the input terminal of the third flip-flop; and a power-on/reset line coupled to the set terminal of the first flip-flop, the reset terminal of the second flip-flop, and the reset terminal of the third flip-flop; and an output generator coupled to the controller and providing the output clock signal, the output generator driving a rising edge on the output clock signal in response to active edges of the rising-edge control signal and driving a falling edge on the output clock signal in response to active edges of the falling-edge control signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
279 words
A variable clock divider circuit for generating an output clock signal from an input clock signal, the variable clock divider circuit comprising: a controller coupled to receive the input clock signal and configured to generate a rising-edge control signal having a plurality of active edges, and a falling-edge control signal having a plurality of active edges, the controller having: a first flip-flop having an input terminal, an output terminal, a set terminal, and a clock input terminal coupled to receive the input clock signal; a second flip-flop having an input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the first flip-flop, a reset terminal, an output terminal and a clock input terminal coupled to receive the input clock signal; a third flip-flop having an input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the second flip-flop, a reset terminal, an output terminal, and a clock input terminal coupled to receive the input clock signal; a first multiplexer having an output terminal coupled to the input terminal of the first flip-flop, a first input terminal coupled to the input terminal of the second flip-flop, and a second input terminal coupled to the input terminal of the third flip-flop; and a power-on/reset line coupled to the set terminal of the first flip-flop, the reset terminal of the second flip-flop, and the reset terminal of the third flip-flop; and an output generator coupled to the controller and providing the output clock signal, the output generator driving a rising edge on the output clock signal in response to active edges of the rising-edge control signal and driving a falling edge on the output clock signal in response to active edges of the falling-edge control signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The variable clock divider circuit of claim 1, wherein the rising-edge control signal has a rising-edge frequency equal to a input clock frequency of the input clock divided by an integer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The variable clock divider circuit of claim 2, wherein the integer is selected using one or more frequency control signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The variable clock divider circuit of claim 2, wherein the falling-edge control signal has a falling-edge frequency equal to the rising-edge frequency.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The variable clock divider circuit of claim 1, wherein active edges of the rising-edge control signal are offset from active edges of the falling-edge control signal by a duty cycle offset.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The variable clock divider circuit of claim 5, wherein the duty cycle offset is equal to an integer times a clock period of the input clock signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The variable clock divider of claim 1, wherein the output terminal of the second flip-flop drives the rising-edge control signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
The variable clock divider circuit of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises an output multiplexer having a first input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the first flip-flop, a second input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the second flip-flop, a third input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the third flip-flop, and an output terminal coupled to drive the falling-edge control signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
The variable clock divider circuit of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises a fourth flip-flop having an input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the third flip-flop, a reset terminal coupled to the power-on/reset line, an output terminal coupled to the first multiplexer, and a clock input terminal coupled to receive the input clock signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The variable clock divider circuit of claim 1, wherein the output generator comprises an edge-triggered SR circuit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
190 words
A variable clock divider circuit for generating an output clock signal from an input clock signal, the variable clock divider circuit comprising: a controller coupled to receive the input clock signal and configured to generate a rising-edge control signal having an active state and an inactive state, and a falling-edge control signal having an active state and an inactive state; a precision duty cycle control circuit coupled to receive the input clock signal and configured to generate a precision rising-edge signal having a plurality of active edges, and a precision falling-edge signal having a plurality of active edges; and an output generator coupled to the controller and the precision duty cycle control circuit, wherein: the output generator drives a rising edge on the output clock signal in response to active edges of the precision rising-edge signal when the rising-edge control signal is in the active state of the rising-edge control signal; and the output generator drives a falling edge on the output clock signal in response to an active edge of the precision falling-edge signal when the falling-edge control signal is in the active state of the falling-edge control signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
190 words
A variable clock divider circuit for generating an output clock signal from an input clock signal, the variable clock divider circuit comprising: a controller coupled to receive the input clock signal and configured to generate a rising-edge control signal having an active state and an inactive state, and a falling-edge control signal having an active state and an inactive state; a precision duty cycle control circuit coupled to receive the input clock signal and configured to generate a precision rising-edge signal having a plurality of active edges, and a precision falling-edge signal having a plurality of active edges; and an output generator coupled to the controller and the precision duty cycle control circuit, wherein: the output generator drives a rising edge on the output clock signal in response to active edges of the precision rising-edge signal when the rising-edge control signal is in the active state of the rising-edge control signal; and the output generator drives a falling edge on the output clock signal in response to an active edge of the precision falling-edge signal when the falling-edge control signal is in the active state of the falling-edge control signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The variable clock divider circuit of claim 11, wherein: the precision duty cycle control circuit comprises a clock phase shifter coupled to receive the input clock signal; and the clock phase shifter generates a plurality of phase-shifted clock signals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
The variable clock divider circuit of claim 12, wherein the precision duty cycle control circuit further comprises: a first multiplexer coupled to receive the plurality of phase-shifted clock signals from the clock phase shifter and configured to generate the precision rising-edge signal; and a second multiplexer coupled to receive the phase-shifted clock signals from the clock phase shifter and configured to generate the precision falling-edge signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
176 words
The variable clock divider circuit of claim 11, wherein the controller comprises: a first flip-flop having an input terminal, an output terminal, a set terminal, and a clock input terminal coupled to receive the input clock signal; a second flip-flop having an input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the first flip-flop, a reset terminal, an output terminal and a clock input terminal coupled to receive the input clock signal; a third flip-flop having an input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the second flip-flop, a reset terminal, an output terminal, and a clock input terminal coupled to receive the input clock signal; a first multiplexer having an output terminal coupled to the input terminal of the first flip-flop, a first input terminal coupled to the input terminal of the second flip-flop, and a second input terminal coupled to the input terminal of the third flip-flop; and a power-on/reset line coupled to the set terminal of the first flip-flop, the reset terminal of the second flip-flop, and the reset terminal of the third flip-flop.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of dividing an input clock signal having an input clock frequency to generate an output clock signal having an output clock frequency, the method comprising the steps of: generating a first rising-edge control signal having a plurality of active edges; generating a first falling-edge control signal having a plurality of active edges; driving a rising edge on the output clock signal for each active edge of the first rising-edge control signal that occurs while a second rising-edge control signal is in an active state; ignoring active edges of the first rising-edge control signal that occur while the second rising-edge control signal is in an inactive state; and driving a plurality of falling edges on the output clock signal in response to the active edges of the falling-edge control signal.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of dividing an input clock signal having an input clock frequency to generate an output clock signal having an output clock frequency, the method comprising the steps of: generating a first rising-edge control signal having a plurality of active edges; generating a first falling-edge control signal having a plurality of active edges; driving a rising edge on the output clock signal for each active edge of the first rising-edge control signal that occurs while a second rising-edge control signal is in an active state; ignoring active edges of the first rising-edge control signal that occur while the second rising-edge control signal is in an inactive state; and driving a plurality of falling edges on the output clock signal in response to the active edges of the falling-edge control signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 15, wherein a frequency of the rising-edge control signal is equal to the input clock frequency divided by an integer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 16, wherein a frequency of the falling-edge control signal is equal to the input clock frequency divided by the integer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the second rising-edge control signal is a phase-shifted clock signal based on the input clock 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) | 2003-05-09 | 2003-11-08 | 2004-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-09 | 2007-11-08 | 2008-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-09 | 2011-11-08 | 2012-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |