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US6081145A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Semiconductor integrated circuit device

Assignee: Toshiba Corp
•
Filing: 1998-06-11
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Granted: 2000-06-27
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Expires: 2018-06-11
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Abstract

Abstract A semiconductor integrated circuit device has a plurality of functional blocks. Each of the plurality of functional blocks comprises a DLL circuit for outputting a clock signal, at least one wiring portion for receiving the clock signal at one end thereof, and at least one load circuit for receiving the clock signal from the DLL circuit via the wiring portion. The DLL circuit receives a reference clock signal and a wiring portion and outputs the clock signal so that the phase difference between the reference clock signal and the second clock signal is a predetermined value. Thus, clock skew is reduced even if there is variation due to process.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ryouichi Bandai
  • 👤 Kenji Sakaue
  • 👤 Keiko Fukuda

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 18:37
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/04; G06F1/10

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 118 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising: a plurality of functional blocks, each comprising: a DLL circuit for outputting a first clock signal; at least one wiring portion, one end of which is connected to an output end of said DLL circuit for allowing said first clock signal to pass therethrough; and at least one load circuit for receiving said first clock signal from said DLL circuit via said wiring portion, wherein said DLL circuit receives a reference clock signal and a second clock signal outputted from the other end of said wiring portion and outputs said first clock signal so that a phase difference between the reference clock signal and the second clock signal is a predetermined value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 118 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising: a plurality of functional blocks, each comprising: a DLL circuit for outputting a first clock signal; at least one wiring portion, one end of which is connected to an output end of said DLL circuit for allowing said first clock signal to pass therethrough; and at least one load circuit for receiving said first clock signal from said DLL circuit via said wiring portion, wherein said DLL circuit receives a reference clock signal and a second clock signal outputted from the other end of said wiring portion and outputs said first clock signal so that a phase difference between the reference clock signal and the second clock signal is a predetermined value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 109 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one functional block of said plurality of functional blocks has a plurality of wiring portions, each of which is said wiring portion, each of said wiring portions being provided with at least one load circuit corresponding to each of said wiring portions, one end of each of said plurality of wiring portions being short-circuited to receive an output of said DLL circuit, and the other end of each of said plurality of wiring portions being short-circuited to be connected to an input end of said DLL circuit, to which said second clock signal is inputted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 81 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the other end of each of said wiring portions of said plurality of functional blocks is short-circuited, and which further comprises a PLL circuit for producing said reference clock signal on the basis of said second clock signal transmitted from the short-circuit end and a clock signal transmitted from the outside, to transmit said reference clock signal to said DLL circuit of each of said plurality of functional blocks.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 117 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said DLL circuit comprises: a delay circuit for producing a plurality of delay signals, which have different lags from said reference clock signal, on the basis of said reference clock signal; a phase comparator circuit for comparing a phase of said reference clock signal with a phase of said second clock signal transmitted from the other end of said wiring portion, to output a control signal for causing a phase difference of a predetermined value; and means for selecting one delay signal from said plurality of delay signals on the basis of said control signal to output the selected delay signal to said wiring portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 26 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device as set forth in claim 4, wherein said delay circuit has a series circuit comprising a plurality of serially-connected delay elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 53 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device as set forth in claim 4, wherein said delay circuit has a plurality of series circuits, each of which comprises a plurality of serially-connected delay elements, said plurality of series circuits being connected to each other in parallel, each of said plurality of series circuits having different lags.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 81 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the other end of each of said wiring portions of said plurality of functional blocks is short-circuited, and which further comprises a PLL circuit for producing said reference clock signal on the basis of said second clock signal transmitted from the short-circuit end and a clock signal transmitted from the outside, to transmit said reference clock signal to said DILL circuit of each of said plurality of functional blocks.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 117 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said DLL circuit comprises: a delay circuit for producing a plurality of delay signals, which have different lags from said reference clock signal, on the basis of said reference clock signal; a phase comparator circuit for comparing a phase of said reference clock signal with a phase of said second clock signal transmitted from the other end of said wiring portion, to output a control signal for causing a phase difference of a predetermined value; and means for selecting one delay signal from said plurality of delay signals on the basis of said control signal to output the selected delay signal to said wiring portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 117 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said DLL circuit comprises: a delay circuit for producing a plurality of delay signals, which have different lags from said reference clock signal, on the basis of said reference clock signal; a phase comparator circuit for comparing a phase of said reference clock signal with a phase of said second clock signal transmitted from the other end of said wiring portion, to output a control signal for causing a phase difference of a predetermined value; and means for selecting one delay signal from said plurality of delay signals on the basis of said control signal to output the selected delay signal to said wiring portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 137 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising: a plurality of functional blocks, each comprising: a DLL circuit for receiving a reference clock signal and at least one shift clock signal phase-shifted from said reference clock signal, to output a first clock signal; at least one wiring portion, one end of which is connected to an output end of said DLL circuit for allowing said first clock signal to pass therethrough; and at least one load circuit for receiving said first clock signal from said DLL circuit via said wiring portion, wherein said DLL circuit receives a reference clock signal and a second clock signal outputted from the other end of said wiring portion and outputs said first clock signal so that a phase difference between the reference clock signal and the second clock signal is a predetermined value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 137 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising: a plurality of functional blocks, each comprising: a DLL circuit for receiving a reference clock signal and at least one shift clock signal phase-shifted from said reference clock signal, to output a first clock signal; at least one wiring portion, one end of which is connected to an output end of said DLL circuit for allowing said first clock signal to pass therethrough; and at least one load circuit for receiving said first clock signal from said DLL circuit via said wiring portion, wherein said DLL circuit receives a reference clock signal and a second clock signal outputted from the other end of said wiring portion and outputs said first clock signal so that a phase difference between the reference clock signal and the second clock signal is a predetermined value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 109 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device as set forth in claim 10, wherein at least one functional block of said plurality of functional blocks has a plurality of wiring portions, each of which is said wiring portion, each of said wiring portions being provided with at least one load circuit corresponding to each of said wiring portions, one end of each of said plurality of wiring portions being short-circuited to receive an output of said DLL circuit, and the other end of each of said plurality of wiring portions being short-circuited to be connected to an input end of said DLL circuit, to which said second clock signal is inputted.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 62 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device as set forth in claim 11, which further comprises a PLL circuit for producing said reference clock signal and said shift clock signal on the basis of a clock signal transmitted from the outside, to transmit said reference clock signal and said shift clock signal to said DLL circuit of each of said plurality of functional blocks.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 231 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device as set forth in claim 11, wherein said shift clock signal is a first shift clock signal delayed from said reference clock signal by a phase of 90 degrees, and wherein said DLL circuit comprises: shift clock producing means for producing a second shift clock signal delayed from said reference clock signal by a phase of 180 degree and a third shift clock signal delayed from said first shift clock signal by a phase of 180 degree, on the basis of said reference clock signal and said first shift clock signal; a selecting circuit for selecting one clock signal from said reference clock signal and said first through third shift clock signals on the basis of a command signal, to output the selected clock signal; a phase comparator circuit for comparing a phase of a second clock signal outputted from the other end of said wiring portion with a phase of said reference clock signal, to detect a phase lag of said second clock signal from said reference clock signal to transmit said command signal to said selecting circuit on the basis of said phase lag; and a delay circuit for applying a lag, which corresponds to said phase lag detected by said phase comparator circuit, to said clock signal outputted from said selecting circuit and for outputting the resulting clock signal to said wiring portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 56 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device as set forth in claim 10, which further comprises a PLL circuit for producing said reference clock signal and said shift clock signal on the basis of a clock signal transmitted from the outside, to transmit the produced signals to said DLL circuit of each of said plurality of functional blocks.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 232 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device as set forth in claim 10, wherein said shift clock signal is a first shift clock signal delay ed from said reference clock signal by a phase of 90 degrees, and wherein said DLL circuit comprises: shift clock producing means for producing a second shift clock signal delayed from said reference clock signal by a phase of 180 degree and a third shift clock signal delayed from said first shift clock signal by a phase of 180 degree, on the basis of said reference clock signal and said first shift clock signal; a selecting circuit for selecting one clock signal from said reference clock signal and said first through third shift clock signals on the basis of a command signal, to output the selected clock signal; a phase comparator circuit for comparing a phase of a second clock signal outputted from the other end of said wiring portion with a phase of said reference clock signal, to detect a phase lag of said second clock signal from said reference clock signal to transmit said command signal to said selecting circuit on the basis of said phase lag; and a delay circuit for applying a lag, which corresponds to said phase lag detected by said phase comparator circuit, to said clock signal outputted from said selecting circuit and for outputting the resulting clock signal to said wiring portion.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5122679A Cited
US5278814A Cited
US5420544A Cited
US5568097A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2003-06-27 2003-12-27 2004-06-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-06-27 2007-12-27 2008-06-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-06-27 2011-12-27 2012-06-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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