Divide-by-N clock divider circuit with minimal additional delay

Claim 2

A divide-by-N clock divider circuit, comprising: a clock input terminal; a clock output terminal; a first logical NOR circuit having a first input terminal coupled to the clock input terminal of the clock divider circuit, a second input terminal, and an output terminal coupled to the clock output terminal of the clock divider circuit; and a control circuit comprising N−1 flip-flops coupled in series, each flip-flop having a clock terminal coupled to the clock input terminal of the clock divider circuit, each flip-flop having a data input terminal and a data output terminal, the data output terminal of each flip-flop except a last flip-flop being coupled to the data input terminal of a succeeding flip-flop in the series, the last flip-flop in the series having a data output terminal coupled to a data input terminal of a first flip-flop in the series and further coupled to the second input terminal of the first logical NOR circuit.

Claim 3

The clock divider circuit of claim 1 , wherein the value of N is one of a group of values consisting of three, four, and five.

Claim 4

The clock divider circuit of claim 1 , further comprising an inverter coupled between the clock input terminal of the clock divider circuit and the clock terminal of each flip-flop, and further coupled between the clock input terminal of the clock divider circuit and the first input terminal of the first logical NOR circuit.

Claim 5

The clock divider circuit of claim 1 , wherein: the clock divider circuit further comprises a divider enable input terminal; and each flip-flop comprises an initialization input terminal coupled to the divider enable input terminal.

Claim 6

The clock divider circuit of claim 4 , wherein the initialization input terminal of each flip-flop is a reset terminal.

Claim 7

The clock divider circuit of claim 1 , wherein the N−1 flip-flops include the first flip-flop, a next flip-flop, and the last flip-flop, the control circuit further comprising: a logical AND circuit having input terminals coupled to the data output terminals of the first and last flip-flops, and further having an output terminal coupled to the data input terminal of the next flip-flop; and a logical NAND circuit having input terminals coupled to the data output terminals of the next and last flip-flops, and further having an output terminal coupled to the data input terminal of the last flip-flop.

Claim 8

The clock divider circuit of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit further comprises a logical NAND circuit coupled between the first and last flip-flops, the logical NAND circuit having a first input terminal coupled to the data output terminal of the first flip-flop, a second input terminal coupled to the data output terminal of the last flip-flop, and an output terminal coupled to the data input terminal of the last flip-flop.

Claim 9

The clock divider circuit of claim 7 , wherein: the control circuit further comprises a logical AND circuit and a next flip-flop coupled between the first flip-flop and the logical NAND circuit; the logical AND circuit has a first input terminal coupled to the data output terminal of the first flip-flop, a second input terminal coupled to the data output terminal of the last flip-flop, and an output terminal; and the next flip-flop has a data input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the logical AND circuit and a data output terminal coupled to the first input terminal of the logical NAND circuit.

Claim 10

The clock divider circuit of claim 1 , wherein the N−1 flip-flops include the first flip-flop, a next flip-flop, and the last flip-flop, the first and last flip-flops each further having an inverse output terminal, the control circuit further comprising: a second logical NOR circuit having a first input terminal coupled to the inverse output terminal of the first flip-flop, a second input terminal coupled to the inverse output terminal of the last flip-flop, and an output terminal coupled to the data input terminal of the next flip-flop; and a logical NAND circuit having input terminals coupled to the data output terminals of the next and last flip-flops, and further having an output terminal coupled to the data input terminal of the last flip-flop.

Claim 11

The clock divider circuit of claim 1 , further comprising: a duty cycle correction enable input terminal; a counter circuit having a clock input terminal coupled to the clock input terminal of the clock divider circuit and further having an output terminal; and a multiplexer circuit coupled between the last flip-flop and the first logical NOR circuit, the multiplexer circuit having a first input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the counter circuit, a second input terminal coupled to the data output terminal of the last flip-flop, an output terminal coupled to the second input terminal of the first logical NOR circuit, and a select terminal coupled to the duty cycle correction enable input terminal of the clock divider circuit.

Claim 12

The clock divider circuit of claim 10 , wherein the counter circuit is a Gray code counter circuit.

Claim 13

A clock divider circuit having a programmable divisor, comprising: a clock input terminal; a clock output terminal; a divisor select input terminal; a first logical NOR circuit having a first input terminal coupled to the clock input terminal of the clock divider circuit, a second input terminal, and an output terminal coupled to the clock output terminal of the clock divider circuit; and a programmable control circuit, comprising: a plurality of flip-flops coupled in series and including a first flip-flop and a last flip-flop, each flip-flop having a clock terminal coupled to the clock input terminal of the clock divider circuit, each flip-flop having a data input terminal and a data output terminal, the data output terminal of each flip-flop except the last flip-flop being coupled to the data input terminal of a succeeding flip-flop in the series, the data output terminal of the last flip-flop being coupled to the data input terminal of the first flip-flop and further being coupled to the second input terminal of the first logical NOR circuit; and a multiplexer circuit having a first input terminal coupled to the data output terminal of the last flip-flop, a second input terminal coupled to the data output terminal of a flip-flop in the series other than the last flip-flop, an output terminal coupled to the data input terminal of the last flip-flop, and a select terminal coupled to the divisor select input terminal of the clock divider circuit.

Claim 14

A clock divider circuit having a programmable divisor, comprising: a clock input terminal; a clock output terminal; a divisor select input terminal; a first logical NOR circuit having a first input terminal coupled to the clock input terminal of the clock divider circuit, a second input terminal, and an output terminal coupled to the clock output terminal of the clock divider circuit; and a programmable control circuit, comprising: a plurality of flip-flops coupled in series and including a first flip-flop and a last flip-flop, each flip-flop having a clock terminal coupled to the clock input terminal of the clock divider circuit, each flip-flop having a data input terminal and a data output terminal, the data output terminal of each flip-flop except the last flip-flop being coupled to the data input terminal of a succeeding flip-flop in the series, the data output terminal of the last flip-flop being coupled to the data input terminal of the first flip-flop and further being coupled to the second input terminal of the first logical NOR circuit; and a multiplexer circuit having a first input terminal coupled to the data output terminal of the last flip-flop, a second input terminal coupled to the data output terminal of a flip-flop in the series other than the last flip-flop, an output terminal coupled to the data input terminal of the last flip-flop, and a select terminal coupled to the divisor select input terminal of the clock divider circuit.

Claim 15

The clock divider circuit of claim 12 , wherein the clock divider circuit forms at least a portion of a programmable logic device (PLD), the clock divider circuit further comprising a memory cell of the PLD coupled to the divisor select input terminal.

Claim 16

The clock divider circuit of claim 13 , wherein the PLD is a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), and the memory cell forms a portion of a configuration memory array of the FPGA.

Claim 17

A clock divider circuit, comprising: a clock input terminal; a clock output terminal; a plurality of flip-flops including a first flip-flop and a last flip-flop, each flip-flop having a data input terminal, a data output terminal, and a clock terminal coupled to the clock input terminal of the clock divider circuit, the data output terminal of the last flip-flop being coupled to the data input terminal of the first flip-flop; a logical NAND circuit having a first input terminal coupled to the data output terminal of the first flip-flop, a second input terminal coupled to the data output terminal of the last flip-flop, and an output terminal coupled to the data input terminal of the last flip-flop; and a logical NOR circuit having a first input terminal coupled to the clock input terminal of the clock divider circuit, a second input terminal coupled to the data output terminal of the last flip-flop, and an output terminal coupled to the clock output terminal of the clock divider circuit.

Claim 18

A clock divider circuit, comprising: a clock input terminal; a clock output terminal; a plurality of flip-flops including a first flip-flop and a last flip-flop, each flip-flop having a data input terminal, a data output terminal, and a clock terminal coupled to the clock input terminal of the clock divider circuit, the data output terminal of the last flip-flop being coupled to the data input terminal of the first flip-flop; a logical NAND circuit having a first input terminal coupled to the data output terminal of the first flip-flop, a second input terminal coupled to the data output terminal of the last flip-flop, and an output terminal coupled to the data input terminal of the last flip-flop; and a logical NOR circuit having a first input terminal coupled to the clock input terminal of the clock divider circuit, a second input terminal coupled to the data output terminal of the last flip-flop, and an output terminal coupled to the clock output terminal of the clock divider circuit.

Claim 19

The clock divider circuit of claim 15 , further comprising a logical AND circuit and a next flip-flop coupled between the first flip-flop and the logical NAND circuit, wherein: the logical AND circuit has a first input terminal coupled to the data output terminal of the first flip-flop, a second input terminal coupled to the data output terminal of the last flip-flop, and an output terminal; and the next flip-flop has a data input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the logical AND circuit, a clock terminal coupled to the clock input terminal of the clock divider circuit, and a data output terminal coupled to the first input terminal of the logical NAND circuit.

Claim 20

The clock divider circuit of claim 15 , wherein: the clock divider circuit further comprises a divider enable input terminal; and each of the plurality of flip-flops comprises an initialization input terminal coupled to the divider enable input terminal.

Claim 21

The clock divider circuit of claim 17 , wherein the initialization input terminal of each flip-flop is a reset terminal.

Claim 22

A clock divider circuit, comprising: a clock input terminal; a clock output terminal; a plurality of flip-flops including a first flip-flop, a next flip-flop, and a last flip-flop, each flip-flop having a data input terminal, a data output terminal, and a clock terminal coupled to the clock input terminal of the clock divider circuit, the data output terminal of the last flip-flop being coupled to the data input terminal of the first flip-flop; a logical AND circuit having input terminals coupled to the data output terminals of the first and last flip-flops, and further having an output terminal coupled to the data input terminal of the next flip-flop; a logical NAND circuit having input terminals coupled to the data output terminals of the next and last flip-flops, and further having an output terminal coupled to the data input terminal of the last flip-flop; and a logical NOR circuit having a first input terminal coupled to the clock input terminal of the clock divider circuit, a second input terminal coupled to the data output terminal of the last flip-flop, and an output terminal coupled to the clock output terminal of the clock divider circuit.

Claim 23

A clock divider circuit, comprising: a clock input terminal; a clock output terminal; a plurality of flip-flops including a first flip-flop, a next flip-flop, and a last flip-flop, each flip-flop having a data input terminal, a data output terminal, and a clock terminal coupled to the clock input terminal of the clock divider circuit, the data output terminal of the last flip-flop being coupled to the data input terminal of the first flip-flop; a logical AND circuit having input terminals coupled to the data output terminals of the first and last flip-flops, and further having an output terminal coupled to the data input terminal of the next flip-flop; a logical NAND circuit having input terminals coupled to the data output terminals of the next and last flip-flops, and further having an output terminal coupled to the data input terminal of the last flip-flop; and a logical NOR circuit having a first input terminal coupled to the clock input terminal of the clock divider circuit, a second input terminal coupled to the data output terminal of the last flip-flop, and an output terminal coupled to the clock output terminal of the clock divider circuit.

Claim 24

The clock divider circuit of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of flip-flops includes three flip-flops, and the clock divider circuit is a divide-by-four circuit.

Claim 25

The clock divider circuit of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of flip-flops includes four flip-flops, and the clock divider circuit is a divide-by-five circuit.

Claim 26

The clock divider circuit of claim 19 , further comprising an inverter coupled between the clock input terminal of the clock divider circuit and the clock terminal of each flip-flop, and further coupled between the clock input terminal of the clock divider circuit and the first input terminal of the logical NOR circuit.

Claim 27

The clock divider circuit of claim 19 , wherein: the clock divider circuit further comprises a divider enable input terminal; and each of the plurality of flip-flops comprises an initialization input terminal coupled to the divider enable input terminal.

Claim 28

The clock divider circuit of claim 23 , wherein the initialization input terminal of each flip-flop is a reset terminal.

Claim 29

A clock divider circuit, comprising: a clock input terminal; a clock output terminal; a plurality of flip-flops including a first flip-flop, a next-flip-flop, and a last flip-flop, each flip-flop having a data input terminal and a clock terminal coupled to the clock input terminal of the clock divider circuit, the first flip-flop having an inverse output terminal, the next flip-flop having a true output terminal, and the last flip-flop having true and inverse output terminals, the true output terminal of the last flip-flop being coupled to the data input terminal of the first flip-flop; a first logical NOR circuit having a first input terminal coupled to the inverse output terminal of the first flip-flop, a second input terminal coupled to the inverse output terminal of the last flip-flop, and an output terminal coupled to the data input terminal of the next flip-flop; a logical NAND circuit having input terminals coupled to the true output terminals of the next and last flip-flops, and further having an output terminal coupled to the data input terminal of the last flip-flop; and a second logical NOR circuit having a first input terminal coupled to the clock input terminal of the clock divider circuit, a second input terminal coupled to the true output terminal of the last flip-flop, and an output terminal coupled to the clock output terminal of the clock divider circuit.

Claim 30

A clock divider circuit, comprising: a clock input terminal; a clock output terminal; a plurality of flip-flops including a first flip-flop, a next-flip-flop, and a last flip-flop, each flip-flop having a data input terminal and a clock terminal coupled to the clock input terminal of the clock divider circuit, the first flip-flop having an inverse output terminal, the next flip-flop having a true output terminal, and the last flip-flop having true and inverse output terminals, the true output terminal of the last flip-flop being coupled to the data input terminal of the first flip-flop; a first logical NOR circuit having a first input terminal coupled to the inverse output terminal of the first flip-flop, a second input terminal coupled to the inverse output terminal of the last flip-flop, and an output terminal coupled to the data input terminal of the next flip-flop; a logical NAND circuit having input terminals coupled to the true output terminals of the next and last flip-flops, and further having an output terminal coupled to the data input terminal of the last flip-flop; and a second logical NOR circuit having a first input terminal coupled to the clock input terminal of the clock divider circuit, a second input terminal coupled to the true output terminal of the last flip-flop, and an output terminal coupled to the clock output terminal of the clock divider circuit.

Claim 31

The clock divider circuit of claim 25 , wherein the plurality of flip-flops includes three flip-flops, and the clock divider circuit is a divide-by-four circuit.

Claim 32

The clock divider circuit of claim 25 , wherein the plurality of flip-flops includes four flip-flops, and the clock divider circuit is a divide-by-five circuit.

Claim 33

The clock divider circuit of claim 25 , further comprising an inverter coupled between the clock input terminal of the clock divider circuit and the clock terminal of each flip-flop, and further coupled between the clock input terminal of the clock divider circuit and the first input terminal of the second logical NOR circuit.

Claim 34

The clock divider circuit of claim 25 , wherein: the clock divider circuit further comprises a divider enable input terminal; and each of the plurality of flip-flops comprises an initialization input terminal coupled to the divider enable input terminal.

Claim 35

The clock divider circuit of claim 29 , wherein the initialization input terminal of each flip-flop is a reset terminal.