US6724228B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Clock generating circuit capable of generating internal clock accurately synchronized with external clock
Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp
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Filing: 2003-02-07
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Granted: 2004-04-20
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Expires: 2023-02-07
Abstract
Abstract A phase difference between a feedback clock signal corresponding to an internal clock signal generated via a variable delay line and a buffered clock signal corresponding to an external clock signal is detected by a phase detector, and a result of detection is transferred via a shifting circuit. When a down signal from the shifting circuit is activated by a delay control circuit, the down instruction signal is forcibly maintained to be active for a predetermined clock cycle period. When the down instruction signal becomes inactive from the active state, a count control circuit sets a count unit of the counting circuit to the minimum value. The delay amount of the variable delay line is set according to an output count bit of the counting circuit. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of clock cycles required until an internal clock signal is synchronized in phase with the external clock signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Yasuhiro Kashiwazaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 22:36
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03L; H03L7/00; H03L7/06; H03L7/08; H03L7/0805; G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/04; G06F1/12; H03K; H03K5/00; H03K5/13; H03K5/131; H03K5/133; H03L7/081; H03L7/0812; H03L7/0814; H03L7/0816; H03L7/085; H03L7/089; H03K2005/00013; H03K2005/00019; H03K2005/00058
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
Clock generation circuitry comprising: an internal clock producing circuit for producing an internal clock signal in accordance with an external clock signal; a phase difference detecting circuit for detecting a phase difference between said internal clock signal and said external clock signal; a phase relation adjusting circuit according to an output signal of said phase difference detection circuit, for continuously maintaining a predetermine state for a predetermined number of clock cycle(s) when a phase relation between said internal clock signal and said external clock signal becomes said predetermined state, and releasing a maintained, predetermined state upon reaching to said predetermined number of clock cycle(s); a phase adjusting circuit for adjusting a phase of said internal clock signal in accordance with an output signal of said phase relation adjusting circuit; and a delay control circuit for setting a phase adjustment unit of said phase adjusting circuit to a first delay amount until said predetermined state by said phase relation adjusting circuit is released and for setting the phase adjustment unit of said phase adjusting circuit to a second delay amount smaller than said first delay amount in response to release of said predetermined state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
Clock generation circuitry comprising: an internal clock producing circuit for producing an internal clock signal in accordance with an external clock signal; a phase difference detecting circuit for detecting a phase difference between said internal clock signal and said external clock signal; a phase relation adjusting circuit according to an output signal of said phase difference detection circuit, for continuously maintaining a predetermine state for a predetermined number of clock cycle(s) when a phase relation between said internal clock signal and said external clock signal becomes said predetermined state, and releasing a maintained, predetermined state upon reaching to said predetermined number of clock cycle(s); a phase adjusting circuit for adjusting a phase of said internal clock signal in accordance with an output signal of said phase relation adjusting circuit; and a delay control circuit for setting a phase adjustment unit of said phase adjusting circuit to a first delay amount until said predetermined state by said phase relation adjusting circuit is released and for setting the phase adjustment unit of said phase adjusting circuit to a second delay amount smaller than said first delay amount in response to release of said predetermined state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
93 words
The clock generation circuitry according to claim 1 , wherein said phase relation adjusting circuit includes: a delay circuit for delaying the output signal of said phase difference detecting circuit by a prescribed number of clock cycle(s); a forcibly setting circuit for forcibly setting the output signal of said phase relation adjusting circuit to said predetermined state when an output signal of said delay circuit is in said predetermined state; and a releasing circuit for releasing a forced setting by said forcibly setting circuit after elapse of said prescribed number of clock cycle(s).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The clock generation circuitry according to claim 2 , wherein said prescribed number is equal to said predetermined number.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
88 words
The clock generation circuitry according to claim 2 , wherein said phase adjusting circuit includes a counter for counting an indication indicating said predetermined state of the output signal of said phase relation adjusting circuit and generating a count for setting a delay amount of said internal clock producing circuit, and said delay control circuit sets a count unit of said counter to a value corresponding to said first delay amount until said predetermined state indication of the output signal of said phase relation adjusting circuit is canceled.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The clock generation circuitry according to claim 4 , wherein said internal clock producing circuit includes a variable delay circuit having a delay amount for delaying said external clock signal set according to the count of said counter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
The clock generation circuitry according to claim 1 , wherein said internal clock producing circuit further includes a pulse generating circuit for generating a one-shot pulse signal in response to an edge of said internal clock signal and applying the one-shot pulse signal to said phase difference detecting circuit, said phase difference detection circuit detects the phase difference between said external clock signal and said one-shot pulse signal in place of said internal clock signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
157 words
Clock generation circuitry comprising: an internal clock producing circuit for generating an internal clock signal in accordance with an external clock signal; a phase difference detecting circuit for detecting a phase difference between said internal clock signal and said external clock signal; a phase adjusting circuit for adjusting a phase difference between said internal clock signal and said external clock signal in accordance with an output signal of said phase difference detecting circuit; and a delay control circuit for adjusting a phase adjustment unit of said phase adjusting circuit in accordance with the output-signal of said phase difference detecting circuit, said delay control circuit increasing said phase adjustment unit from a first value to a second value for a predetermined cycle period in response to a predetermined state indication of the output signal of said phase difference detecting circuit, and setting said phase adjustment unit to a minimum value smaller than said first value in subsequent cycles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
157 words
Clock generation circuitry comprising: an internal clock producing circuit for generating an internal clock signal in accordance with an external clock signal; a phase difference detecting circuit for detecting a phase difference between said internal clock signal and said external clock signal; a phase adjusting circuit for adjusting a phase difference between said internal clock signal and said external clock signal in accordance with an output signal of said phase difference detecting circuit; and a delay control circuit for adjusting a phase adjustment unit of said phase adjusting circuit in accordance with the output-signal of said phase difference detecting circuit, said delay control circuit increasing said phase adjustment unit from a first value to a second value for a predetermined cycle period in response to a predetermined state indication of the output signal of said phase difference detecting circuit, and setting said phase adjustment unit to a minimum value smaller than said first value in subsequent cycles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
139 words
The clock generation circuitry according to claim 7 , wherein said internal clock producing circuit delays said external clock signal to generate said internal clock signal, said phase adjusting circuit includes a counter for counting said predetermined state instruction of the output signal of said phase difference detecting circuit and generating a count for setting a delay amount of said internal clock producing circuit, and said delay control circuit sets a prescribed bit(s) of said counter to a fixed state for said predetermined cycle(s) in accordance with the output signal indicating said predetermined state from said phase difference detection circuit, and sets all bit to a valid state after said predetermined cycle(s), said counter performing the counting using the bits of the valid state, the count of the counter determining the delay amount in said internal clock producing circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The clock generation circuitry according to claim 7 , wherein said predetermined cycle period is a period of one clock cycle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
148 words
The clock generation circuitry according to claim 7 , wherein said internal clock producing circuit includes a variable delay circuit for generating said internal clock signal by delaying said external clock signal, said delay control circuit includes: a delay initializing circuit for delaying the output signal indicating said predetermined state by said predetermined cycle period to generate a first bit(s) when said first bit(s), initialized to an invalid state, is invalid; and a delay updating circuit being set in response to the output signal indicating said predetermined state of said phase difference detecting circuit, for setting a second bit upper than said first bit into an invalid state, and setting said second bit into the valid state in response to the first bit output from said delay initializing circuit, a delay change amount of said internal clock producing circuit being set by the bit(s) in the valid state.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
75 words
The clock generation circuitry according to claim 10 , wherein said phase adjusting circuit includes a counting circuit for counting said predetermined state indication of the output signal of said phase difference detecting circuit, a count step of said counting circuit is set by the first and second bits outputted from said delay control circuit, and a delay amount of said internal clock producing circuit is set by an output count of said counting circuit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
The clock generation circuitry according to claim 7 , wherein said phase difference detecting circuit includes: a phase detector for detecting the phase difference between said external clock signal and said internal clock signal; and a shifting circuit for delaying an output signal of said phase detector by a prescribed cycle period, to generate said output signal of said phase difference detecting circuit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
75 words
The clock generation circuitry according to claim 7 , wherein said internal clock producing circuit further includes a pulse generating circuit for generating a one-shot pulse signal in response to an edge of said internal clock signal and applying the one-shot pulse signal to said phase difference detecting circuit, said phase difference detecting circuit detecting a phase difference between the external clock signal and the one-shot pulse signal in place of the internal clock signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
148 words
Clock generation circuitry comprising: an internal clock producing circuit for generating an internal clock signal in accordance with an external clock signal; a phase difference detecting circuit for detecting a phase difference between said internal clock signal and said external clock signal; a phase adjusting circuit for adjusting a phase difference between said internal clock signal and said external clock signal in accordance with an output signal of said phase difference detecting circuit; and a delay control circuit for adjusting a phase adjustment unit of said phase adjusting circuit in accordance with an output signal of said phase difference detecting circuit, said delay control circuit initializing said phase adjustment unit to a first value greater than a minimum value, and setting said phase adjustment unit to said minimum value in response to release of a predetermined state indication of the output signal of said phase difference detecting circuit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
148 words
Clock generation circuitry comprising: an internal clock producing circuit for generating an internal clock signal in accordance with an external clock signal; a phase difference detecting circuit for detecting a phase difference between said internal clock signal and said external clock signal; a phase adjusting circuit for adjusting a phase difference between said internal clock signal and said external clock signal in accordance with an output signal of said phase difference detecting circuit; and a delay control circuit for adjusting a phase adjustment unit of said phase adjusting circuit in accordance with an output signal of said phase difference detecting circuit, said delay control circuit initializing said phase adjustment unit to a first value greater than a minimum value, and setting said phase adjustment unit to said minimum value in response to release of a predetermined state indication of the output signal of said phase difference detecting circuit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
The clock generation circuitry according to claim 14 , wherein said phase difference detecting circuit includes: a phase detector for detecting the phase difference between said external clock signal and said internal clock signal: and a shifting circuit for delaying an output signal of said phase detector by a predetermined clock cycle(s) to said phase adjusting circuit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
150 words
The clock generation circuitry according to claim 14 , wherein said phase adjusting circuit includes a counter for counting said predetermined state indication of the output signal of said phase difference detecting circuit and generating a count for setting a delay amount of said internal clock producing circuit, said internal clock producing circuit includes a variable delay line having a delay time set according to the count of said counter, said delay control circuit sets a predetermined bit(s) of the count of said counter to a fixed state at the time of initialization, and sets and maintains said predetermined bit(s) in a valid state in response to completion of said predetermined state indicated by the output signal of said phase adjusting circuit, and said counter has the counting operation inhibited with respect to the bit(s) in the fixed state and allowed with respect to the bits in the valid state.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
75 words
The clock generation circuitry according to claim 14 , wherein said internal clock producing circuit further includes a pulse generating circuit for generating a one-shot pulse signal in response to an edge of said internal clock signal and applying the one-shot pulse signal to said phase difference detecting circuit, said phase difference detecting circuit detecting the phase difference between the external clock signal and the one-shot pulse signal in place of the internal clock signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US6166990A
Cited
US6504408B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-04-20 | 2007-10-20 | 2008-04-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-04-20 | 2011-10-20 | 2012-04-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-04-20 | 2015-10-20 | 2016-04-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |