Method and apparatus for DLL lock latency detection

Claim 2

In an integrated circuit having at least one delay locked loop circuit (DLL), a method of determining a Lock Latency value of a DLL output clock signal, comprising: temporarily disabling a first dock signal in response to said DLL doing at least one of approaching and acquiring lock; thereafter determining a Lock Latency value in response to checking for presence at a pulse in a DLL output clock signal generated in response to said first clock signal.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said Lock Latency value is determined to be one if said pulse is absent in a first determination period after said first clock signal is disabled.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 , wherein said Lock Latency value is determined to be two if said pulse is present in a first determination period after said first clock signal is disabled.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 further comprising enabling said DLL output clock signal to be outputted in response to determining said Lock Latency value.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 , wherein said method is performed in response to initialization of said DLL.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 , wherein said method is performed in response to a change in frequency of said first clock signal.

Claim 8

In an integrated circuit, having at least one delay locked loop circuit (DLL), one or more output signals, and at least one external input dock, a method of edge-aligning said output signals with one another and with said external input clock(s), comprising: establishing a lock pulse generator using said external input clock; analyzing one or more incoming signals by using a Lock Latency mechanism to determine if a lock is present; calculating a Lock Latency value based on said one or more incoming signals; maintaining said Lock Latency value until there is a frequency change in said external input clock; and altering one or more cycles of at least one output signal on said Lock Latency value when appropriate as to edge-align them with respect to said external input clock and one another, when there is more than one output signal present.

Claim 9

In an integrated circuit, having at least one delay locked loop circuit (DLL), one or more output signals, and at least one external input dock, a method of edge-aligning said output signals with one another and with said external input clock(s), comprising: establishing a lock pulse generator using said external input clock; analyzing one or more incoming signals by using a Lock Latency mechanism to determine if a lock is present; calculating a Lock Latency value based on said one or more incoming signals; maintaining said Lock Latency value until there is a frequency change in said external input clock; and altering one or more cycles of at least one output signal on said Lock Latency value when appropriate as to edge-align them with respect to said external input clock and one another, when there is more than one output signal present.

Claim 10

The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of analyzing said one or more incoming signals further comprises the step of enabling a lock detection mechanism when there is a lock present.

Claim 11

The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of calculating a Lock Latency value further comprises the step of analyzing the length of cycles of all said output signals.

Claim 12

The method of claim 7 , wherein said Lock Latency value is maintained by using a latch.

Claim 13

The method of claim 7 , wherein said Lock Latency mechanism delays any incoming signals to achieve sold edge-aligned output signals.

Claim 14

The method of claim 7 , wherein said Lock Latency mechanism shifts any incoming signals to achieve said edge-aligned output signals.

Claim 15

In a double data rate (DDR) synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) environment using a Lock Latency architecture having at least one delay locked loop circuit (DLL), said DLL having one or more input signals and one more output signals and at least one input clock, a method for determining Lock Latency values usable by said DLL, comprising the steps: examining said one or more input signals and establishing a lock when appropriate; after establishing a lock, inactivating said input clock for a selected number of cycles of an external dock reference; activating a lock-detect mechanism, said lock detection mechanism examining length of said one or more output signals and then establishing a Lock Latency value based on said length; activating a special lock component when said length is larger than a predetermined value; and maintaining said active state of said special lock component until it has to be reset.

Claim 16

In a double data rate (DDR) synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) environment using a Lock Latency architecture having at least one delay locked loop circuit (DLL), said DLL having one or more input signals and one more output signals and at least one input clock, a method for determining Lock Latency values usable by said DLL, comprising the steps: examining said one or more input signals and establishing a lock when appropriate; after establishing a lock, inactivating said input clock for a selected number of cycles of an external dock reference; activating a lock-detect mechanism, said lock detection mechanism examining length of said one or more output signals and then establishing a Lock Latency value based on said length; activating a special lock component when said length is larger than a predetermined value; and maintaining said active state of said special lock component until it has to be reset.

Claim 17

The method of claim 13 , wherein said lock detect mechanism further comprises a disable detect component.

Claim 18

The method of claim 13 , wherein said Lock Latency mechanism delays said one or more input signals to achieve edge-aligned output signals.

Claim 19

The method of claim 13 , wherein said lock component is activated when said length of said output signal is longer than one cycle of said external clock reference.

Claim 20

The method of claim 13 , wherein said Lock Latency value is stored in a latch.

Claim 21

The method of claim 13 , wherein said Lock Latency value is reset whenever a frequency of said external clock reference changes.

Claim 22

In a double data rate (DDR) synchronous dynamic random access memory (SORAM) environment having at least one delay locked loop circuit (DLL) and having one or more output signals and at least one external input clock, an apparatus for edge-aligning output signals with one another and with said external input clock, comprising: a lock signal pulse generator operable to establish a lock signal pulse based on frequency of said external input clock and receipt of one or more incoming signals; a Lock Latency mechanism operable to determine if a lock pulse is present; a Lock Latency value calculator operable to generate a Lock Latency value when said lock pulse is present; and a latch operable to maintain said Lock Latency value until the frequency said external clock is changed.

Claim 23

In a double data rate (DDR) synchronous dynamic random access memory (SORAM) environment having at least one delay locked loop circuit (DLL) and having one or more output signals and at least one external input clock, an apparatus for edge-aligning output signals with one another and with said external input clock, comprising: a lock signal pulse generator operable to establish a lock signal pulse based on frequency of said external input clock and receipt of one or more incoming signals; a Lock Latency mechanism operable to determine if a lock pulse is present; a Lock Latency value calculator operable to generate a Lock Latency value when said lock pulse is present; and a latch operable to maintain said Lock Latency value until the frequency said external clock is changed.