Powering clock tree circuitry using internal voltages

Abstract

In some embodiments, clock input buffer circuitry and divider circuitry use a combination of externally-suppled voltages and internally-generated voltages to provide the various clock signals used by a semiconductor device. For example, a clock input buffer is configured to provide second complementary clock signals responsive to received first complementary clock signals using cross-coupled buffer circuitry coupled to a supply voltage and to drive the first complementary clock signals using driver circuitry coupled to an internal voltage. In another example, a divider circuitry may provide divided clock signals based on the second complementary clock signals via a divider coupled to the internal voltage and to drive the divided clock signals using driver circuitry coupled to the supply voltage. A magnitude of the supply voltage may be less than a magnitude of the internal voltage.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.