Techniques for facilitating conversion between asynchronous and synchronous domains
AssigneeFulcrum Microsystems, Inc.
InventorsMichael I. Davies, Andrew Lines, Robert Southworth
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An interface for use between an asynchronous domain and a synchronous domain is described. The asynchronous domain is characterized by transmission of data in accordance with a delay-insensitive handshake protocol. The synchronous domain is characterized by transmission of data in accordance with transitions of a clock signal. The interface includes a datapath operable to transfer a data token between the domains. The interface also includes control circuitry operable to enable transfer of the data token via the datapath in response to a transition of the clock signal and at least one completion of the handshake protocol.
Claims30
An interface for use between an asynchronous domain and a synchronous domain, the asynchronous domain being characterized by transmission of data in accordance with a delay-insensitive handshake protocol, the synchronous domain being characterized by transmission of data in accordance with transitions of a clock signal and requiring a data transfer to comprise a block of consecutive data, the interface comprising a datapath operable to accumulate data tokens generated in the asynchronous domain to form the block of consecutive data, each data token comprising a plurality of bits, the interface further comprising control circuitry operable to facilitate transfer of the accumulated data tokens to the synchronous domain via the datapath in response to completion of a synchronous handshake with the synchronous domain and consecutive transitions of the clock signal, and after completion of the handshake protocol for each of the bits of each of the tokens.
An interface for use between a synchronous domain and an asynchronous domain, the synchronous domain being characterized by transmission of data in accordance with transitions of a clock signal and requiring a data transfer to comprise a block of consecutive data, the asynchronous domain being characterized by transmission of data in accordance with a delay-insensitive handshake protocol, the interface comprising a datapath operable to receive data tokens generated in the synchronous domain, the interface further comprising control circuitry operable to facilitate transfer of a plurality of data tokens as the block of consecutive data to the asynchronous domain via the datapath in response to completion of a synchronous handshake with the synchronous domain and consecutive transitions of the clock signal, and an enable signal generated in accordance with the asynchronous handshake protocol and indicating that the asynchronous domain has sufficient memory to receive the plurality of data tokens.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.