Low-jitter high-frequency clock channe
AssigneeBroadcom Corporation
InventorAfshin Momtaz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
According to one general aspect, an apparatus may include a clock channel, a shielding tunnel, and clock repeaters. In various embodiments, the clock channel may be configured to carry the clock signal, and may include a portion of a metal layer of an integrated circuit. In some embodiments, the shielding tunnel may be configured to shield, in at least four directions, the clock channel from other signals, and may include portions of a at least three metal layers of the integrated circuit. The shielding tunnel may be connected to the positive and negative supplies in order to provide the required power for the clock repeaters.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a signal channel:
- configured to carry a first signal, and
- comprising a portion of a conductive layer of an integrated circuit;
- and
- a shielding tunnel:
- configured to shield, in a plurality of directions, the signal channel from other signals.
The apparatus of 1 wherein the signal channel is configured to carry a pair of differential signals.
The apparatus of 1 wherein the clock channel is configured to carry a clock signal having a frequency of at least one gigahertz (1 GHZ) with a channel-induced clock jitter of less than 40 pico-seconds (ps) peak-to-peak per 20 millimeters of clock channel.
The apparatus of 1 wherein the shielding tunnel comprises portions of at least three conductive layers;
- and
- wherein the signal channel comprises a portion of one of the plurality of conductive layers.
The apparatus of 1 further comprising:
- at least one signal repeater configured to receive the first signal and retransmit the first signal.
The apparatus of 8 wherein the shielding tunnel is configured to provide power to the repeater(s).
The apparatus of 1 wherein the shielding tunnel includes:
- a portion of a bottom conductive layer,
- a portion of a middle conductive layer, and
- a portion of a top conductive layer;
- and
- wherein the portion of the top conductive layer is substantially thicker than either the bottom or middle conductive layers and configured to provide power to the at least one repeater, and
- wherein the at least one repeater is configured to receive the first signal and retransmit the first signal.
A method comprising:
- transmitting a first signal, along a first signal channel, to at least one logic block;
- transmitting a plurality of signals, along a shielding tunnel, wherein the shielding tunnel is configured to shield, at least in part, the first signal from electrical interference.
An integrated circuit comprising:
- a signal generator:
- configured to generate a first signal;
- a first channel:
- configured to carry the first signal;
- and
- a shielding tunnel:
- configured to shield, at least in part, in a plurality of directions, the first channel from other electrical interference.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.