Architecture for operating resonant clock network in conventional mode
AssigneeCyclos Semiconductor, Inc.
InventorsMarios C. Papaefthymiou, Alexander Ishii
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An architecture for resonant clock distribution networks is proposed. The proposed architecture allows for the energy-efficient operation of the resonant clock distribution network in conventional mode, so that it meets target specifications for the clock waveform. Such an architecture is generally applicable to semiconductor devices with multiple clock frequencies, and high-performance and low-power clocking requirements such as microprocessors, ASICs, and SOCs. Moreover, it is applicable to at-speed testing and to binning of semiconductor devices according to achievable performance levels.
Claims1
A clock driver comprising:
- a resonance element electrically coupled to a clock node of the clock driver, the resonance element configured to enable the clock driver to operate in a resonant mode;
- a drive element electrically coupled to the clock node, the drive element configured to receive and propagate a reference clock of the clock distribution network based on a logical input signal;
- a mid-point supply node configured to provide a power supply to the resonance element;
- a first switch element, wherein a first end of the first switch element is electrically coupled to the mid-point supply node and a second end of the first switch element is electrically coupled to a first end of the resonance element;
- a second switch element connected in parallel to the resonance element, wherein a first end of the second switch element is electrically coupled to the first end of the resonance element and a second end of the second switch element is electrically coupled to a second end of the resonance element;
- wherein, the clock driver is configured to selectively operate either in a resonant mode or a non-resonant mode based on an operating state of the first switch element and the second switch element, wherein:
- when the first switch element is switched on and the second switch element is switched off, the clock driver operates in a resonant mode;
- and
- when the second switch element is switched on, the resonance element is bypassed and the clock driver operates in a non-resonant mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.