Switching circuits, latches and methods
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorJohn McCoy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Switching circuits, latches and methods are provided, such as those that may respond to an input signal that transitions from a first binary level to a second binary level. One such switching circuit may have a metastable state that is closer to a first voltage corresponding to the first binary level than it is to a second voltage corresponding to the second binary level. In other embodiments, the metastable state may be dynamically adjustable so that it is at one voltage before the circuit switches and at a different voltage after the circuit switches. As a result, the switching circuit may respond relatively quickly to the input signal transitioning from the first binary level to the second binary level.
Claims25
A method of switching a digital circuit that is configured to respond to an input signal that transitions from a first binary level to a second binary level, the method comprising shifting a metastable state of the digital circuit so that the metastable state is closer to a first voltage corresponding to the first binary level than it is to a second voltage corresponding to the second binary level.
A method of switching a digital circuit that is configured to provide an output signal responsive to an input signal transitioning between a first voltage and a second voltage, the method comprising:
- when switching from an input signal having the first voltage to an input signal having the second voltage, transitioning the output signal from a third voltage to a fourth voltage responsive to the input signal passing through a first metastable state voltage that is closer to the first voltage than it is to the second voltage;
- and
- when switching from an input signal having the second voltage to an input signal having the first voltage, transitioning the output signal from the fourth voltage to the third voltage responsive to the input signal passing through a second metastable state voltage that is closer to the second voltage than it is to the first voltage.
A switching circuit, comprising:
- an input node;
- an output node coupled to the input node;
- a signal level detector having an input coupled to the input node, the signal level detector being configured to provide an output signal at an output node responsive to the input signal transitioning through a switching point when a voltage at the input node is transitioning from a first voltage to a second voltage, the switching point being at a voltage that is closer to the first voltage than to the second voltage;
- and
- a switch configured to drive the output node to a particular voltage responsive to receiving the output signal provided by the signal level detector.
A latch, comprising:
- a multiplexer having an input node, an output node and a control node, the multiplexer being configured to couple the input node to the output node responsive to receiving a control signal at the control node;
- a first inverter having an input coupled to the output of the multiplexer and an output coupled to an output node;
- a second inverter having an input coupled to the output of the first inverter and an output coupled to the input of the first inverter;
- a signal level detector having an input coupled to the output of the multiplexer, the signal level detector being configured to provide an output signal at an output node responsive to a signal at the output of the multiplexer transitioning through a switching point when the signal at the output of the multiplexer is transitioning from a first voltage to a second voltage, the switching point being at a voltage that is closer to the first voltage than to the second voltage;
- and
- a switch configured to drive the input to the first inverter to a particular voltage responsive to receiving the output signal provided by the signal level detector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.