# US 2024/0201730 A1 · Processor synchronization systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0201730 A1 - Document ID: US20240201730A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/068,461 - Filed: 2022-12-19 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-19 - Assignees: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC - Applicants: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC - Inventors: Charles Walter BOECKER; Piyush Abhay HATOLKAR; Asad AZAM; Maya SUBHADRA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240201730A1 ## CPC - G06F 1/10: Distribution of clock signals {, e.g. skew} - G06F 1/12: Synchronisation of different clock signals {provided by a plurality of clock generators} - G06F 1/08: Clock generators with changeable or programmable clock frequency - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Embodiments of the present disclosure include techniques for synchronizing processors. In one embodiment, one or more processors on different integrated circuit die are synchronized using a synchronization circuit on one of the die. The synchronization circuit receives count phases and adjusts clock signals, and counts in some embodiments, to synchronize the processors. In one embodiment, the synchronization circuit comprises a phase detector that receives particular bits of the count signal as the count phases. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A synchronization system comprising: a first integrated circuit die comprising: one or more first digital processors; a synchronization circuit; and a first clock generator; and one or more second integrated circuit die comprising: one or more second digital processors; and a second clock generator, wherein the synchronization circuit receives count phases from the first and second integrated circuit die and adjusts delay lines in the first and second clock generators to synchronize clock signals to first and second digital processors. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the synchronization circuit comprises: a phase detector coupled to measure phases on the first integrated circuit die and the one or more second integrated circuit die to determine phase differences between counts; and a synchronization control circuit to generate control signals to adjust the phase and count on the one or more first digital processors and the one or more second digital processors. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second clock generators comprise: a phase locked loop; a delay line; and a control circuit to adjust the delay of the delay line to change a phase of a corresponding clock signal of said clock signals and to adjust counts of the one or more first digital processors and the one or more second digital processors. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the clock signals are generated to the first and second digital processors after the phase locked loop in each clock generator on each integrated circuit die locked to a reference clock. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the first integrated circuit die measures count phases from the first and second integrated circuit die. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the first integrated circuit die adjusts each delay line on the first and second integrated circuit die to adjust the clock signals to synchronize clock signals to the first and second digital processors. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the first integrated circuit die and one or more second integrated circuit die comprise a single clock generator and a plurality of digital processors each comprising system counters configured to receive said clock signals from corresponding delay lines and generate a count, wherein a particular bit of the count from one system counter on each of the one or more second integrated circuit die are selectively coupled to a phase detector on the first integrated circuit die to determine phase differences, and in accordance therewith, adjust a delay of the delay line and count of the one or more first digital processors and the one or more second digital processors. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first integrated circuit die and one or more second integrated circuit die comprise a plurality of processors, and wherein each processor receives a clock signal of said clock signals and generates a count, and wherein the count phases are generated from the count. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of clock trees coupled between the first clock generator and the one or more first digital processors and between the second clock generator and the one or more second digital processors. ### Claim 10 A method of synchronizing processors comprising: generating clock signals to one or more digital processors on a plurality of integrated circuit die when a plurality of phase locked loops on the plurality of integrated circuit die are locked to a reference clock; measuring, by a first integrated circuit die of the plurality of integrated circuit die, count phases from the plurality of integrated circuit die; and adjusting, by the first integrated circuit die, delay lines on the plurality of integrated circuit die to adjust the clock signals to synchronize clock signals to the one or more digital processors on the plurality of integrated circuit die. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising, in response to measuring the count phases, adjusting a count in the one or more digital processors on the plurality of integrated circuit die. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting the delay lines comprises adjusting a single delay line in each of the plurality of integrated circuit die. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein measuring the count phases comprises: receiving, on a single integrated circuit die of the plurality of integrated circuit die, a local count phase and one or more remote count phases in a phase detector; determining, by the phase detector, whether each count phase is early or late; and generating, by a state machine, control signals for adjusting the phase and count, wherein the control signals are sent to the plurality of integrated circuit die. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the control signals comprise: a count offset signal; and one or more phase adjustment signals. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein each digital processor of the one or more digital processors on the plurality of integrated circuit die comprises a system counter having said count phases. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein each digital processor of the one or more digital processors on the plurality of integrated circuit die comprises a system counter having said count phases. ### Claim 17 A synchronization system comprising: means for generating clock signals to one or more digital processors on a plurality of integrated circuit die when a plurality of phase locked loops on the plurality of integrated circuit die are locked to a reference clock; means for measuring count phases from the plurality of integrated circuit die; and means for adjusting delay lines on the plurality of integrated circuit die to adjust the clock signals to synchronize clock signals to the one or more digital processors on the plurality of integrated circuit die. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the means for generating clock signals comprises a phase locked loop and a delay line. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the means for measuring count phases comprises a phase detector coupled to receive at least one bit of a count from the plurality of integrated circuit die. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the means for adjusting delay lines comprises a plurality of multiplexers coupled to a control circuit.