Semiconductor clock signal generation circuit

In an integrated circuit with first and second internal circuits, a multi-phase clock signal generating circuit comprising:

• a first selector for providing a first selected clock signal by selecting one of a first reference clock signal and a first test clock signal, the first selected clock signal comprising a sequence of first selected signal segments;
• a first delay line loop phase-locked loop circuit coupled to the first selected clock signal and the first reference clock signal for providing a first delayed clock signal, the first delayed clock signal being delayed with respect to the first selected clock signal by a first controllable delay, the first delayed clock signal propagating through the first internal circuit to become a first internal clock signal, the first internal clock signal being coupled to an input of the first delay line loop phase-locked loop circuit, the first internal clock signal comprising a sequence of first internal signal segments, each first internal signal segment corresponding to a respective first selected signal segment, the first selected signal segments of the first selected clock signal including a fn:st prior selected signal segment and a first subsequent selected signal segment, the first delay line loop phase-locked loop circuit operating so as to control the first controllable delay so that a first phase difference between the first subsequent selected signal segment and a first internal signal segment of the first internal clock signal that corresponds to the first prior selected signal segment is substantially eliminated;
• a second selector for providing a second selected clock signal by selecting one of a second reference clock signal and a second test clock signal, the second selected clock signal comprising a sequence of second selected signal segments;
• and
• a second delay line loop phase-locked loop circuit coupled to the second selected clock signal and the second reference clock signal for providing a second delayed clock signal, the second delayed clock signill being delayed with respect to the second selected clock signal by a second controllable delay, the second delayed clock signal propagating through the second internal circuit to become a second internal clock signal, the second internal clock signal being coupled to an input of the second delay line loop phase-locked loop circuit, the second internal clock signal comprising a sequence of second internal signal segments, each second internal signal segment corresponding to a respective second selected signal segment, the second selected signal segments of the second selected clock signal including a second prior selected signal segment and a second subsequent selected signal segment, the second delay line loop phase-locked loop circuit operating so as to control the second controllable delay so that a second phase difference between the second subsequent selected signal segment and a second internal signal segment of the second internal clock signal that corresponds to the second prior selected signal segment is substantially eliminated.

In an integrated circuit with first and second internal circuits, a multi-phase clock signal generating circuit comprising:

• a first selector for providing a first selected clock signal by selecting one of a first reference clock signal and a first test clock signal;
• a first delay line loop phase-locked loop circuit coupled to the first selected clock signal and the first reference clock signal for providing a first delayed clock signal, the first delay line loop phase-locked loop circuit including a first controllable delay line through which the first selected clock signal propagates to become the first delayed clock signal, the first delayed clock signal propagating through the first internal circuit to become a first internal clock signal, the first delay line loop phase-locked loop circuit further including a first loop filter, the first delay line loop phase-locked loop circuit further including a first phase comparator coupled to the first reference clock signal and the first internal clock signal for providing a first comparison signal, the first comparison signal propagating through the first loop filter to become a first delay control signal coupled to the first controllable delay line;
• a second selector for providing a second selected clock signal by selecting one of a second reference clock signal and a second test clock signal;
• and
• a second delay line loop phase-locked loop circuit coupled to the second selected clock signal and the second reference clock signal for providing a second delayed clock signal, the second delay line loop phase-locked loop circuit including a second controllable delay line through which the second selected clock signal propagates to become the second delayed clock signal, the second delayed clock signal propagating through the second internal circuit to become a second internal clock signal, the second delay line loop phase-locked loop circuit further including a second loop filter, the second delay line loop phase-locked loop circuit further including a second phase comparator coupled to the second reference clock signal and the second internal clock signal for providing a second comparison signal, the second comparison signal propagating through the second loop filter to become a second delay control signal coupled to the second controllable delay line.

A semiconductor device comprising:

• an internal circuit for performing a specific operation in synchronism with an internal clock signal;
• and
• a clock signal generating circuit,
• wherein the clock signal generating circuit includes a selector for providing a selected clock signal by selecting one of a reference clock signal and a test clock signal, and
• wherein the clock signal generating circuit further includes a delay line loop phase-locked loop circuit coupled to the selected clock signal and the reference clock signal for providing a delayed clock signal, the delayed clock signal being coupled to an input of the internal circuit, the internal circuit providing the internal clock signal at an output of the internal circuit, the delay line loop phase-locked loop circuit adjusting a phase of the delayed clock signal with respect to the selected clock signal so that the internal clock signal is phase locked with the selected clock signal.

A semiconductor device comprising:

• first and second internal circuits for respectively performing specific operations in synchronism with respective first and second internal clock signals;
• and
• first and second clock signal generating circuits,
• wherein the first clock signal generating circuit includes a first selector for providing a first selected clock signal by selecting one of a first reference clock signal and a first test clock signal,
• wherein the first clock signal generating generating circuit further includes a first delay line loop phase-locked loop circuit coupled to the first selected clock signal and the first reference clock signal for providing a first delayed clock signal, the first delayed clock signal being coupled to an input of the first internal circuit, the first internal circuit providing the first internal clock signal at an output of the first intemal circuit, the first delay line loop phase-locked loop circuit adjusting a first phase of the first delayed clock signal with respect to the first selected clock signal so that the first internal clock signal is phase locked with the first selected clock signal,
• wherein the second clock signal generating circuit includes a second selector for providing a second selected clock signal by selecting one of a second reference clock signal and a second test clock signal, and
• wherein the second clock signal generating circuit further includes a second delay line loop phase-locked loop circuit coupled to the second selected clock signal and the second reference clock signal for providing a second delayed clock signal, the second delayed clock signal being coupled to an input of the second internal circuit, the second internal circuit providing the second internal clock signal at an output of the second internal circuit, the second delay line loop phase-locked loop circuit adjusting a second phase of the second delayed clock signal with respect to the second selected clock signal so that the second internal clock signal is phase locked with the second selected clock signal.