Electronic circuit utilizing resonance technique to drive clock inputs of function circuitry for saving power

An electronic circuit comprising:

• a resonant system which, in response to an input clock signal at an input clock frequency, oscillates at a circuit frequency substantially proportional to the input clock frequency to generate a first circuit clock signal at the circuit frequency;
• and
• function circuitry which performs electronic functions in synchronism with the circuit clock signal, clock inputs of the function circuitry receiving the circuit clock signal from a first circuit clock line, the resonant system being operated close to a fundamental resonance frequency such that a resonator in the resonant system is largely in resonance at least with capacitance and/or inductance associated with the circuit clock line and the clock inputs, the resonant system including:
• a non-parasitic capacitor coupled between the resonator and a source of a substantially fixed reference voltage or other voltage at a much lower frequency than the circuit frequency, the resonator being coupled to the circuit clock line;
• and
• a driver responsive to the input clock signal for providing a driver signal to a node between the resonator and the capacitor.

An electronic circuit comprising:

• a resonant system which, in response to an input clock signal at an input clock frequency, oscillates at a circuit frequency substantially proportional to the input clock frequency to generate (a) a first circuit clock signal at the circuit frequency and (b) a second circuit clock signal substantially inverse to the first circuit clock signal;
• and
• function circuitry which performs electronic functions in synchronism with the circuit clock signal, first clock inputs of the function circuitry receiving the first circuit clock signal from a first circuit clock line, second clock inputs of the function circuitry receiving the second clock signal from a second circuit clock line, the resonant system being operated close to a fundamental resonance frequency such that a resonator in the resonant system is largely in resonance at least with capacitance and/or inductance associated with the circuit clock lines and the clock inputs, the resonator being coupled between the circuit clock lines such that current flowing out of the resonator to each circuit clock line at any time substantially equals current flowing into the resonator from the other circuit clock line, oscillations of the resonant system including frequency components attributable to the fundamental resonance frequency and at least one resonance frequency of the resonant system other than the fundamental resonance frequency.

An electronic circuit comprising:

• function circuitry which performs electronic functions, specified elements of the function circuitry changing state in synchronism (a) with a first circuit clock signal provided from a first circuit clock line to first clock inputs of the specified elements at a circuit frequency and (b) with a second circuit clock signal provided from a second circuit clock line to second clock inputs of the specified elements, the second circuit clock signal being substantially inverse to the first circuit clock signal;
• and
• a resonant system which oscillates at the circuit frequency, the resonant system being operated close to a fundamental resonance frequency such that a resonator in the resonant system is largely in resonance with capacitance and/or inductance associated with the circuit clock lines and the clock inputs, the resonator being coupled between the circuit clock lines such that current flowing out of the resonator to each circuit clock line at any time substantially equals current flowing into the resonator from the other circuit clock line, the resonant system thereby being coupled to the function circuitry to assist the specified elements in changing state by helping to overcome capacitances and/or inductances associated with the function circuitry, oscillations of the resonant system including frequency components attributable to the fundamental resonance frequency and at least one resonance frequency of the resonant system other than the fundamental resonance frequency.