Embedded frequency counter with flexible configuration
AssigneeApplied Micro Circuits Corporation
InventorJames L. Blair
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Abstract
An integrated circuit according to the present invention includes application-specific circuitry and an embedded counter assembly capable of measuring the frequency of one or more clock signals, which may be generated internally by the integrated circuit or externally by one or more sources external to the integrated circuit. The embedded counter assembly utilizes a reference clock signal having known characteristics, and measures the frequency of an unknown clock signal based upon the reference clock signal. The embedded counter assembly is capable of measuring the frequency of internal clock signals that are otherwise inaccessible via external output pins.
Claims23
An integrated circuit device comprising:
- a die;
- application-specific circuitry formed on said die, said application-specific circuitry utilizing a number of internal clock signals;
- and
- a counter formed on said die, said counter being configured to receive a number of input signals associated with said number of internal clock signals.
An integrated circuit device comprising:
- a counter configured to receive a reference signal and a measurement signal;
- a selection circuit connected to said counter said selection circuit being configured to receive a plurality of input signals, select a first one of said plurality of input signals for use as said reference signal, and select a second one of said plurality of input signals for use as said measurement signal;
- and
- application-specific circuitry that utilizes a plurality of internal clock signals, wherein said plurality of input signals are associated with said plurality of internal clock signals.
An integrated circuit device comprising:
- application-specific circuitry that utilizes a clock signal;
- a clock generator configured to generate said clock signal during self-testing of said integrated circuit device;
- and
- a counter assembly configured to measure the frequency of said clock signal relative to a reference signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.