US 6,788,754 B1 · Method and apparatus for de-skewing clock edges for systems with distributed clocks

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for adaptively adjusting delays along selected signal paths in order to equalize the signal delays at various distributed points within an integrated circuit. Where a signal traverses an initial outgoing path and a return path, delay elements disposed in each of the paths may be adjusted in order to set the entirety of the delay of the signal having traveled the entire signal trajectory equal to the delay present in a deliberately introduced delay element of known value. Alternatively, the inventive mechanism may control a selected one of two (or other plurality of) delay elements so as to automatically and adaptively adjust the delay value of the selected delay element so as to equalize the signal delay incurred along two or more signal paths.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of determining transmission delay, said method comprising:

providing an outbound signal path having an outbound transmission delay;
providing a return signal path having a return transmission delay, wherein said return delay is associated with said outbound delay;
determining said outbound delay using said outbound and said return delays.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

09/686,111Filed 10 Oct 2000

Granted

7 Sep 2004

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G06F 1/10
Generating or distributing clock signals or signals derived directly therefrom: distribution of clock signals , e.g. skew
H03K 5/15013
Arrangements in which pulses are delivered at different times at several outputs, i.e. pulse distributors: with more than two outputs
H03L 7/07
Using a reference signal applied to a frequency- or phase-locked loop: using several loops, e.g. for redundant clock signal generation
H03L 7/0816
And where no voltage or current controlled oscillator is used: the controlled phase shifter and the frequency- or phase-detection arrangement…

Method and apparatus for de-skewing clock edges for systems with distributed clocks

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for de-skewing clock edges for systems with distributed clocks

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20