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US 7,069,459 B2Granted
Clock skew reduction technique based on distributed process monitors
AssigneeSun Microsystems, Inc.
InventorsClaude R. Gauthier, Shaishav Desai
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for adjusting clock skew involves using a plurality of oscillators distributed across the apparatus where at least one of the plurality of oscillators has a frequency dependent on a characteristic of the apparatus. A processor is arranged to adjust a bias generator dependent on the frequency. The bias generator is arranged to adjust a delay through a tunable buffer. The tunable buffer is arranged to propagate a clock signal dependent on the adjustment of the delay through the tunable buffer dependent on the bias generator.
Claims19
An apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of oscillators distributed across the apparatus, wherein at least one of the plurality of oscillators has a frequency dependent on a characteristic of the apparatus;
- a first tunable buffer arranged to propagate a first clock signal;
- a processor arranged to output at least one control signal dependent on the frequency;
- and
- a first bias generator arranged to adjust a propagation delay through the first tunable buffer dependent on the at least one control signal, wherein a propagation delay through at least one other tunable buffer is not dependent on the at least one control signal.
2 more elements
A method, comprising:
- generating a plurality of oscillator signals at a plurality of locations on an integrated circuit, wherein a frequency of at least one of the plurality of oscillator signals is dependent on a characteristic of the integrated circuit;
- monitoring the at least one of the plurality of the oscillator signals;
- determining an adjustment of a propagation delay through a first tunable buffer dependent on the monitoring;
- generating at least one control signal dependent on the determining;
- and
- adjusting the propagation delay through the first tunable buffer dependent on the at least one control signal, wherein a propagation delay through at least one other tunable buffer is not dependent on the at least one control signal.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.