Method of signal distribution based on a standing wave within a closed loop path

An integrated circuit comprising:

• a closed loop signal path with zero termination points;
• at least one analog signal source coupled to the signal path to selectively provide two signals to the signal path such that the two signals travel in opposite directions around the signal path to facilitate generation of a standing wave signal throughout the signal path;
• at least one receiver coupled to the signal path to generate a digital clock signal based upon the standing wave signal;
• and
• a clock distribution network to distribute the digital clock signal throughout the integrated circuit.

A method comprising:

• defining a closed loop signal path with zero termination points;
• applying at least one signal source to the signal path to selectively provide two signals to the signal path such that the two signals travel in opposite directions around the signal path to facilitate generation of a standing wave signal throughout the signal path;
• and
• deriving a digital clock signal from the standing wave signal.

A system comprising:

• a microprocessor having
• a closed loop signal path with zero termination points, and
• at least one signal source coupled to the signal oath to selectively provide two signals to the signal path such that the two signals travel in opposite directions around the signal path to facilitate generation of a standing wave signal throughout the signal path;
• a nonvolatile memory device coupled to the microprocessor to store at least one instruction to be executed by the microprocessor;
• and
• a bus structure coupled to the microprocessor and the nonvolatile memory device to facilitate data transfer between the microprocessor and the nonvolatile memory.

A circuit comprising:

• a closed looped signal path with zero termination points;
• at least one signal source to output a signal, the at least one signal source coupled to the signal path to facilitate generation of a standing wave signal within the signal path;
• at least one receiver to generate a digital signal based upon the standing wave signal;
• and
• a signal distribution network coupled to the at least one receiver to distribute the digital signal, wherein the signal distribution network comprises an H-tree clock distribution network.

A method comprising:

• defining a closed loop signal path with zero termination points;
• applying at least one signal source to the signal path to facilitate generation of a standing wave signal;
• deriving a digital clock signal from the standing wave signal;
• and
• wherein the digital clock signal is locally distributed by at least one of an H-tree and a grid clock distribution network coupled to the signal path.

A system comprising:

• a microprocessor having
• a closed loop signal path with zero termination points, and
• a signal source to output a signal, the signal source coupled to the signal path to facilitate generation of a standing wave signal within the closed loop;
• a nonvolatile memory device coupled to the microprocessor to store at least one instruction to be executed by the microprocessor;
• and
• a bus structure coupled to the microprocessor and the nonvolatile memory device to facilitate data transfer between the microprocessor and the nonvolatile memory;
• wherein the microprocessor further comprises at least one receiver to generate a digital clock signal based upon the standing wave;
• and
• wherein the microprocessor further comprises at least one of an H-tree and a grid clock distribution network coupled to the signal path for local distribution of the digital clock signal within the microprocessor.