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US 7,403,044 B2Granted
Method of producing balanced data output
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorSeong-Hoon Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Strobe signals are coupled to a phase detector which compares rising and falling edges of the respective strobe signals. If the phase detector determines that there is a mismatch, it outputs an UP or DOWN control signal to a control circuit. The control circuit then transmits the UP or DOWN control signal to edge adjusting circuits connected to each strobe and data stream between the flip flop and pre-driver. The edge adjusting then adds a delay to each respective strobe and data stream which incrementally compensates for the mismatch created by PVT variations. The process is repeated until the high and low data outputs are effectively matched, thereby maximizing the data eye.
Claims52
A method for reducing skewed data, said method comprising:
- inputting into a first flip-flop a strobe signal that toggles between first and second reference voltage levels;
- inputting into a second flip-flop a complement of the strobe signal;
- comparing an edge of an output of the first flip-flop to a corresponding edge of an output of the second flip-flop;
- determining whether the edge of the output of the first flip-flop and the edge of the output of the second flip-flop match;
- if it is determined that the edges do not match, adjusting at least one of the outputs of the first and second flip-flops with an edge adjusting circuit;
- and
- providing at least one adjusted strobe signal, wherein the at least one adjusted strobe signal is the output of the at least one edge adjusting circuit.
4 more elements
A method of reducing skewed data comprising:
- comparing edges of outputs of a pair of flip-flops, wherein inputs of the pair of flip-flops are complementary strobe signals;
- producing one of an UP and DOWN control signal based on the comparison;
- generating an edge adjustment signal responsive to the UP or DOWN control signal;
- adjusting edges of a plurality of data output streams and at least one of the outputs of the pair of flip-flops responsive to the edge adjustment signal.
1 more element
A data output circuit comprising:
- a first flip-flop, wherein an input of the first flip-flop is a first strobe signal that toggles between first and second reference voltage levels;
- a second flip-flop, wherein an input of the second flip-flop is a second strobe signal that toggles between the first and second reference voltage levels, wherein the second strobe signal is a complement of the first strobe signal;
- at least one data output circuit configured to provide a data output stream;
- a phase detector coupled to outputs of the first and second flip-flops, the phase detector being configured to compare an edge of the output of the first flip-flop to an edge of the output of the second flip-flop and to determine whether the edges of the outputs of the first and second flip-flops match;
- and
- at least one edge adjusting circuit coupled to the at least one data output circuit and the outputs of the first and second flip-flops, the at least one edge adjusting circuit being configured to adjust at least one output of the first and second flip-flops responsive to the comparison, and the at least one edge adjusting circuit being configured to adjust the at least one data output stream responsive to the phase detector.
3 more elements
A data output system comprising:
- a CPU;
- a first strobe circuit connected to said CPU for generating a first strobe signal that toggles between first and second reference voltage levels;
- a second strobe circuit for generating a second strobe signal that toggles between said first and second reference voltage levels, wherein the second strobe signal is a complement of the first strobe signal;
- at least one data output circuit responsive to said CPU and configured to output a data signal responsive to said first strobe circuit;
- a phase detector coupled to outputs of said first and second strobe circuits, said phase detector being configured to compare an edge of the first strobe signal to an edge of the second strobe signal and to determine whether the edges of said first and second strobe signals match;
- and
- at least one edge adjusting circuit coupled to to said strobe circuits, said at least one edge adjusting circuit being configured to adjust at least one of said first and second strobe signals responsive to said phase detector.
4 more elements
A data output circuit comprising:
- first and second strobe circuits configured to generate first and second complementary strobe outputs;
- a plurality of data output circuits each configured to provide a data signal responsive to one of said first and second strobe outputs;
- a phase detector circuit for comparing edges of said first and second strobe outputs and for producing one of an UP and DOWN control signal based on said comparison;
- a control circuit for generating an adjustment signal responsive to said UP and DOWN control signal;
- a plurality of edge adjusting circuits for adjusting edges of a plurality of data outputs and said outputs of said complementary strobes responsive to said adjustment signal, each edge adjusting circuit being connected to said control circuit and also being connected to a respective one of said strobe circuits and data output circuits.
2 more elements
A data output system comprising:
- a CPU;
- first and second strobe circuits configured to generate first and second complementary strobe outputs;
- a plurality of data output circuits responsive to said CPU and each configured to generate a data output signal responsive to one of said first and second strobe outputs;
- a phase detector circuit for comparing edges of said first and second strobe outputs and for producing one of an UP and DOWN control signal based on said comparison;
- a control circuit for generating an adjustment signal responsive to said UP and DOWN control signal;
- a plurality of edge adjusting circuits for adjusting edges of a plurality of data outputs and said outputs of said complementary strobes responsive to said adjustment signal, each edge adjusting circuit being connected to said control circuit and also being connected to a respective one of said strobe circuits and data output circuits.
3 more elements
A method of reducing skewed data, the method comprising:
- providing a first strobe signal that toggles between first and second reference voltage levels;
- providing a second strobe signal that toggles between the first and second reference voltage levels, wherein the second strobe signal is a complement of the first strobe signal;
- receiving at least one data input stream;
- providing at least one data output stream corresponding to the at least one data input stream;
- and
- concurrently with providing the at least one data output stream:
- comparing an edge of the first strobe signal to a corresponding edge of the second strobe signal;
- determining whether the edges of the first and second strobe signals match;
- if it is determined that the edges do not match, adjusting at least one of the first and second strobe signals with at least one edge adjusting circuit;
- and
- outputting at least one adjusted strobe signal, wherein the edge adjusted strobe signal is the output of the at least one edge adjusting circuit,
- wherein the at least one data output stream is responsive to the at least one adjusted strobe signal.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.