Configurable last level clock driver for improved energy efficiency of a resonant clock

Abstract

Systems and methods are directed to a configurable last level driver coupled to a inductor-capacitor (LC) tank or resonant clock, for improving energy efficiency of the resonant clock. In a warm up stage, the last level clock driver can be enabled to store energy in the LC tank, and in a gating stage, the last level clock driver can be fully or partially disabled such that energy stored in the LC tank can be recirculated into a clock distribution network. In a refreshing stage, the last level clock driver can be enabled to replenish the energy lost by the LC tank in the recirculation of energy into the clock distribution network during the gating stage. Programmable counters can be used to control durations of the warm up, gating, and refreshing stages.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.