Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100321102 | Leakage Reduction in Electronic Circuits - In one embodiment, an apparatus for reducing leakage in an electronic circuit (e.g., a CMOS circuit) includes a power switch transistor configured to selectively couple or decouple a voltage to a logic portion of the electronic circuit. The power switch transistor receives a first voltage during an active mode of the electronic circuit and receives a second voltage during a sleep mode of the electronic circuit. The power switch transistor has a bulk region that is biased using the first voltage during sleep mode. The power switch transistor has a gate region that is biased using the first voltage during sleep mode. | 12-23-2010 |
20110193589 | On-Chip Sensor For Measuring Dynamic Power Supply Noise Of The Semiconductor Chip - An on-chip sensor measures dynamic power supply noise, such as voltage droop, on a semiconductor chip. In-situ logic is employed, which is sensitive to noise present on the power supply of functional logic of the chip. Exemplary functional logic includes a microprocessor, adder, and/or other functional logic of the chip. The in-situ logic performs some operation, and the amount of time required for performing that operation (i.e., the operational delay) is sensitive to noise present on the power supply. Thus, by evaluating the operational delay of the in-situ logic, the amount of noise present on the power supply can be measured. | 08-11-2011 |
20120109356 | Method and Digital Circuit for Recovering a Clock and Data from an Input Signal Using a Digital Frequency Detection - In a particular embodiment, a digital circuit includes a frequency detection circuit operative to compare information related to transitions between sequential samples of a received signal. The frequency detection circuit is further operative to generate a control signal to reduce a sampling rate of the received signal in response to a predetermined number of the sequential samples having a same value. The digital circuit also includes a digital phase detector operative to provide the information related to the transitions between sequential samples to the frequency detection circuit. | 05-03-2012 |
20120112809 | METHOD AND DIGITAL CIRCUIT FOR GENERATING A WAVEFORM FROM STORED DIGITAL VALUES - In a particular embodiment, a method includes adjusting an input to a divider on a feedback path of a phase locked loop circuit based on a stored digital value representing a portion of a time-based waveform that is applied to a modulator circuit. The stored digital value is retrieved based on an output of the feedback path. | 05-10-2012 |
20120177159 | Full Digital Bang Bang Frequency Detector with No Data Pattern Dependency - A bang-bang frequency detector with no data pattern dependency is provided. In examples, the detector recovers a clock from received data, such as data having a non-return to zero (NRZ) format. A first bang-bang phase detector (BBPD) provides first phase information about a phase difference between a sample clock and the clock embedded in the received data. A second BBPD provides second phase information about a second phase difference between the clock embedded in the received data and a delayed version of the sample clock. A frequency difference between the sample clock and the clock embedded in the received data is determined based on the first and second phase differences. The frequency difference can be used to adjust the frequency of the sample clock. A lock detector can be coupled to a BBPD output to determine if the sample clock is locked to the clock embedded in the received data. | 07-12-2012 |
20120218005 | Semiconductor Device Having On-Chip Voltage Regulator - A semiconductor device having an on-chip voltage regulator to control on-chip voltage regulation and methods for on-chip voltage regulation are disclosed. A semiconductor device includes a circuit positioned between a ground bus and a power bus. A power switch array is positioned between the circuit and one of the ground bus or the power bus to generate a virtual voltage across the circuit. A monitor is positioned between the ground bus and the power bus. The monitor is configured to simulate a critical path of the circuit and to output a voltage adjust signal based on an output of the simulated critical path. A controller is configured to receive the voltage adjust signal and to output a control signal to the power switch array to control the virtual voltage. | 08-30-2012 |
20130030767 | HIGH SPEED DATA TESTING WITHOUT HIGH SPEED BIT CLOCK - System and method for testing a high speed data path without generating a high speed bit clock, includes selecting a first high speed data path from a plurality of data paths for testing. Coherent clock data patterns are driven on one or more of remaining data paths of the plurality of data paths, wherein the coherent clock data patterns are in coherence with a low speed base clock. The first high speed data path is sampled by the coherent clock data patterns to generate a sampled first high speed data path, which is then tested at a speed of the low speed base clock. | 01-31-2013 |
20130033287 | Balanced Single-Ended Impedance Control - A balanced single-end impedance control system is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the circuit includes a first transistor coupled to a first output terminal and a second transistor coupled to a second output terminal. The circuit also includes a third transistor and a fourth transistor, where device characteristics of the third transistor substantially match device characteristics of the first transistor and device characteristics of the fourth transistor substantially match device characteristics of the second transistor. The circuit further includes a first control path and a second control path. The first path is coupled to the third transistor and provides a first rail voltage to control a first gate control voltage of the first transistor. The second control path is coupled to the fourth transistor and provides a second rail voltage to control a second gate control voltage of the second transistor. The impedances of the first and second transistors may be controlled by the first gate control voltage and the second gate control voltage respectively. | 02-07-2013 |
20130033329 | System and Method of Controlling Gain of an Oscillator - A circuit includes a controllable oscillator and a controller coupled to the controllable oscillator. The controller is configured to provide a current control and a gain control to the controllable oscillator. The gain control is configured to change a gain of the controllable oscillator during a calibration process. | 02-07-2013 |
20130120020 | ADAPTIVE OUTPUT SWING DRIVER - An adjustable gain line driver receives an input signal and a gain control signal and outputs a signal with a swing, and the swing is measured to generate a swing measurement signal. A target swing signal is generated having a target swing, and the target swing signal is measured to generate a target swing reference signal. The swing measurement signal is compared to the target swing reference control signal and a counter generating the gain control signal is incremented until the measurement signal meets the target swing reference signal. Optionally a reset signal resets the counter, and the gain control signal, at predetermined events. | 05-16-2013 |
20130120028 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND CIRCUIT WITH A DRIVER OUTPUT INTERFACE HAVING A COMMON MODE CONNECTION COUPLED TO A TRANSISTOR BULK CONNECTION - A multi-terminal output with a common mode connection includes an output having a first terminal and a second terminal and having a common mode connection between the first terminal and the second terminal. A bulk connection of a transistor is coupled to the common mode connection. A first set of control signals and a second set of control signals are generated. Each of the first set of control signals has a first rail voltage level associated with a first power domain. The second set of control signals is generated from the first set of control signals. Each of the second set of control signals has a second rail voltage level that is associated with a second power domain. The second power domain is associated with a common mode voltage of outputs of an output driver. | 05-16-2013 |
20130120029 | HIGH-SPEED PRE-DRIVER AND VOLTAGE LEVEL CONVERTER WITH BUILT-IN DE-EMPHASIS FOR HDMI TRANSMIT APPLICATIONS - In an example, a high-speed pre-driver and voltage level converter with built-in de-emphasis for HDMI transmit applications is provided. An exemplary integrated circuit includes a serializer, a pre-driver coupled to receive a differential input from the serializer, and a driver. The pre-driver includes all-p-type metal-oxide-silicon (PMOS) cross-coupled level converter comprising four PMOS transistors and two de-emphasis PMOS transistors forming a de-emphasis tap coupled to the output of the cross-coupled level converter. The driver is coupled to the pre-driver output and is configured to receive a differential input from the pre-driver. | 05-16-2013 |
20130120036 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RECOVERING BURST-MODE PULSE WIDTH MODULATION (PWM) AND NON-RETURN-TO-ZERO (NRZ) DATA - A gated voltage controlled oscillator has four identically structured delay cells, each of the delay cells having the same output load by connecting to the same number of inputs of other ones of the delay cells. Optionally a four phase sampling clock selects from the delay cell output and samples, at a four phase sampler, an input signal. Optionally an edge detector synchronizes the phase of the gated voltage controlled oscillator to coincide with NRZ bits. Optionally a variable sampling rate selects different phases from the delay cells to selectively sample NRZ bits at a lower rate. Optionally, a pulse width modulation (PWM) mode synchronizes a phase of the sampling clock to sample PWM symbols and recover encoded bits. | 05-16-2013 |
20130120040 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF STABILIZING CHARGE PUMP NODE VOLTAGE LEVELS - A method includes tracking a tuning voltage at a first circuit coupled to a first drain node of a first supply of a charge pump. The method also includes tracking the tuning voltage at a second circuit coupled to a second drain node of a second supply of the charge pump. The method further includes stabilizing a first voltage of the first drain node and a second voltage of the second drain node responsive to the tuning voltage. | 05-16-2013 |
20130120071 | TUNING VOLTAGE RANGE EXTENSION CIRCUIT AND METHOD - A circuit includes a first path including a first transistor and a first current source. The first transistor is responsive to a tuning voltage. The circuit also includes a tuning voltage range extension circuit responsive to the tuning voltage. The tuning voltage range extension circuit is configured to selectively change current supplied by the first path as the tuning voltage exceeds a capacity threshold of the first transistor. | 05-16-2013 |
20130120072 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CALIBRATING A PHASE-LOCKED LOOP WHILE MAINTAINING LOCK - A method of calibrating a phase-locked loop (PLL) while maintaining lock includes detecting that a control signal to an oscillator in a PLL has exceeded a threshold value while the PLL is locked to an input signal. In response, an operating current of the oscillator is adjusted to return the control signal below the threshold value while maintaining lock of the PLL to the input signal. Adjusting the operating current includes slowly varying an output current of a calibration circuit coupled to the PLL, enabling the PLL to maintain lock to the input signal during adjustment of the operating current. | 05-16-2013 |
20130187717 | RECEIVER EQUALIZATION CIRCUIT - A receiver equalization circuit includes a first output transistor having a gate coupled to an input signal. The receiver equalization circuit may also include a second output transistor having a drain coupled to a drain of the first output transistor. The receiver equalization circuit may also include a resistor coupled between a gate and a drain of the second output transistor to provide a direct current (DC) bias to the gate of the second output transistor. The receiver equalization circuit may further include a feed-through capacitor coupled between the gate of the second output transistor and an input signal source. The feed-through capacitor feeds the input signal to the gate of the second output transistor when a frequency of the input signal is above a predetermined threshold. The feed-through capacitor and the resistor define a signal gain amplification point. | 07-25-2013 |
20130191679 | DUAL MODE CLOCK/DATA RECOVERY CIRCUIT - A clock/data recovery circuit includes an edge detector circuit operable to receive a serial data burst and to generate a reset signal in response to a first edge of the serial data burst. The clock/data recovery circuit may also include an oscillator coupled to the edge detector circuit. The oscillator locks onto a target data rate prior to receipt of the serial data burst and locks onto a phase of the serial data burst in response to the reset signal. The clock/data recovery circuit may also include a phase detector circuit that receives the serial data burst. The phase detector circuit is coupled to the oscillator. The phase detector circuit adjusts the oscillator to maintain the lock onto the phase of the serial data burst during the serial data burst. | 07-25-2013 |
20130216014 | AUTOMATIC DETECTION AND COMPENSATION OF FREQUENCY OFFSET IN POINT-TO-POINT COMMUNICATION - Systems and methods for automatic detection and compensation of frequency offset in point-to-point communication. A burst mode clock and data recovery (CDR) system comprises input data received at a first frequency and a reference clock operating at a second frequency. A master phase-locked loop (PLL) comprising a first gated voltage controlled oscillator (GVCO) is configured to align the phases of reference clock and the input data, and provide phase error information and a recovered clock. A second GVCO is controlled by the recovered clock to sample the input data. A frequency alignment loop comprising a feedback path from the second GVCO to the master PLL is configured to use the phase error information to correct a frequency offset between the first frequency and the second frequency. | 08-22-2013 |
20130285696 | ON-CHIP SENSOR FOR MEASURING DYNAMIC POWER SUPPLY NOISE OF THE SEMICONDUCTOR CHIP - An on-chip sensor measures dynamic power supply noise, such as voltage droop, on a semiconductor chip. In-situ logic is employed, which is sensitive to noise present on the power supply of functional logic of the chip. Exemplary functional logic includes a microprocessor, adder, and/or other functional logic of the chip. The in-situ logic performs some operation, and the amount of time required for performing that operation (i.e., the operational delay) is sensitive to noise present on the power supply. Thus, by evaluating the operational delay of the in-situ logic, the amount of noise present on the power supply can be measured. | 10-31-2013 |
20140035549 | MULTI-STANDARD, AUTOMATIC IMPEDANCE CONTROLLED DRIVER WITH SUPPLY REGULATION - A pre-driver circuit generates a driver bias signal based on a swing command, a driver impedance characteristic, and an input signal. A driver receives the driver bias signal and generates, in response, a driver signal having a swing and having an output impedance corresponding to the bias signal. Optionally, the driver receives power from a switchable one of multiple supply rails, according to the swing. Optionally, the driver has voltage controlled resistor elements and the driver bias signal is generated based on the swing command and a replica of the driver voltage controlled resistor elements. | 02-06-2014 |
20140098843 | DIGITALLY CONTROLLED JITTER INJECTION FOR BUILT IN SELF-TESTING (BIST) - A digitally controlled jitter injection apparatus for built in self-testing includes a transceiver circuit having a transmitter circuit and a receiver circuit. The digitally controlled jitter injection apparatus also includes a generator that generates a composite jitter including multi-tone jitter components. The digitally controlled jitter injection apparatus also includes a processor operable to digitally inject the composite jitter into a receiver circuit and/or a transmitter circuit of the transceiver circuit. | 04-10-2014 |
20140101507 | HIGH SPEED DATA TESTING WITHOUT HIGH SPEED BIT CLOCK - System and method for testing a high speed data path without generating a high speed bit clock, includes selecting a first high speed data path from a plurality of data paths for testing. Coherent clock data patterns are driven on one or more of remaining data paths of the plurality of data paths, wherein the coherent clock data patterns are in coherence with a low speed base clock. The first high speed data path is sampled by the coherent clock data patterns to generate a sampled first high speed data path, which is then tested at a speed of the low speed base clock. | 04-10-2014 |
20140149756 | POWER SAVING DURING A CONNECTION DETECTION - In a particular embodiment, an electronic device includes a direct current (DC) voltage source coupled to a DC interface. The electronic device includes a receiver sense circuit configured to detect a connection of the electronic device to a sink device via a connector without consuming power from the DC voltage source. The electronic device further includes a controller coupled to a hot plug detect (HPD) interface. The controller is configured to receive a detection signal from the receiver sense circuit, selectively control a switch to enable and disable the DC voltage source based on the detection signal, detect an HPD signal at the HPD interface after enabling the DC voltage source, and disable the receiver sense circuit in response to detecting the HPD signal. | 05-29-2014 |
20140176196 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MULTI-LEVEL DE-EMPHASIS - A distribution current is split into a first control current, a second control current, and a third control current, in an apportionment according to a distribution command. A first control voltage is generated in response to the third control current. A second control voltage is generated as indication of the first control current, and a third control voltage is generated as indication of the second control current. Optionally, de-emphasis contribution of a first driver, a second driver and a third driver to an output is controlled based, at least in part, on the first control voltage, the second control voltage and the third control voltage, respectively. | 06-26-2014 |
20140256276 | UNIFIED FRONT-END RECEIVER INTERFACE FOR ACCOMMODATING INCOMING SIGNALS VIA AC-COUPLING OR DC-COUPLING - Techniques for accommodating an incoming signal at a front-end receiver via AC-coupling or DC-coupling are described herein. In one aspect, a front-end receiver comprises a differential input with a first data line and a second data line for receiving an incoming signal. The front-end receiver also comprises an AC-coupled switch coupled to the differential input, wherein the AC-coupled switch is configured to both perform high-pass filtering on the incoming signal and offset the filtered incoming signal with a DC-offset voltage if an AC-coupling mode of the receiver is enabled. The front-end receiver further comprises a DC-coupled switch coupled to the differential input, wherein the DC-coupled switch is configured to shift a common-mode voltage of the incoming signal if a DC-coupling mode of the receiver is enabled. | 09-11-2014 |