Apparatus and method for generating a distributed clock signal using gear ratio techniques
US6396887B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 9, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 28, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 9, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F7/68
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for synchronizing signal transfers between two clock domains, where the clock domains have a gear ratio relationship. A gear ratio means that the clocks are related by a ratio, such that each clock has a different integer number of clock cycles in a common period. Also, in addition to a gear ratio relationship, the clocks may have a synchronized edge at the end of the common period. For each clock, the cycles in the common period are “colored”, i.e., identified by a number (1st, 2nd, etc.). By using the coloring technique, the appropriate clock edge to perform a data or control signal transfer can be identified. The edges are preferably chosen to minimize the latency of the transfer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.