Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for improving stability and lock time for synchronous circuits

US6839301B2 · kind B2 · utility

53Cited by
12References
39Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 28, 2003
Grant dateJan 4, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 30, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C29/50012
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Delay-locked loops, signal locking methods and devices and system incorporating delay-locked loops are described. A delay-locked loop includes a forward delay path, a feedback delay path, a phase detector and a timer circuit. The forward delay path alternatively couples to an external clock signal and to an internal test signal. The phase detector adjusts a delay line based upon the phase differences of a feedback signal and the external clock signal. The timer circuit switches the test signal into the forward delay path and measures the time of traversal of the test signal around the forward delay path and the feedback delay path and generates a time constant for configuring the phase detector's update period. The phase detector is thereafter able to stabilize at an improved rate.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.