Circuit and associated methodology
US6946877B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 12, 2003 |
| Grant date | Sep 20, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 17, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K19/0963
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method of interstitial pre-discharge in a circuit includes providing the circuit, which includes a pre-charge node coupled to a clock evaluate node operable to receive a clock evaluate input cycle. Multiple pull-down stacks each including an interstitial node interconnect between the pre-charge node and ground. The interstitial node of each pull-down stack couples to an interstitial discharger device gated to ground. The method further includes operating the circuit in a pre-charge phase of the clock evaluate input cycle, including pre-charging the pre-charge node and the interstitial nodes, and keeping the devices in the pull-down stacks and the interstitial dischargers in a high impedance state. The method additionally includes operating the circuit in an evaluate phase of the clock cycle, including discharging the pre-charge node to ground through a pull-down stack, and discharging the interstitial node to ground through the interstitial discharger device to preclude charge share.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.