Method and apparatus for quantifying and minimizing skew between signals
US7671579B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 7, 2006 |
| Grant date | Mar 2, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 25, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K5/1504
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Delay associated with each of two signals along respective transmission paths is accurately measured using a delay measurement circuit that is fabricated in situ on the actual device where the circuitry for propagating the two signals is fabricated. Thus, the measured delay associated with each of the two signals is subject to the same fabrication-dependent attributes that affect the actual circuitry through which the two signals will be propagated during operation of the device. The skew between the two signals is quantified as the difference in the measured delays. Coarse and fine delay modules are defined within the transmission path of each of the two signals. Based on the measured skew between the two signals, the coarse and fine delay modules are appropriately set to compensate for the skew. The appropriately settings for the coarse and fine delay modules can be stored in non-volatile memory elements.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.