Temperature compensation via power supply modification to produce a temperature-independent delay in an integrated circuit
US7936203B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 8, 2006 |
| Grant date | May 3, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 30, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03L1/022
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and circuitry for adjusting the delay of a variable delay line (VDL) in a delay locked loop (DLL) or other delay element or subcircuit on an integrated circuit is disclosed. Such delay circuitry will inherently have a delay which is a function of temperature. In accordance with embodiments of the invention, such temperature-dependent delays are compensated for by adjusting the power supply voltage of the VDL, delay element, or subcircuit. Specifically, a temperature sensing stage is used to sense the temperature of the integrated circuit, and hence the VDL, delay element, or subcircuit. Information concerning the sensed temperature is sent to a regulator which derives the local power supply voltage from the master power supply voltage, Vcc, of the integrated circuit. If the temperature sensed is relatively high, which otherwise would increase the delay though the VDL, delay element, or subcircuit, the regulator increases the local power supply voltage, thus decreasing the delay and offsetting the increase in delay due to temperature. Through this scheme, and assuming the temperature sensing stage is properly tuned, temperature-dependent delays can be reduced to approximate…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.