Patent · US Active

Clock generator and methods using closed loop duty cycle correction

US8018261B2 · kind B2 · utility

18Cited by
7References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 25, 2008
Grant dateSep 13, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 25, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03L7/0816
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Closed-loop duty-cycle correctors (DCCs), clock generators, memory devices, systems, and methods for generating an output clock signal having a particular duty cycle are provided, such as clock generators configured to generate an output clock signal synchronized with a received input clock signal having a predetermined duty cycle. Embodiments of clock generators include closed-loop duty cycle correctors that receive an already-controlled and corrected output signal. For example, DLL control circuitry and DCC control circuitry may each adjust a delay of a variable delay line. The DLL control circuitry adjusts the delay such that an output clock signal is synchronized with an input clock signal. The DCC control circuitry detects a duty cycle error in the output clock signal and adjusts the delay of the variable delay line to achieve a duty cycle corrected output signal. By detecting the duty cycle error in the output signal, the clock generator may achieve improved performance that can correct accumulated duty cycle error and correct for duty cycle error introduced by the duty cycle corrector itself in some embodiments.

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