3DIC Clock Calibration With Multiphase Boundary Phase Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Achieving timing closure in three-dimensional integrated circuits (3DICs) is challenging due to variations in process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) across different semiconductor dies, leading to potential logical errors and decreased device performance.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a multiphase generator that calibrates and adjusts clock signals at chip-to-chip boundaries, allowing for separate timing closure within each chip. This involves determining phase-shifts between clock signals and generating adjusted clock signals to compensate for PVT variations and other factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If clock tree prioritization is used to achieve timing closure, then timing constraints are met, but device performance decreases due to displacement of critical path combinatorial circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts clock signal parameters (phase, frequency) dynamically to achieve timing closure without displacing critical path circuits. The multiphase generator creates multiple clock phases with different timing characteristics, allowing optimization of both timing constraints and performance by selecting appropriate phases for different operational modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic clock calibration that adapts to varying operating conditions (temperature, voltage, process variations). The clock tree prioritization is not fixed but can be reconfigured based on real-time performance monitoring, allowing the system to maintain timing closure while maximizing performance under different conditions.
2Manufacturing precision
If intermediate latches or additional pipeline stages are inserted to achieve timing closure, then timing constraints are met, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical pipeline stages and intermediate latches with electrical/phased temporal adjustments. Instead of adding more hardware components (latches, pipeline stages), the system uses a multiphase generator to create temporally separated clock phases that provide the necessary timing separation, thereby achieving timing closure without increasing structural complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If maximum frequency is reduced to achieve timing closure, then timing constraints are met, but device performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the clock signal into multiple phases, each optimized for specific timing paths. Rather than uniformly reducing the maximum frequency across all operations, the system divides the clock domain and applies frequency and phase adjustments selectively to critical paths, maintaining high overall performance while meeting timing constraints for specific operations.
4Stability of the object's composition
If clock networks are synchronized across multiple chips in 3DIC, then system coherence is maintained, but timing margins decrease due to inter-chip variables
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary calibration mechanism at chip-to-chip interfaces. The multiphase generator acts as a mediator that adjusts and synchronizes clock signals between different chips, compensating for inter-chip variables (PVT variations, signal propagation delays). This intermediary calibration layer maintains system coherence while preserving timing margins by actively compensating for inter-chip timing variations.
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AI summary
Clock calibration adjustments are provided. Some embodiments disclosed herein are related to a device. A device can include a first conductive element (204, 216) configured to receive a first signal at a first functional block. The device can include a second conductive element (212, 218) configured to convey the first signal to a second functional block of the device. The device can include a third conductive element to receive a second signal from the second functional block, the second signal varying from the first signal according to a phase-shift. The device can include a first circuit (122) configured to determine the phase-shift between the first signal and the second signal. The device can include a second circuit (126) configured to generate a third signal based on the phase-shift, the first signal, the second signal.