Coupled Ring Oscillator Layout for Accurate Phase Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional layouts of coupled ring oscillators face challenges in generating highly accurate phase information due to increased wire length and uneven loading of inverter circuits, leading to variations in driving timing and reduced phase accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A coupled ring oscillator design featuring n ring oscillators with m inverter circuits and a phase-coupling loop where m×n phase-coupling circuits are connected bijectively, ensuring all inverter circuits have equal wire length, and phase-coupling circuits couple signal phases in reverse or common modes to generate accurate phase information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional layout connects inverter circuits using phase-coupling circuits, then phase information can be generated, but wire length increases and loading becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by intentionally designing unequal wire lengths for different inverter circuits. Specifically, first inverter circuits have a first wire length while second inverter circuits have a second wire length that is different from the first. This asymmetric layout compensates for the uneven loading caused by phase-coupling circuits, balancing the overall driving timing across all inverter circuits and improving phase accuracy.
2Ease of manufacture
If wire lengths of inverter circuits are unequal, then layout is simpler, but driving timing varies and phase accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by deliberately varying the wire length parameter of different inverter circuits. First inverter circuits are designed with a first wire length while second inverter circuits are designed with a second wire length. This parameter variation compensates for the loading effects of phase-coupling circuits, ensuring that all inverter circuits have substantially equal driving timing despite having different physical wire lengths, thus maintaining phase accuracy while allowing layout flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A coupled ring oscillator includes n ring oscillators (20) each including m inverter circuits (10), and a phase-coupling loop (40) in which m×n phase-coupling circuits (30), each of which couples signal phases at two points in a certain phase mode, are connected with each other to form a loop. Connection points at which the inverter circuits (10) are connected with each other and the connection points at which the phase-coupling circuits (30) are connected with each other are connected bijectively; and each of the inverter circuits (10) is connected between two points that divide the phase-coupling circuits (30) into two parts at a certain ratio.