Delay Compensation Circuit for Asymmetrical Clock Skew Matching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Semiconductor devices face challenges in reducing clock skew and integration density due to symmetrical clock tree structures, which increase the number of devices required in the clock tree, leading to degraded reliability and high-speed operation issues.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor device design that includes an internal clock generation circuit, synchronized unit circuits, transfer circuits with adjustable delay times, and a delay compensation circuit to match delay times across different transfer paths, reducing the number of devices in the clock tree and enhancing integration density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If symmetrical clock trees are disposed to reduce clock skew, then clock skew between clock signals is reduced, but the number of devices in the clock tree increases, degrading integration density
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by transitioning from a symmetrical clock tree structure to an asymmetrical one. Specifically, it uses a fly-by clocking structure where clocks are sequentially transmitted to unit circuits rather than distributing them symmetrically. This asymmetrical approach reduces the number of clock tree devices while maintaining clock skew compensation through delay matching circuits that equalize path delays.
2Device complexity
If the number of devices in the clock tree is reduced, then integration density is improved, but clock skew compensation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces delay matching circuits as intermediary components between the clock generation circuit and unit circuits. These circuits act as mediators that compensate for clock skew by adjusting delay times in asymmetrical clock paths. The delay matching circuits include delay elements and control logic that dynamically balance clock arrival times at different unit circuits, enabling effective skew compensation without requiring a symmetrical clock tree structure.
3Device complexity
If asymmetrical clock distribution is used, then the number of clock tree devices is reduced, but delay time variations across different unit circuits increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing adjustable delay matching circuits that can dynamically adapt delay times for different clock paths. The delay matching circuits include controllable delay elements whose delay amounts can be adjusted based on the specific path characteristics. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to compensate for delay variations in asymmetrical clock distribution, maintaining delay time consistency across all unit circuits despite the asymmetrical structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor device includes an internal clock generation circuit configured to generate an internal clock; a plurality of unit circuits configured to have a first unit circuit and a second unit circuit operating while being synchronized with an internal clock; a plurality of transfer circuits including a first transfer circuit configured to provide a first transfer path having a first delay time, and a second transfer circuit configured to provide a second transfer path having a second delay time different from the first delay time; and a delay compensation circuit configured to compare a first clock input to the first unit circuit through the first transfer path with a second clock input to the second unit circuit through the second transfer path, and to adjust the second delay time so that the adjusted second delay time matches the first delay time.