Delay-Locked Clock and Latency Command Circuit for Synchronized Data Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Semiconductor devices face challenges in efficiently managing latency and clock synchronization without increasing power and area consumption, particularly in generating delay-locked clocks and commands.
Innovation Solution
The semiconductor device incorporates a delay-locked clock generation circuit and latency command generation circuit, utilizing phase control signals to select internal clocks and adjust delay periods, eliminating the need for additional delay circuits and thus preventing power and area consumption increases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If additional delay circuits are used to increase delay periods for internal clocks and commands, then the latency control capability is improved, but the power consumption and area consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic delay adjustment by selectively enabling different numbers of latch circuits (e.g., 0, 1, 2, or 3 latches) based on the required latency period. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the delay period to be adjusted without adding fixed delay circuits, thereby controlling power consumption according to actual needs while maintaining flexible latency adjustment capability.
2Loss of time
If additional delay circuits are used to increase delay periods for internal clocks and commands, then the latency control capability is improved, but the area consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latch circuits serve multiple functions: they act as both data storage elements for command processing and as delay elements for latency control. By reusing the same latch circuits for both purposes, the patent avoids adding dedicated delay circuits, thereby achieving flexible latency adjustment without increasing area consumption.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple internal clocks are used for phase control and delay adjustment, then the synchronization flexibility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the clock system into multiple phase-shifted internal clocks (e.g., four clocks with 90-degree phase differences) generated from a single external clock source. Each internal clock can be selectively used for different latch operations, providing fine-grained control over delay periods and synchronization timing without requiring complex independent clock generators.
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor device includes a delay-locked clock generation circuit configured to generate a delay-locked clock which is driven by at least one internal clock selected from a plurality of internal clocks in response to a phase control signal. The semiconductor device also includes a latency command generation circuit configured to generate a latency command for generating transmission data from data by latching an internal command sequentially by the at least one internal clock in response to the phase control signal and shifting the sequentially latched internal command by a period set by a shifting control signal in response to the delay-locked clock.