Multi-Modulus Divider Timing with Flip-Flop Intermediaries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multi-modulus dividers experience increased combinational logic delay as clock frequencies rise, affecting performance and efficiency, particularly above 7 Gigahertz.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating flip-flops between the prescaler and finite state machine in the multi-modulus divider to eliminate combinational logic delay, thereby reducing flop-to-flop delay and relaxing flip-flop speeds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If conventional multi-modulus dividers are used without dedicated flip-flops, then device complexity is reduced, but combinational logic delay increases at high frequencies above 7 GHz
Solution Approach 1:
Dedicated flip-flops are inserted as intermediary elements between the prescaler and finite state machine. These flip-flops act as mediators that break the combinational logic path, eliminating the delay accumulation problem while maintaining the control functionality through synchronized programming signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The divider circuit is segmented into distinct functional blocks (prescaler, dedicated flip-flops, finite state machine) with clear boundaries. The dedicated flip-flops create segmentation in the signal path, separating the frequency division function from the programming control function, thereby reducing combinational logic delay.
2Speed
If dedicated flip-flops are added to eliminate combinational logic delay, then performance at high frequencies improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dedicated flip-flops serve as intermediary elements that enable high-speed operation by breaking combinational logic paths. Although they add components, they relax the speed requirements of other flip-flops in the system, potentially reducing overall complexity in terms of performance requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the timing parameters of the circuit by introducing synchronized programming signals that coordinate the operation of multiple flip-flops. This parameter change allows the system to operate at higher frequencies by ensuring proper timing relationships are maintained throughout the circuit.
3Use of energy by moving object
If flip-flop speeds are relaxed to reduce power consumption, then power efficiency improves, but the ability to operate at high frequencies above 7 GHz deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The dedicated flip-flops act as intermediaries that enable the system to operate at high frequencies while maintaining relaxed timing requirements for other components. By breaking the combinational logic path, they allow slower flip-flops to be used while still achieving high-frequency operation through the synchronized architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The programming signals are synchronized in advance using dedicated flip-flops before being applied to the finite state machine. This preliminary synchronization action ensures that timing requirements are met for high-frequency operation while allowing the main data path flip-flops to operate with relaxed speed requirements, reducing power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-modulus divider includes a prescaler and a finite state machine. The prescaler includes a combinational logic circuit programmable to divide a frequency of an input clock signal by a first value or a second value. The multi-modulus divider includes a first flip-flop having a data input coupled to an output of the prescaler and an output coupled to an input of the finite state machine. The multi-modulus divider includes a second flip-flop having a data input coupled to the finite state machine such that the data input is configured to receive a programming signal output by the finite state machine and associated with programming the combinational logic circuit. The multi-modulus divider includes a third flip-flop having a data input coupled to an output of the second flip-flop. The third-flip flop also has an output coupled to the combinational logic circuit.