Programmable Clock Delay Circuit for Hold Time Equalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Synchronous circuits often experience hold time violations due to mismatched clock delays between input register logic and logic circuits, leading to performance issues and the need for additional delay circuitry or path modifications.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a control circuit that generates multiple delayed clock signals and variable clock delay logic to equalize clock delays between input register logic and logic circuits, allowing for selective provision of clock signals and enabling time borrowing and pipelining to address hold time violations without introducing additional resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional delay circuitry or path modifications are added to fix hold time violations, then hold time violations are resolved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit is designed to serve multiple functions: it generates delayed clock signals, equalizes clock delays between input register logic and logic circuits, and selectively provides appropriate clock signals to different circuit blocks. This multi-functionality resolves hold time violations without requiring separate dedicated delay circuitry for each function, thereby fixing the reliability issue while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the clock delay parameter dynamically by generating multiple delayed clock signals with different delay values. The control circuit selectively applies appropriate delay values to different logic circuits based on their specific timing requirements. This parameter adjustment resolves hold time violations by equalizing clock delays without permanently adding complex fixed delay circuitry to the system.
2Manufacturing precision
If clock delay equalization is implemented using fixed delay circuitry, then clock delays are equalized, but adaptability to different clock delays is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit implements dynamic clock delay management by generating multiple delayed clock signals with programmable delay values. Instead of using fixed delay circuitry, the system can adaptively select and apply different delay values based on the specific timing requirements of different logic circuits. This dynamic approach ensures precise clock delay equalization while maintaining high adaptability to various clock delay scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The clock delay equalization function is segmented into multiple independent delayed clock signal generations. The control circuit creates a set of delayed clock signals with different delay characteristics, allowing selective application to different logic circuits. This segmentation enables precise equalization for each circuit while maintaining overall system adaptability, as each segment can be independently configured.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple delayed clock signals are generated and selectively provided, then flexible clock management is achieved, but control circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit is designed as a universal clock management unit that handles multiple functions: generating delayed clock signals, equalizing clock delays, and selectively distributing clock signals to different logic circuits. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional control circuit rather than separate dedicated circuits for each function, the design achieves flexible clock management while minimizing the overall increase in device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed circuit arrangements include a logic circuit, input register logic coupled to the logic circuit and including a first plurality of bi-stable circuits and a control circuit coupled to the input register logic. The control circuit is configured to generate a plurality of delayed clock signals from an input clock signal. The plurality of delayed clock signals include a first delayed clock signal and a second delayed clock signal. The control circuit selectively provides one or more of the delayed clock signals or the input clock signal to clock inputs of the first plurality of bi-stable circuits and selectively provides one or more of the delayed clock signals or the input clock signal to the logic circuit. The control circuit includes a variable clock delay logic circuit configured to equalize a clock delay to the input register logic with a clock delay to the logic circuit.