Wave Pipeline Clock Skew Reduction via Return Signal Triggering
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Solution Overview
Problem
In memory devices, skew between data and clock signals in a wave pipeline is a significant issue that limits the maximum clock frequency and distance these signals can travel, necessitating alternative methods for reduction.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves routing the clock signal and return clock signal alongside the data signal, subjecting them to the same logic circuitry, process, voltage, and temperature variations, and using the return clock signal from the data stage with the maximum delay to trigger data output from each stage, ensuring alignment and minimizing skew.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate paths are used for data signal and clock signal, then routing flexibility is improved, but skew between data and clock signals increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the clock signal path with the data signal path by routing the clock signal through the same logic circuitry and interconnect structures as the data signal. This combining approach ensures that both signals experience identical process, voltage, and temperature variations, thereby minimizing skew while maintaining routing flexibility through the unified path structure.
2Device complexity
If clock signal is routed independently, then clock distribution is simplified, but skew between data and clock signals increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clock signal is merged with the data signal path by routing it through the same logic circuitry stages. Instead of maintaining a separate independent clock distribution network, the clock signal traverses the same interconnect structures and logic elements as the data, ensuring synchronized arrival times without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
3Productivity
If data signal travels longer distance, then data transmission capacity is improved, but skew with clock signal increases
Solution Approach 1:
By routing the clock signal through the same logic circuitry and interconnect paths as the data signal, the patent ensures that even when data travels extended distances through multiple logic stages, the clock signal experiences identical delays. This merging approach maintains signal alignment precision regardless of transmission distance, enabling enhanced data transmission capacity without proportionally increasing skew.
Data Source
AI summary
A wave pipeline includes a plurality of data paths, a clock signal path, and a return clock signal path. Each data path includes an input node, an output node, and a data stage between the input node and the output node. Each data path has a different delay between the input node and the output node. A first data path of the plurality of data paths has a first delay and each of the other data paths of the plurality of data paths have a delay less than the first delay. The clock signal path provides a clock signal to the data stage of each data path. The return clock signal path provides a return clock signal from the data stage of the first data path. The return clock signal triggers data out of the data stage of each data path of the plurality of data paths.