Delay stabilization system for an integrated circuit
First Claim
1. A system for stabilizing a delay through a signal path of an integrated circuit (IC), wherein said signal path is formed by first transistors, wherein said delay depends on signal propagation speed of said first transistors which is in turn influenced by a temperature of said IC and by a magnitude of a power supply signal applied to said IC, the system comprising:
- an oscillator for producing a periodic first reference signal, said oscillator comprising gate means internal to said IC having an input and an output and delay means external to said IC for connecting said input to said output,a delay circuit for delaying said first reference signal to produce a periodic second reference signal, andcontroller means for receiving said first and second reference signals and for controlling said magnitude of said power supply signal so as to maintain a constant phase difference between said first and second reference signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for stabilizing a delay through a signal path of an integrated circuit (IC) includes an oscillator for producing a periodic first reference signal, a delay circuit for delaying the first reference signal to produce a periodic second reference signal, and a loop controller for adjusting the magnitude of the IC'"'"'s power supply so as to maintain a constant phase difference between the first and second reference signals. By adjusting the power supply magnitude, the loop controller also stabilizes signal path delays through logic circuits implemented in the IC. The oscillator is formed by a logic gate implemented in the IC and a passive delay line feeding the logic gate'"'"'s output back to its input. The delay of the delay circuit is programmably adjustable to allow for adjustment of the signal path delay through the IC.
66 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for stabilizing a delay through a signal path of an integrated circuit (IC), wherein said signal path is formed by first transistors, wherein said delay depends on signal propagation speed of said first transistors which is in turn influenced by a temperature of said IC and by a magnitude of a power supply signal applied to said IC, the system comprising:
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an oscillator for producing a periodic first reference signal, said oscillator comprising gate means internal to said IC having an input and an output and delay means external to said IC for connecting said input to said output, a delay circuit for delaying said first reference signal to produce a periodic second reference signal, and controller means for receiving said first and second reference signals and for controlling said magnitude of said power supply signal so as to maintain a constant phase difference between said first and second reference signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for stabilizing a delay through a signal path of an integrated circuit (IC), wherein said signal path is formed by first transistors, wherein said delay depends on signal propagation speed of said first transistors which is in turn influenced by a magnitude of a power supply signal applied to said IC, the system comprising:
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a first oscillator for producing a periodic first reference signal, wherein a period of said first reference signal is substantially independent of a temperature of said IC and of the magnitude of said power supply signal, a second ring oscillator implemented on said IC for producing a periodic second reference signal, wherein a period of said second reference signal is a function of the temperature of said IC and the magnitude of said power supply signal; and controller means for receiving said first and second reference signals and for controlling the magnitude of said power supply signal so as to maintain a constant phase difference between said first and second reference signals, wherein said first oscillator comprises gate means internal to said IC having an input and an output and delay means external to said IC for connecting said input to said output. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification