Advanced repeater with duty cycle adjustment

• US 7,705,633 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2008
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Funding LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Funding LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Pitkethly, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang; Daniel D
• Application Number:
  US12/181,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20090045846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 326/83, 326/85, 326/86, 326/87, 326/91, 326/27, 326/29, 327/175, 327/178
• US Class Current: 326/87
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/01721 by means of a pull-up or down element
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 5/1565 the output pulses having a constant duty cycle

Abstract

An advanced repeater with duty cycle adjustment. In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, an advanced repeater includes an output stage for driving an output signal line responsive to an input signal and a plurality of active devices for selectably adjusting a duty cycle of the signal. The advanced repeater may further include circuitry for producing a delayed version of the signal.

Claims

1. A circuit for driving an output signal line, comprising:

duty cycle adjusting circuitry for adjusting a duty cycle of an output signal that is associated with an input signal; and

output level driving circuitry coupled to said duty cycle adjusting circuitry for driving an output level that corresponds to a transition of said input signal, wherein said driving is terminated prior to a transition of an input signal subsequent to said transition of said input signal.

2. The circuit of claim 1 further comprising circuitry for producing a delayed version of said input signal.

3. The circuit of claim 2 wherein said delayed version of said input signal is for changing a drive level of an output terminal of said output circuitry.

4. The circuit of claim 1 further comprising:

input circuitry for receiving said input signal; and

output circuitry for outputting said output signal, wherein a delayed version of said input signal is coupled to an input terminal of said input circuitry.

5. The circuit of claim 1 wherein a first drive level and a second drive level is used to drive an output terminal of said output circuitry wherein said second drive level is substantially weaker than said first drive level.

6. The circuit of claim 1 wherein said output signal is inverted relative to said input signal.

7. The circuit of claim 1 wherein said input signal is a microprocessor clock signal.

8. A circuit for driving an output signal line, comprising:

input circuitry for receiving an input signal;

duty cycle adjusting circuitry coupled to said input circuitry for adjusting a duty cycle of an output signal that is associated with said input signal;

output level driving circuitry coupled to said input circuitry for driving an output level that corresponds to a transition of said input signal, wherein said driving is terminated prior to a subsequent transition of said input signal, and

output circuitry for outputting said output signal, wherein a delayed version of said input signal is coupled to an output terminal of said output circuitry.

9. The circuit of claim 8 further comprising circuitry for producing a delayed version of said input signal.

10. The circuit of claim 9 wherein said delayed version of said input signal is for changing a drive level of an output terminal of said output circuitry.

11. The circuit of claim 8 wherein a first drive level and a second drive level is used to drive an output terminal of said output circuitry wherein said second drive level is substantially weaker than said first drive level.

12. The circuit of claim 8 wherein said output signal is inverted relative to said input signal.

13. The circuit of claim 8 wherein said input signal is a microprocessor clock signal.

14. An integrated circuit, comprising:

input circuitry;

internal circuitry coupled to said input circuitry comprising signal lines an at least one circuit for driving an output signal line, comprising;

duty cycle adjusting circuitry for adjusting a duty cycle of an output signal that is associated with an input signal; and

output level driving circuitry coupled to said duty cycle adjusting circuitry for driving an output level that corresponds to a transition of said input signal, wherein said driving is terminated prior to a subsequent transition of said input signal, and

output circuitry.

15. The circuit of claim 14 further comprising circuitry for producing a delayed version of said input signal.

16. The circuit of claim 15 wherein said delayed version of said input signal is for changing a drive level of an output terminal of said output circuitry.

17. The circuit of claim 14 further comprising:

input circuitry for receiving said input signal; and

output circuitry for outputting said output signal, wherein a delayed version of said input signal is coupled to an input terminal of said input circuitry.

18. The circuit of claim 14 wherein a first drive level and a second drive level is used to drive an output terminal of said output circuitry wherein said second drive level is substantially weaker than said first drive level.

19. The circuit of claim 14 wherein said output signal is inverted relative to said input signal.

20. The circuit of claim 14 wherein said input signal is a microprocessor clock signal.