Synchronizing global clocks in 3D stacks of integrated circuits by shorting the clock network
First Claim
1. A clock distribution network for synchronizing global clock signals within a 3D chip stack having two or more strata, the clock distribution network comprising:
- on each of the two or more strata,a clock grid having a plurality of sectors for providing the global clock signals to various chip locations;
a multiple-level buffered clock tree for driving the clock grid and including at least a root and a plurality of clock buffers; and
one or more multiplexers for providing the global clock signals to at least a portion of the buffered clock tree;
wherein inputs of at least some of the plurality of clock buffers on each of the two or more strata are shorted together using chip-to-chip interconnects to reduce skewing of the global clock signals with respect to the various chip locations.
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Abstract
There is provided a clock distribution network for synchronizing global clock signals within a 3D chip stack having two or more strata. On each of the two or more strata, the clock distribution network includes a clock grid having a plurality of sectors for providing the global clock signals to various chip locations, a multiple-level buffered clock tree for driving the clock grid and including at least a root and a plurality of clock buffers, and one or more multiplexers for providing the global clock signals to at least a portion of the buffered clock tree. Inputs of at least some of the plurality of clock buffers on each of the two or more strata are shorted together using chip-to-chip interconnects to reduce skewing of the global clock signals with respect to the various chip locations.
67 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A clock distribution network for synchronizing global clock signals within a 3D chip stack having two or more strata, the clock distribution network comprising:
on each of the two or more strata, a clock grid having a plurality of sectors for providing the global clock signals to various chip locations; a multiple-level buffered clock tree for driving the clock grid and including at least a root and a plurality of clock buffers; and one or more multiplexers for providing the global clock signals to at least a portion of the buffered clock tree; wherein inputs of at least some of the plurality of clock buffers on each of the two or more strata are shorted together using chip-to-chip interconnects to reduce skewing of the global clock signals with respect to the various chip locations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for synchronizing global clock signals within a 3D chip stack having two or more strata, the method comprising:
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providing on each of the two or more strata, a clock grid having a plurality of sectors for providing the global clock signals to various chip locations; a multiple-level buffered clock tree for driving the clock grid and including at least a root and a plurality of clock buffers; and one or more multiplexers for providing the global clock signals to at least a portion of the buffered clock tree; shorting together inputs of at least some of the plurality of clock buffers on each of the two or more strata using chip-to-chip interconnects to reduce skewing of the global clock signals with respect to the various chip locations. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A clock distribution network for synchronizing global clock signals within a 3D chip stack having two or more strata including a master stratum and non-master strata, the clock distribution network comprising:
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on each of the two or more strata, a clock grid having a plurality of sectors for providing the global clock signals to various chip locations; a multiple-level buffered clock tree having a plurality of sector clock buffers for driving the plurality of sectors, a plurality of relay clock buffers for distributing the global clock signals to the plurality of sector clock buffers, and one or more multiplexers for providing the global clock signals to at least a portion of the buffered clock tree; and wherein the one or more multiplexers on the master stratum drive the one or more multiplexers on all of the non-master strata. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for synchronizing global clock signals within a 3D chip stack having two or more strata, the method comprising:
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providing on each of the two or more strata, a clock grid having a plurality of sectors for providing the global clock signals to various chip locations; a multiple-level buffered clock tree having a plurality of sector clock buffers for driving the plurality of sectors, a plurality of relay clock buffers for distributing the global clock signals to the plurality of sector clock buffers, and one or more multiplexers for providing the global clock signals to at least a portion of the buffered clock tree; and driving the one or more multiplexers on all of the non-master strata using the one or more multiplexers on the master stratum. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification