Resonant inductor coupling clock distribution

• US 9,264,046 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2015
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chang, David, Hukkoo, Ajat
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DON P
• Application Number:
  US14/626,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20150162914A1
• Time in Patent Office: 362 Days
• Field of Search: 326 38- 41, 326/46, 326/93
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/10 Distribution of clock signals , e.g. skew
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/096 Synchronous circuits, i.e. using clock signals H03K19/01728, H03K19/01855 take precedence

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for a clock distribution network for distributing clocking signals within a synchronous sequential logic circuit. The clock distribution network distributes the one or more clock signals by inductively and/or capacitively coupling a clocking signal from a primary distribution node to various secondary distribution nodes within the synchronous sequential logic circuit. The various secondary distribution nodes resonate at respective resonant frequencies to generate other clocking signals for use within the synchronous sequential logic circuit in response to receiving the clocking signal.

Claims

1. A clock distribution system, comprising:

a clock generator configured to provide a reference clock; and

a clock distribution network having a primary distribution node and a secondary distribution node, the primary distribution node being configured to couple the reference clock to the secondary distribution node, the secondary distribution node being configured to resonate at a resonant frequency in response to receiving the reference clock to provide a plurality of clocking signals.

2. The clock distribution system of claim 1, further comprising:

a sequential logic module configured to sequentially process an input signal in accordance with the plurality of clocking signals to provide an output signal.

3. The clock distribution system of claim 2, wherein the sequential logic module comprises:

a plurality of digital logic components configured to be triggered by the plurality of clocking signals to sequentially operate upon the input signal to provide the output signal.

4. The clock distribution system of claim 1, wherein the primary distribution node is configured to inductively couple the reference clock to the secondary distribution node.

5. The clock distribution system of claim 1, wherein the primary distribution node is configured to capacitively couple the reference clock to the secondary distribution node.

6. The clock distribution system of claim 1, wherein the secondary distribution node comprises:

a resonant tuning circuit configured to oscillate at the resonant frequency in response to the secondary distribution node receiving the reference clock to provide at least one of the plurality of clocking signals.

7. The clock distribution system of claim 6, wherein the resonant tuning circuit comprises:

an inductance configured to receive the reference clock from the primary distribution node; and

a capacitance configured to be charged in response to the inductance receiving the reference clock.

8. The clock distribution system of claim 7, wherein the resonant tuning circuit is further configured to oscillate at the resonant frequency once the capacitance is charged.

9. A clock distribution system, comprising:

a clock generator configured to provide a reference clock; and

a clock distribution network having a primary distribution node and a secondary distribution node, the primary distribution node being configured to couple the reference clock to the secondary distribution node, the secondary distribution node comprising;

an inductance configured to inductively-receive the reference clock from the primary distribution node, and

a capacitance configured to be charged in response to the inductance receiving the reference clock,

wherein the inductance and the capacitance are configured to form a resonant tuning circuit that is configured to oscillate at a resonant frequency in response to the secondary distribution node receiving the reference clock to provide a clocking signal.

10. The clock distribution system of claim 9, wherein the resonant frequency is different from a frequency of the reference clock.

11. The clock distribution system of claim 9, wherein the secondary distribution node further comprises:

a second inductance configured to inductively receive the reference clock from the primary distribution node, and

a second capacitance configured to be charged in response to the second inductance receiving the reference clock,

wherein the second inductance and the second capacitance are configured to form a second resonant tuning circuit that is configured to oscillate at a second resonant frequency in response to the secondary distribution node receiving the reference clock to provide a second clocking signal.

12. The clock distribution system of claim 11, wherein the second resonant frequency is different from the resonant frequency.

13. The clock distribution system of claim 9, wherein the primary distribution node is configured to inductively couple the reference clock to the secondary distribution node.

14. The clock distribution system of claim 9, wherein the primary distribution node is configured to couple the reference clock to the secondary distribution node via mutual inductance between the primary distribution node and the secondary distribution node.

15. A clock distribution system, comprising:

a clock generator configured to provide a reference clock; and

a clock distribution network having a primary distribution node and a secondary distribution node, the primary distribution node being configured to couple the reference clock to the secondary distribution node, the secondary distribution node comprising;

a capacitance configured to capacitively receive the reference clock from an electric field provided by the primary distribution node, and

an inductance configured to be charged in response to the capacitance capacitively receiving the reference clock,

wherein the inductance and the capacitance are configured to form a resonant tuning circuit that is configured to oscillate at a resonant frequency in response to the secondary distribution node receiving the reference clock to provide a clocking signal.

16. The clock distribution system of claim 15, wherein the resonant frequency is different from a frequency of the reference clock.

17. The clock distribution system of claim 15, wherein the secondary distribution node further comprises:

a second capacitance configured to capacitively receive the reference clock from the primary distribution node, and

a second inductance configured to be charged in response to the second capacitance capacitively receiving the reference clock,

wherein the second capacitance and the second inductance are configured to form a second resonant tuning circuit that is configured to oscillate at a second resonant frequency in response to the secondary distribution node receiving the reference clock to provide a second clocking signal.

18. The clock distribution system of claim 17, wherein the second resonant frequency is different from the resonant frequency.

19. The clock distribution system of claim 15, wherein the resonant tuning circuit is further configured to oscillate at the resonant frequency once the inductance is charged.

20. The clock distribution system of claim 15, wherein the primary distribution node is configured to capacitively couple the reference clock to the secondary distribution node.