Mesh-based clock distribution for low power and high speed synchronized applications

• US 10,444,786 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2018
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MediaTek Singapore Pte. Ltd. (MediaTek, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MediaTek Singapore Pte. Ltd. (MediaTek, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ou, Shih-Kuang
• Primary Examiner(s): Tan, Vibol
• Application Number:
  US16/151,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20190235568A1
• Time in Patent Office: 377 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/10 Distribution of clock signals , e.g. skew
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/12 Synchronisation of different clock signals provided by a plurality of clock generators
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/005 with several inputs only
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/693 Switching arrangements with several input- or output-terminals, e.g. multiplexers, distributors logic circuits H03K19/00; code converters H03M5/00, H03M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/017509 Interface arrangements

Abstract

A sectioned mesh which includes multiple sections to distribute a clock signal to logic gates. Each section includes interconnected wires operable to deliver the clock signal to the logic gates. The interconnected wires in a same section are shorted together and the interconnected wires in different sections are not shorted. The sectioned mesh also includes clock input structure connecting to one or more contact points in an input section of the sectioned mesh. The sectioned mesh also includes multiple groups of repeater drivers to repower the clock signal. Different groups are in different sections, and each group in a respective section receives the clock signal from a neighboring section.

Claims

1. A sectioned mesh for distributing a clock signal, comprising:

a plurality of sections, each section including interconnected wires forming a mesh structure and operable to deliver the clock signal to logic gates, wherein the interconnected wires in each section are shorted together and the interconnected wires in different sections are not shorted;

a clock input structure connecting to one or more contact points in an input section of the sectioned mesh; and

a plurality of groups of repeater drivers to repower the clock signal,

wherein each group of repeater drivers marks a boundary of a corresponding section to receive and repower the clock signal from a neighboring section.

2. The sectioned mesh of claim 1, wherein the sections extend from both sides of the input section in a horizontal direction and the repeater drivers in each section are aligned in a vertical direction.

3. The sectioned mesh of claim 1, wherein the sections extend from both sides of the input section in a vertical direction and the repeater drivers in each section are aligned in a horizontal direction.

4. The sectioned mesh of claim 1, wherein the sections extend from only one side of the input section in a horizontal direction and the repeater drivers in each section are aligned in a vertical direction.

5. The sectioned mesh of claim 1, wherein the sections extend from only one side of the input section in a vertical direction and the repeater drivers in each section are aligned in a horizontal direction.

6. The sectioned mesh of claim 1, wherein the sections extend from perimeters of the input section radially outwards, and the repeater drivers in an outer section surround the perimeters of an inner section.

7. The sectioned mesh of claim 1, wherein the clock input structure is a tree structure that has equal distance from a tree root to each of tree leaves, wherein each tree leaf delivers the clock signal to one of the contact points.

8. The sectioned mesh of claim 1, wherein each group of repeater drivers form a barrier between two different sections to repower the clock signal passing from one section to another section.

9. The sectioned mesh of claim 1, further comprising leaf drivers to deliver the clock signal from the interconnected wires to the logic gates, wherein the leaf drivers connected to a same section have a substantially zero clock skew.

10. The sectioned mesh of claim 1, wherein clock skew between the different sections is proportional to a distance across the different sections.

11. A method for distributing a clock signal by a sectioned mesh, comprising:

receiving the clock signal from a clock input structure at one or more contact points in an input section of the sectioned mesh, wherein the sectioned mesh is partitioned into the input section and a plurality of sections, each section including a corresponding one of a plurality of groups of repeater drivers which marks a boundary of the section; and

at each group of repeater drivers, receiving the clock signal from a neighboring section to repower the clock signal;

wherein each section includes interconnected wires which form a mesh structure and are operable to deliver the clock signal to logic gates,

wherein the interconnected wires in each section are shorted together and the interconnected wires in different sections are not shorted.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sections extend from both sides of the input section in a horizontal direction and the repeater drivers in each section are aligned in a vertical direction.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the sections extend from both sides of the input section in a vertical direction and the repeater drivers in each section are aligned in a horizontal direction.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the sections extend from only one side of the input section in a horizontal direction and the repeater drivers in each section are aligned in a vertical direction.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the sections extend from only one side of the input section in a vertical direction and the repeater drivers in each section are aligned in a horizontal direction.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the sections extend from perimeters of the input section radially outwards, and the repeater drivers in an outer section surround the perimeters of an inner section.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the clock input structure is a tree structure that has equal distance from a tree root to each of tree leaves, wherein each tree leaf delivers the clock signal to one of the contact points.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein each group of repeater drivers form a barrier between two different sections to repower the clock signal passing from one section to another section.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein two points in a same section have a substantially zero clock skew.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein clock skew between the different sections is proportional to a distance across the different sections.