Signal distribution to a plurality of circuit units

• US 7,236,378 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2002
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Polaris Innovations Limited (Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Kuzmenka, Maksim
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai; Anh
• Application Number:
  US10/295,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20030099093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,684 Days
• Field of Search: 336/223, 336/180, 336/211, 336/69, 336/212, 365/226, 307/11, 307/17, 307/151, 307/29, 363/31, 363/49, 363/21.15, 363/21.12, 363170-171, 363/173, 323/355
• US Class Current: 363/21.12
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/10 Distribution of clock signals , e.g. skew
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 8/00 Arrangements for selecting an address in a digital store for stores using transistors G11C11/407, G11C11/413
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/06 using a reference signal applied to a frequency- or phase-locked loop
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0298 Multilayer circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/165 incorporating printed inductors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/086 for inductive purposes, e.g. printed inductor with ferrite core
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/0545 Pattern for applying drops or paste; Applying a pattern made of drops or paste using thick film techniques to apply conductive material by using a substrate with a shape pattern H05K3/1258

Abstract

A device for distributing a signal, in particular a clock signal or a command/address signal from a signal source to a plurality of circuit units, includes a transformer. The transformer has a primary winding receiving the signal from the signal source. Further, the transformer includes a plurality of secondary windings, which are arranged to interact with the primary winding to transfer the signal to the circuit units.

Claims

1. A device for distributing a clock signal from a signal source to a plurality of circuit units, comprising:

a transformer, said transformer including;

a primary winding receiving the clock signal from the signal source; and

a plurality of secondary windings arranged to interact with said primary winding to transmit the clock signal to the circuit units;

said plurality of secondary windings including a first secondary winding having a first terminal and a second terminal, and a second secondary winding having a first terminal and a second terminal, clock signal inputs of a first one of the circuit units being connected to said first terminal and said second terminal of said first secondary winding and clock signal inputs of a second one of the circuit units being connected to said first terminal and said second terminal of said second secondary winding.

2. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein a capacitor is connected in parallel to said primary winding.

3. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the signal source is a clock-signal source including a phase-locked loop, and a further secondary winding is provided, which interacts with said primary winding to generate a feedback signal to the phase-locked loop.

4. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said primary winding and said secondary winding are formed by conductive traces of a printed circuit.

5. The device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the printed circuit includes a magnetic core for improving the magnetic coupling between said primary winding and said secondary windings.

6. The device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the printed circuit includes several layers, and said primary windings and said secondary winding are arranged on the same layer or adjacent layers.

7. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein each secondary winding is connected to one of the circuit units via connection lines, and the arrangement of secondary winding and connection line for each circuit units includes an essentially identical topology.

8. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the circuit units are memory chips.

9. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the signal source is a clock-signal source or a command/address signal source.

10. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said primary winding is arranged on a board and the said secondary windings are arranged on the circuit units.

11. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least a portion of each of said secondary windings is arranged opposite to a portion of said primary winding.

12. A device for distributing an information signal from a signal source to a plurality of circuit units, comprising:

a transformer, said transformer including;

a primary winding receiving the information signal from the signal source; and

a plurality of secondary windings arranged to interact with said primary winding to transmit the information signal to the circuit units,

said plurality of secondary windings including a first secondary winding having a first terminal and a second terminal, a second secondary winding having a first terminal and a second terminal, information signal inputs of a first one of the circuit units being connected to said first terminal and said second terminal of said first secondary winding and information signal inputs of a second one of the circuit units being connected to said first terminal and said second terminal of said second secondary winding.

13. The device in accordance with claim 12, wherein the information signal is a command signal or an address signal.

14. The device in accordance with claim 12, wherein the circuit units are memory chips.