Highly configurable PLL architecture for programmable logic

• US 7,276,943 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2006
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Altera Corporation (Intel Corporation)
• Inventors: Chang, Wanli, Smith, Mian Z., Starr, Gregory W., Chang, Richard, Lai, Kang Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LINH M
• Application Number:
  US11/486,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20060250168A1
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 327/147, 327/149, 327/150, 327152-159, 327161-163, 331/17, 331/25, 331/DIG.2, 375373-376
• US Class Current: 327/147
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/081 provided with an additional controlled phase shifter H03L7/0998 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/0996 Selecting a signal among the plurality of phase-shifted signals produced by the ring oscillator
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/18 using a frequency divider or counter in the loop H03L7/20, H03L7/22 take precedence

Abstract

A programmable logic device includes configurable phase-locked loop (PLL) circuitry that outputs multiple clock signals having programmable phases and frequencies. Each output signal is programmably selectable for use as an external clock, internal global clock, internal local clock, or combinations thereof. The PLL circuitry has programmable frequency dividing, including programmable cascaded frequency dividing, and programmable output signal multiplexing that provide a high degree of clock design flexibility.

Claims

1. A circuit for producing clock signals, the circuit comprising:

a first multiplexer for selecting a reference signal from a plurality of input signals;

a PLL circuit for receiving the reference signal and producing a plurality of phase-shifted signals, wherein the phase-shifted signals have the same frequency and different phases, and wherein the PLL circuit comprises a second multiplexer for selecting a feedback signal from the plurality of phase-shifted signals;

a first divider circuit for dividing the frequencies of at least two of the phase-shifted signals to produce a plurality of output clock signals; and

a third multiplexer for selecting one of the output clock signals.

2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the PLL circuit further comprises:

a phase/frequency detector circuit for receiving first and second input signals and producing a control signal based on the phase relationship between the first and second input signals;

a voltage-controlled oscillator circuit for receiving the control signal and adjusting the frequency of the plurality of phase-shifted signals based on the control signal; and

second and third divider circuits for producing the first and second input signals by dividing the frequencies of the reference signal and the feedback signal;

whereby the phase detector circuit adjusts the control signal applied to the voltage-controlled oscillator circuit until the first and second input signals are in phase.

3. The circuit of claim 2, wherein the control signal is adjusted to increase the frequency of the plurality of phase-shifted signals when the phase of the first input signal leads the phase of the second input signal and the control signal is adjusted to decrease the frequency of the plurality of phase-shifted signals when the phase of the first input signal lags the phase of the second input signal.

4. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the first divider circuit is programmable to adjust the factors by which the frequencies of the phase-shifted signals are divided.

5. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input signals are synchronized with an enable signal.

6. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the selected output clock signal is coupled to an output pin for use as an off-chip clock signal, a global clock network for use as an on-chip global clock signal, or a clock network for use as an on-chip local clock signal.

7. A method for producing clock signals, the method comprising:

selecting a reference signal from a plurality of input signals;

producing a plurality of phase-shifted signals, wherein the phase-shifted signals have the same frequency and different phases and producing the plurality of phase-shifted signals comprises selecting a feedback signal from the plurality of phase-shifted signals;

dividing the frequencies of at least two of the phase-shifted signals to produce a plurality of output clock signals; and

selecting one of the output clock signals.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein producing the plurality of phase-shifted signals further comprises:

producing a control signal based on the phase relationship between first and second input signals;

adjusting the frequency of the plurality of phase-shifted signals based on the control signal;

producing the first and second input signals by dividing the frequencies of the reference signal and the feedback signal; and

adjusting the control signal until the first and second input signals are in phase.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the control signal is adjusted to increase the frequency of the plurality of phase-shifted signals when the phase of the first input signal leads the phase of the second input signal and the control signal is adjusted to decrease the frequency of the plurality of phase-shifted signals when the phase of the first input signal lags the phase of the second input signal.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the frequency of each phase-shifted signal is divided by a programmably-controlled factor.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of input signals are synchronized with an enable signal.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the selected output clock signal is coupled to an output pin for use as an off-chip clock signal, a global clock network for use as an on-chip global clock signal, or a clock network for use as an on-chip local clock signal.

13. A circuit for synchronously providing a reference signal to a PLL circuit that is enabled by a PLL enable signal comprising:

a multiplexer for selecting a reference signal from a plurality of clock signals;

a latch for receiving the PLL enable signal and outputting the current value of the PLL enable signal at an edge of the reference signal opposite to the edge of the reference signal to which the PLL circuit is aligned; and

an AND gate for providing the reference signal to the PLL circuit when the output of the latch is high;

whereby upon enabling the PLL circuit, the PLL circuit receives the reference signal before the PLL circuit latches on to the reference signal.

14. The circuit of claim 13, wherein the latch is falling-edge aligned and the PLL circuit is rising-edge aligned.

15. The circuit of claim 13, wherein the latch is rising-edge aligned and the PLL circuit is falling-edge aligned.

16. The circuit of claim 13, wherein one of the plurality of clock signals is a core input signal that originates from an on-chip clock pin or is generated by another on-chip PLL circuit.

17. The circuit of claim 13, further comprising a switchover circuit that receives the reference signal and a second synchronized clock signal for dynamically providing either the reference signal or the second synchronized clock signal to the PLL circuit.

18. The circuit of claim 17, wherein the switchover circuit provides the second synchronized clock signal to the PLL circuit when the reference signal stops running.

19. The circuit of claim 18, wherein the reference clock signal and the second synchronized clock signal are redundant signals.

20. The circuit of claim 17, wherein the switchover circuit provides the second synchronized clock signal to the PLL circuit in response to receiving a user input.