公开(公告)号：US20160124045A1

公开(公告)日：2016-05-05

申请号：US14531512

申请日：2014-11-03

Applicant: ARM LIMITED

Inventor： Ramesh MANOHAR ,  James Dennis Dodrill

IPC: G01R31/3183 ,  H03K3/03

CPC classification number: G01R31/318328 ,  H03K3/0315

Abstract: A measurement circuit and method is provided for generating an oscillating output signal used to derive timing information. The measurement circuit includes a ring oscillator having a plurality of unit cells, where each unit cell comprises at least a storage element whose output signal is used to determine a clock input signal for an adjacent unit cell within the ring oscillator. Control circuitry performs a control operation to control either a set function or a reset function of the storage element in each of the unit cells, in dependence on set or reset signals input to the control circuitry. Oscillation initiation circuitry is used to assert a clock input signal to the storage element in a first unit cell in order to initiate generation of the oscillating output signal, and the control circuitry then performs the control operation in order to control a value of the output signal of the storage element in each unit cell so as to cause the oscillating output signal to be maintained. Such an approach provides a particularly simple and efficient mechanism for deriving timing information for various circuit blocks that include a storage element.

Abstract translation: 提供了一种用于产生用于导出定时信息的振荡输出信号的测量电路和方法。 测量电路包括具有多个单位单元的环形振荡器，其中每个单位单元至少包括存储元件，其输出信号用于确定环形振荡器内相邻单元的时钟输入信号。 控制电路执行控制操作，以根据输入到控制电路的设置或复位信号来控制每个单位单元中的存储元件的设定功能或复位功能。 振荡启动电路用于将时钟输入信号断言到第一单元中的存储元件，以便产生振荡输出信号，然后控制电路执行控制操作，以便控制输出信号的值 的每个单位单元中的存储元件，以便保持振荡输出信号。 这种方法提供了一种用于导出包括存储元件的各种电路块的定时信息的特别简单和有效的机制。