摘要:
A clock signal distribution system is disclosed for providing synchronous clock signals to a plurality of electronic circuit devices. The system includes a clock signal generator means for providing a single frequency sinusoidal clock signal output and a plurality of electronic circuit devices. A clock signal distribution network including interconnected resonant segments of a transmission line 13 connected to the clock signal of the clock signal generator and to the plurality of electronic circuit devices for providing separate synchronous, phase aligned clock signals to the electronic circuit devices. The transmission line segments have lengths matched to the clock signal frequency wavelengths to eliminate clock signal distribution problems such as skew, jitter and pulse distortions.
摘要:
A method and apparatus are disclosed for initiating a start-up operation of a system (1′) having a master device (1) and a slave device (14a-14n). The method comprises steps of: A) exercising the slave device (14a-14n) using the master device (1) to determine a temporal range within which temporal relationships of electrical signals need to be set in order to operate the system (1′) without error; B) setting the temporal relationships of the electrical signals so as to be within the determined temporal range; and C) storing a record of the determined temporal range, for subsequent use in operating the system (1′). In one embodiment of the invention, the system (1′) includes a memory control system of a computer system (1″), and the slave device (14a-14n) includes memory devices of the computer system (1″). The method of the invention substantially compensates for any differences in times of arrival for data being transferred from the master device (1) to the slave device (14a-14n), and vice versa, and thus minimizes the possibility of read/write errors being encountered, while increasing the overall processing speed and efficiency of the system (1′).
摘要:
A structure is described having a plurality of electronic devices with the same or different internal CMOS voltages; an interconnection between two or more of the electronic devices; driver and receiver circuits which provide selectable input/output voltage levels for interfacing with several generations of CMOS technology, thus allowing chips fabricated in such technologies to communicate using a signal voltage range most suitable for each chip; Circuitry for selecting or adjusting the type of receiver circuit used, thus allowing either the use of a differential comparator circuit with an externally supplied reference voltage, or alternatively, the use of an inverter style receiver with an adjustable threshold, the selection being accomplished by setting the external reference to a predetermined voltage; Circuitry for selecting or adjusting the switching threshold of the inverter receiver circuit, which enables the threshold to be set appropriately for a given input signal voltage range.
摘要:
An electronic apparatus is disclosed having: a plurality of electronic devices with the same or different internal voltages; an interconnection between two or more of the plurality of electronic devices; each of said two or more electronic devices has an internal voltage; driver and receiver circuits which send and receive signals at a selectable communication voltage levels for interfacing between said two or more electronic devices, at a common communication voltage which is less than the highest value of said internal voltages of said two or more electronic devices; a circuit for configuring the driver and receiver circuits; and the driver circuit are configured to have a substantially constant output impedance independent of their output voltage.
摘要:
A first circuit and a second circuit are connected by a pumped signal line that conducts a signal having a plurality of states. A dynamic termination circuit is connected to the pumped signal line. The dynamic termination circuit includes a switch responsive to the signal conducted by the pumped signal line such that the dynamic termination circuit is enabled only in response to certain of the plurality of states of the signal. In one embodiment, the switch is a first transistor that is coupled in series with a first impedance between a first reference voltage and an intermediate node. In this embodiment, the dynamic termination circuit further includes a second transistor coupled in series with a second impedance between a second reference voltage and the intermediate node and only first and second inverters that are each coupled between the intermediate node and the control input of a respective one of the first transistor and the second transistor.
摘要:
A method for performing memory diagnostics using a programmable diagnostic memory module provides enhanced testability of memory controller and memory subsystem design. The programmable diagnostic memory module includes an interface for communicating with an external diagnostic system, and the interface is used to transfer commands to the memory module to alter various behaviors of the memory module. The altered behaviors may be changing data streams that are written to the memory module to simulate errors, altering the timing and/or loading of the memory module signals, downloading programs for execution by a processor core within the memory module, changing driver strengths of output signals of the memory module, and manipulating in an analog domain, signals at terminals of the memory module such as injecting noise on power supply connections to the memory module. The memory module may emulate multiple selectable memory module types, and may include a complete storage array to provide standard memory module operation.
摘要:
A first clock signal of frequency F is used to couple data to an off-chip driver (OCD) using a master/slave flip flop (FF), wherein the master latch is clocked with the first clock signal and the slave latch is clocked with the complement of the first clock signal. A second clock signal of frequency F/2 is generated from the first clock signal. The second clock signal is shifted a time equal to substantially one-half the cycle of the first clock signal. In one embodiment, the second clock is shifted using a delay line circuit. In another embodiment, the second clock is shifted using a master/slave FF, wherein the master latch is clocked with the complement of the first clock signal and the slave latch is clocked with the first clock signal. The logic state transitions of the data between edges of the propagating clock thereby reducing coupling to the clock transitions and thus reducing edge jitter.
摘要:
A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing a set of signal paths for a chip. A defective signal path within the set of signal paths for the chip is detected. Signals are re-routed through the set of signal paths such that the defective signal path is removed from the set of signal paths and sending signals using remaining data signal paths in the set of signal paths and using an extra signal path in response to detecting the defective signal path.
摘要:
A method for receiving data by an integrated circuitry chip includes receiving data signals and a first clock signal sent by a sending chip. The data signals are received by data receivers and the clock signal is received by at least one clock receiver of the receiving chip. A reference voltage is derived by reference voltage circuitry for the receiving chip responsive to the first clock signal. Logical states of the received data signals are detected. The detecting includes the data receivers comparing voltage levels of the received data signals to the derived reference voltage.
摘要:
An apparatus for connecting circuit modules is disclosed. The apparatus for connecting circuit modules that receives an input and an output signal at one circuit module and uses a transmitter/receiver to transmit data to and receive data from the second circuit module. Each transmitter/receiver is selectable between a bidirectional mode that transmits and simultaneously receives via two transmission lines, and a unidirectional mode that transmits on a first transmission line and receives from a second transmission line.