IP Library Granted Patent US 6,859,404
Granted Patent B1
US 6,859,404 · App. 10/883,099 · Granted Feb 22, 2005

Apparatus and method of compensating for phase delay in semiconductor device

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,859,404
App. No.
10/883,099
Granted
Feb 22, 2005
Kind
B1
Abstract

An apparatus for minimizing a skew occurring due to a change of data pattern by previously recognizing data pattern before data is outputted from the semiconductor device. The apparatus of compensating for a phase delay in a semiconductor device having a delay locked loop (DLL) for generating DLL clock includes: a data pattern detection block for detecting patterns of data loaded on data line and determining delay compensation amount of the data inputted to data output driver based on the detected data patterns; and a delay compensation block for compensating for phase delay of clock relating to the DLL clock inputted to the data output driver under a control of an output signal of the data pattern detection block.

Claims (30)

1. An apparatus of compensating for a phase delay in a semiconductor memory device having a delay locked loop (DLL) for generating DLL clock, the semiconductor memory device comprising:

a data pattern detection block for detecting patterns of data loaded on a data line and determining a delay compensation amount of the data inputted to a data output driver based on the detected data patterns; and

a delay compensation block for compensating for phase delay of clock relating to the DLL clock inputted to the data output driver under a control of an output signal of the data pattern detection block.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the data pattern detection block includes:

a storage means for storing the delay compensation amount based on the data patterns; and

an interface means for connecting the storage means to peripheral circuits.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 , wherein the storage means includes:

a decoder for decoding the data patterns; and

a storage device for receiving an output of the decoder and outputting the delay compensation amount required in the data pattern.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 , wherein unit storage cell for delay compensation use within the storage device is controlled by the output of the decoder and outputs a first logic level in a turned-on state.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 , wherein the interface means includes:

a front trigger unit for receiving data loaded on the data line;

an end trigger unit for processing an output of the storage means; and

a clock generator for generating a clock that controls the front trigger unit and the end trigger unit.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein the front trigger unit includes individual front triggers, each individual front trigger including:

a first transmission gate for alternately transferring an odd data of the data line in response to edges of the clocks generated from the clock generator;

a second transmission gate for alternately transferring an even data of the data line in response to edges of the clocks generated from the clock generator; and

a latch for temporarily storing the odd and even data.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein the end trigger unit includes individual end triggers, each individual end trigger including:

a transmission gate for transferring the delay compensation amount in response to the clocks outputted from the clock generator; and

a latch for temporarily storing an output of the transmission gate.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the delay compensation block controls a transmission speed of the data signal that is outputted to the data output driver in response to the output of the data pattern detection block.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the delay compensation block includes a driver for transferring the data signal and a current source transistor connected to the driver, the delay compensation block adjusting an amount of current transferred to the driver by controlling the size of the current source transistor in response to the output of the data pattern detection block.

10. A method of compensating for a phase delay in a semiconductor memory device having a delay locked loop (DLL) for generating DLL clock, the method comprising the steps of:

a) detecting patterns of data loaded on a data line and determining a delay compensation amount of the data inputted to a data output driver based on the detected data patterns; and

b) compensating for phase delay of clock relating to the DLL clock inputted to the data output driver based on the delay compensation amount.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the step a) includes the steps of:

decoding the data pattern; and

outputting the delay compensation amount required in the data pattern.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the step b) controls a transmission speed of the data signal outputted to the data output driver in response to the delay compensation amount.

Assignments (11)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 28, 2023
From: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
To: MOSAID TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 064742/0988 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2020
From: CPPIB CREDIT INVESTMENTS INC.
To: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 054371/0884 →
RELEASE OF U.S. PATENT AGREEMENT (FOR NON-U.S. GRANTORS) Recorded Oct 12, 2018
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS LENDER
To: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 047645/0424 →
AMENDED AND RESTATED U.S. PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (FOR NON-U.S. GRANTORS) Recorded Aug 22, 2018
From: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
To: CPPIB CREDIT INVESTMENTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 046900/0136 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2015
From: CONVERSANT IP N.B. 868 INC.
To: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 036159/0386 →
U.S. PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (FOR NON-U.S. GRANTORS) Recorded Sep 9, 2014
From: CONVERSANT IP N.B. 868 INC.
To: CPPIB CREDIT INVESTMENTS INC., AS LENDER; ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS LENDER
Reel/Frame 033707/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 7, 2014
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.; CONVERSANT IP N.B. 868 INC.; CONVERSANT IP N.B. 276 INC.
Reel/Frame 033484/0344 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 13, 2014
From: 658868 N.B. INC.
To: CONVERSANT IP N.B. 868 INC.
Reel/Frame 032439/0547 →
U.S. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT (FOR NON-U.S. GRANTORS) - SHORT FORM Recorded Jan 10, 2012
From: 658276 N.B. LTD.; 658868 N.B. INC.; MOSAID TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 027512/0196 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 16, 2011
From: HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
To: 658868 N.B. INC.
Reel/Frame 027233/0886 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2004
From: KIM, KYUNG-HOON
To: HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
Reel/Frame 015548/0828 →