Electronic circuitry
A clock distribution system that includes a length of two-conductor transmission line driven differentially at one end and terminated at the other end, a plurality of regeneration devices, and a plurality of regeneration device pairs. The two-conductor transmission line is arranged in a serpentine configuration with a number of locations at which portions of the transmission line come physically close to each other. The regeneration devices are located at various spaced-apart positions on the transmission line and operate to provide energy to a wave traveling on the transmission line. Each of the regeneration device pairs is connected between the transmission line portions that are physically close to each other so as to cause a traveling wave on adjacent portions of the line to have opposite phases.
1. A clock distribution system comprising:
a continuous length of two-conductor transmission line arranged in a serpentine configuration such that there are a plurality of locations at which portions of the transmission line are physically adjacent to other portions of the transmission line, said transmission line being differentially terminated;
a plurality of regeneration devices located a various spaced-apart positions on the transmission line, said regeneration devices operative to provide energy to a wave propagating on the two-conductor transmission line;
a plurality of regeneration device pair, each pair connected between portions of the transmission line at the locations where the transmission lines are physically adjacent,
wherein a first of the regeneration device pairs is connected between a first conductor of one physically adjacent portion and a second conductor of the other physically adjacent portion,
wherein a second of the regeneration device pairs is connected between a second conductor of said one portion and a first conductor of said other portion, and
wherein said portions connected by the regeneration device pairs ensure that a differential wave propagating on the transmission line at one physically adjacent portion has a phase opposite to the phase at the other physically adjacent portion.
2. A clock distribution system as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the regeneration devices is a pair of inverters, an output of the first connected to an input of the second and an output of the second connected to an input of the first.
3. A clock distribution system as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the regeneration device pairs is a pair of inverters, an output of the first connected to an input of the second and an output of the second connected to an input of the first.
4. A clock distribution system comprising:
a continuous length of two-conductor transmission line arranged in a serpentine configuration such that there are a plurality of locations at which portions of the transmission line are physically adjacent to other portions of the transmission line, said transmission line being differentially driven at one end and differentially terminated at the other end;
a plurality of regeneration devices located at various spaced-apart positions on the transmission line, said regeneration devices operative to provide energy to a wave propagating on the two-conductor transmission line;
a plurality of regeneration device pairs, each pair connected between the portions of the transmission line at the locations where the transmission lines are physically adjacent, wherein a first of the regeneration device pairs is connected between a first conductor of one physically adjacent portion and a second conductor of the other physically adjacent portion, wherein a second of the regeneration device pairs is connected between a second conductor of said one portion and a first conductor of said other portion, and wherein said portions connected by the regeneration device pairs are phase locked to each other.