IP Library Granted Patent US 7,669,072
Granted Patent B2
US 7,669,072 · App. 11/668,978 · Granted Feb 23, 2010

Clock circuitry architecture to improve electro-magnetic compatibility and optimize peak of currents in micro-controller

Assignee: Atmel Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,669,072
App. No.
11/668,978
Granted
Feb 23, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system comprises a central processing unit and a set of peripheral units accessible by the CPU and being able to be driven by the same clock source. At least one programmable delay line is located in the clock branch of one of the peripheral units and has a delay selection input that is accessible by software running on the system.

Claims (34)

1. A system comprising:

a central processing unit;

a clock source;

a set of peripheral units being accessible by the central processing unit, each peripheral unit in the set of peripherals having at least one data sequential logic element having a clock input coupled to the clock source and an output coupled to a data output node;

a delay path including at least one programmable delay line coupled between the clock source and the clock input of the at least one data sequential logic element in at least one of the peripheral units, the at least one programmable delay line having a delay selection input, wherein;

the at least one programmable delay line is formed having a plurality of unit delay elements, each unit delay element having a send input, a send output, a return input, a return output, an inverter coupled between the send input and the send output, a multiplexer having a first data input coupled to the send output, a second data input coupled to the return input, an inverting output coupled to the return output, and a select input, each successive unit delay element having its send input coupled to the send output of the preceding unit delay element and having its return output coupled to the return input of the preceding unit delay element; and

the delay selection input includes one bit position for each select input of each multiplexer in each unit delay element.

2. The system of claim 1 , disposed in an integrated circuit.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one data sequential logic element is a flip flop.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one data sequential logic element is a D flip flop.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the delay selection input of the at least one programmable delay line being accessible by software running on the system.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the delay selection input of the at least one programmable delay line being accessible from terminal inputs of the system.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one programmable delay line is formed from a series of inverters.

8. A system comprising:

a central processing unit;

a clock source;

a set of peripheral units being accessible by the central processing unit, each peripheral unit in the set of peripherals having at least one data sequential logic element having a clock input coupled to the clock source and an output coupled to a data output node;

a first delay path including at least one programmable delay line coupled between the output of the at least one data sequential logic element and the data output node in at least one of the peripheral units, the at least one programmable delay line having a delay selection input;

a second delay path including a data-delay sequential logic element having a data input coupled to the output of the at least one data sequential logic element, a data output coupled to the data output node, and a clock input coupled to an inverted signal from the clock source; and

delay selection means coupled between the first delay path, the second delay path, and the data output node, for selectively coupling the output of one of the first delay path and the second delay path to the data output node.

9. The system of claim 8 , disposed in an integrated circuit.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein:

the at least one data sequential logic element is a flip flop; and

the at least one data-delay sequential logic element is a flip flop.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein:

the at least one data sequential logic element is a D flip flop; and

the at least one data-delay sequential logic element is a D flip flop.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the delay selection input of the at least one programmable delay line is accessible by software running on the system.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the delay selection input of the at least one programmable delay line is accessible from terminal inputs of the system.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the at least one programmable delay line is formed from a series of inverters.

15. The system of claim 8 wherein;

the at least one programmable delay line is formed having a plurality of unit delay elements, each unit delay element having a send input, a send output, a return input, a return output, an inverter coupled between the send input and the send output, a multiplexer having a first data input coupled to the send output, a second data input coupled to the return input, an inverting output coupled to the return output, and a select input, each successive unit delay element having its send input coupled to the send output of the preceding unit delay element and having its return output coupled to the return input of the preceding unit delay element; and

the delay selection input includes one bit position for each select input of each multiplexer in each unit delay element

16. The system of claim of claim 8 wherein the delay selection means comprises a multiplexer.

Assignments (17)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 060894/0437 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059363/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059863/0400 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059358/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059262/0105 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059333/0222 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2021
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057935/0474 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055671/0612 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 053468/0705 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 053466/0011 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 053311/0305 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047103/0206 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 046426/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2017
From: ATMEL CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 041715/0747 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Apr 7, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038376/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 3, 2014
From: ATMEL CORPORATION
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC. AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031912/0173 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2007
From: VERGNES, ALAIN; DUPRE, LUDOVIC; DUMAS, DAVID
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 018825/0730 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080183924A1 · Jul 31, 2008