IP Library Granted Patent US 7,777,545
Granted Patent B2
US 7,777,545 · App. 12/385,493 · Granted Aug 17, 2010

Semiconductor device and timing adjusting method for semiconductor device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,777,545
App. No.
12/385,493
Granted
Aug 17, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a semiconductor device, a delaying circuit is configured to delay an input signal based on an internal setting data to output as a timing signal. A delay determining section is configured to determine a delay state of each of a plurality of delay signals obtained by delaying the timing signal, based on the plurality of delay signals. A program section is configured to change the internal setting data based on the delay state.

Claims (33)

1. A semiconductor device comprising:

a delaying circuit configured to delay an input signal based on an internal setting data to output as a timing signal;

a delay determining section configured to determine a delay state of each of a plurality of delay signals obtained by delaying the timing signal, based on states of the plurality of delay signals; and

a program section configured to change the internal setting data based on the delay state.

2. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein said delay determining section comprises:

a delay signal generating section configured to sequentially delay said timing signal to generate the plurality of delay signals; and

a delay evaluating section configured to determine the delay state of each of the plurality of delay signals based on the plurality of delay signals.

3. The semiconductor device according to claim 2 , wherein said delay signal generating section comprises n delay units (n is a natural number), and

a first one of said n delay units delays the timing signal to generate a first delay signal, and

an i th one of said n delay units (i is an integer satisfying 2 i n) delays an (i−1) th delay signal to generate an i th delay signal.

4. The semiconductor device according to claim 3 , wherein said delay evaluating section determines, as the delay state, an output state of each of said n delay units at predetermined timing.

5. The semiconductor device according to claim 3 , wherein components to delay a signal are substantially same among said n delay units.

6. The semiconductor device according to claim 5 , wherein said components are substantially same among said n delay units and said delaying circuit.

7. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein said delaying circuit comprises a resistance device to delay the input signal.

8. The semiconductor device according to claim 1 , wherein said program section further changes the internal setting data based on the delay state accomplished after change of the internal setting data, such that the timing signal approaches an optimum signal.

9. A method of adjusting timing of a semiconductor device, comprising:

delaying an input signal based on internal setting data by a delaying circuit to output as a timing signal;

determining a delay state of each of a plurality of delay signals obtained by sequentially delaying the timing signal based on states of the plurality of delay signals; and

changing the internal setting data based on the delay state such that the timing signal approaches an optimum signal.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein said determining comprises:

generating the plurality of delay signals by sequentially delaying the timing signal; and

determining the delay state of each of the plurality of delay signals based on the plurality of delay signals.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein said generating comprises:

generating a first delay signal by delaying the timing signal by a first one of n delay units (n is a natural number); and

generating an i th delay signal (i is an integer satisfying 2 i n) by delaying an (i-1) th delay signal by an i th one of said n delay units.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein said determining comprises:

determining a state of each of outputs of said n delay units at a predetermined timing as the delay state.

13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein each of said n delay units generates a delay for a same time period.

14. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising:

changing the internal setting data based on the delay state accomplished after said changing the internal setting data, such that the timing signal approaches an optimum signal.

15. A semiconductor device comprising:

a first circuit configured to generate a plurality of output signals from an input signal; and

a determining circuit configured to adjust the input signal based on states of the plurality of output signals during a predetermined period.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 26, 2010
From: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 025193/0183 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 9, 2009
From: TAKAHASHI, HIROYUKI
To: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 022569/0655 →