IP Library Patent Application 12591931
Patent Application
App. No. 12/591,931

Semiconductor integrated circuit including transmitter and receiver which conducts loopback test and test method thereof

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 None
App. No.
12/591,931
Abstract

A semiconductor integrated circuit includes an oscillation circuit for generating multiple clocks of mutually different phases, and is also characterized in selecting a single clock FCLK_P from among multiple clocks FCLK_P [n-1:0] for use in transmitting IQ Serial transmission signals and, utilizing the FCLK_P to transmit an IQ Serial transmission signal.

Claims (27)

1 . A semiconductor integrated circuit comprising:

an oscillation circuit for generating multiple clocks with mutually different phases,

wherein a single clock is selected from the multiple clocks for use in sending a transmission signal, and the transmission signal is sent by utilizing the selected single clock.

2 . The semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a transmit circuit to send the transmission signal; and

a receive circuit to receive the transmission signal sent from the transmit circuit during a loopback test,

wherein the receive circuit utilizes the multiple clocks to perform a receive processing.

3 . The semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 2 ,

wherein the transmit circuit includes a parallel-serial converter circuit to convert multiple bits of parallel data to serial data, and

wherein the transmit circuit sends the serial data as the transmission signal.

4 . The semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a phase adjuster unit to select a single clock from the multiple clocks,

wherein the transmit circuit includes multiple parallel-serial converter circuits to operate in synchronization with each of the multiple clocks, and

wherein the transmit circuit sends the serial data output from the parallel-serial converter circuit corresponding to the single clock selected by the phase adjuster unit as the transmission signal.

5 . The semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a phase adjuster unit to switch the single clock selected from the multiple clocks, to another clock,

wherein the parallel-serial converter circuit synchronizes with the another clock to which the phase adjuster unit switched and performs parallel-serial conversion.

6 . The semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 2 ,

wherein the transmit circuit sends the transmission signal as frames, and

wherein the receive circuit includes a synchronization detector unit to detect synchronization by receive processing that utilizes multiple clocks for the synchronized information contained in the frame during the loopback test, and also identifies the synch-detected clock as a selected candidate clock.

7 . The semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 6 ,

wherein the receive circuit further includes a clock handoff unit to receive data signals output by the synchronization detector unit at the multiple clocks, and convey the data signals received to a standard clock.

8 . The semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 2 ,

wherein a differential circuit connects the transmit circuit and the receive circuit and, during the loopback test, the transmission signals are sent and received by way of the differential circuit.

9 . A test method for a semiconductor integrated circuit including an oscillation circuit to generate multiple clocks of mutually different phases, a transmit circuit to send a transmission signal, and a receive circuit to receive the transmission signal sent by the transmit circuit during a loopback test operation, the method comprising:

selecting a single clock from the multiple clocks for use in sending the transmission signal and, to send the transmission signal by utilizing the selected single clock; and

performing a receive processing by utilizing the multiple clocks.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 26, 2010
From: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 025193/0147 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 4, 2009
From: KONISHI, SHINYA; ARAI, NORIO
To: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023658/0749 →