IP Library Granted Patent US 8,207,769
Granted Patent B2
US 8,207,769 · App. 12/986,684 · Granted Jun 26, 2012

Delay locked loop circuit

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,207,769
App. No.
12/986,684
Granted
Jun 26, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosure relates to phase detectors. Charge up and charge down signals that are generated by a phase detector cause i) following detection of a first edge of a reference clock signal, switching on of a switching transistor of sink current; ii) following detection of an edge of a feedback clock signal falling within less than 180 degrees from the first edge, switching on of a switching transistor of source current and switching off of the switching transistor of sink current; and iii) following detection of an edge of another reference signal at a point in time about midway between the first edge and a next similar edge of the reference clock signal has past, switching off of the switching transistor of source current while maintaining the switching transistor of sink current switched off.

Claims (47)

1. A method for adjusting the phase of a locked loop output signal with respect to a reference input signal comprising:

outputting a locked loop output signal from a delay circuit;

comparing the locked loop output signal and a reference input signal in a phase comparator to determine a phase difference;

activating at least one of an up control signal and a down control signal for a period of time based on the phase difference;

providing a source current to an integrating capacitor when the up control signal is activated;

providing a sink current to the integrating capacitor when the down control signal is activated, the sink current having a magnitude different from the magnitude of the source current;

adjusting a delay of the delay circuit based on a voltage on the integrating capacitor;

and

adjusting magnitudes of the source current and the sink current.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the locked loop is a delay locked loop.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the locked loop is a phase locked loop.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reference input signal is a reference input clock signal and the locked loop output signal is a locked loop output clock signal.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the source current is a programmable source current.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the source current is provided by a plurality of current sources.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the source current is provided by a plurality of identical current sources.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of current sources are enabled by respective enable signals.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the respective enable signals are provided by registers.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sink current is a programmable sink current.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the sink current is provided by a plurality of current sources.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the sink current is provided by a plurality of identical current sources.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of current sources are enabled by respective enable signals.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the respective enable signals are provided by registers.

15. A method for adjusting the phase of a locked loop output signal with respect to a reference input signal comprising:

outputting a locked loop output signal from an adjustable delay circuit;

comparing the locked loop output signal and a reference input signal in a phase comparator to determine a phase difference;

activating at least one of an up control signal and a down control signal for a period of time based on the phase difference;

providing a source current to an integrating capacitor when the up control signal is activated, the source current having an adjustable magnitude;

providing a sink current to the integrating capacitor when the down control signal is activated, the sink current having an adjustable magnitude, the magnitude of the sink current being adjustable independently of the magnitude of the source current; and

adjusting a delay of the adjustable delay circuit based on a voltage on the integrating capacitor; and

adjusting magnitudes of the source current and the sink current.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the locked loop is a delay locked loop.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the locked loop is a phase locked loop.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the source current is provided by a plurality of current sources.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the source current is provided by a plurality of identical current sources.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of current sources are enabled by respective enable signals.

21. The method of claim 15 , wherein the sink current is provided by a plurality of current sources.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the sink current is provided by a plurality of identical current sources.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of current sources are enabled by respective enable signals.

24. The method of claim 15 , wherein the delay of the adjustable delay circuit is based on the voltage on the integrating capacitor according to the formula:

Phase Shift=180* I N /( I M +I N )

where I M is a magnitude of the source current to the integrating capacitor and I N is a magnitude of the sink current to the integrating capacitor.

25. The method of claim 15 , wherein:

the source current is provided by a plurality of identical current sources enabled by respective source current enable signals;

the sink current is provided by a plurality of identical current sinks enabled by respective sink current enable signals; and

the delay of the adjustable delay circuit is based on the voltage on the integrating capacitor according to the formula:

Phase Shift=180*( N+ 1)/( M+N+ 2)

where M is a number of enabled current sources; and N is a number of enabled current sinks.

Assignments (11)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 16, 2021
From: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
To: MOSAID TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 056603/0591 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2020
From: CPPIB CREDIT INVESTMENTS INC.
To: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 054295/0624 →
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 →
U.S. PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (FOR NON-U.S. GRANTORS) Recorded Sep 9, 2014
From: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
To: CPPIB CREDIT INVESTMENTS INC., AS LENDER; ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS LENDER
Reel/Frame 033706/0367 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Sep 3, 2014
From: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
To: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 033678/0096 →
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: MOSAID TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
To: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 032439/0638 →
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 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jan 11, 2011
From: MOSAID TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
To: MOSAID TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 025617/0303 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2011
From: MAI, HUY TUONG
To: MOSAID TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 025617/0352 →