IP Library Granted Patent US 8,988,966
Granted Patent B2
US 8,988,966 · App. 13/212,015 · Granted Mar 24, 2015

Circuit, system and method for controlling read latency

Inventor: Jongtae Kwak (Boise, ID)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
G11C7/1051G11C7/1066G11C7/22H03L7/0814
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,988,966
App. No.
13/212,015
Granted
Mar 24, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A read latency control circuit is described having a clock synchronization circuit and a read latency control circuit. The clock synchronization circuit includes an adjustable delay line to generate an output clock signal whose phase is synchronized with the phase of the input clock signal. The read latency control circuit captures a read command signal relative to the timing of the input clock signal and outputs the read command signal relative to the timing of the output clock signal such that the read command signal is outputted indicative of a specified read latency.

Claims (28)

1. A latency control apparatus, comprising:

a synchronization circuit comprising:

a delay line configured to receive an input clock signal and delay the input clock signal by a delay amount to provide a delayed input clock signal; and

a feedback circuit coupled to the delay line and configured to receive the input clock signal and the delayed input clock signal, the feedback circuit further configured to provide a count signal responsive to achieving a locking, condition, the count signal indicative of a number of clock cycles used to achieve the locking condition between the input clock signal and the delayed input clock signal; and

a read latency control circuit configured to delay a read signal based, at least in part, on the delay amount.

2. The latency control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the feedback circuit comprises a phase detector configured to adjust a timing of the input clock signal and provide the count signal.

3. The latency control apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the feedback circuit is further configured to delay the delayed input clock signal by an integer number of clock cycles responsive, at least in part, to adjusting the timing of the input clock signal.

4. The latency control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the synchronization circuit further comprises:

an initialization circuit configured to prevent the delay line from toggling for a predetermined number of clock cycles responsive, at least in pan, to receipt of a signal from the feedback circuit.

5. The latency control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the read latency control circuit is further configured to delay the read signal based, at least in part, on a match signal.

6. The latency control apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising:

a latch configured to capture the read signal based, at least in part, on the input clock signal.

7. The latency control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the read latency control circuit is further configured to delay the read signal based, at least in part, on a latency signal received from a mode register.

8. A method of providing read data with a latency, comprising:

receiving an input clock signal;

delaying the input clock signal by a first amount to provide an internal clock signal;

providing a count signal responsive to achieving a phase-locked condition, the count signal based, at least in part, on the first amount and indicative of a number of clock cycles used to delay the input clock signal to achieve the phase-locked condition; and

delaying a read signal by a second amount based, at least in part, on the count signal.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

providing the read signal to an output driver based, at least in part, on the internal clock signal.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second amount is based, at least in part, on a match signal.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein said delaying the read signal comprises:

latching the read signal based, at least in part, on the input clock signal; and

providing a match signal based at least in part, on the internal clock signal.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first amount is based, at least in part, on a delay of a delay line.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

before said providing a count signal, locking a delay line for a predetermined number of clock cycles.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the count signal represents a number of dock cycles.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 051028/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050937/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 047243/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2018
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047540/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REPLACE ERRONEOUSLY FILED PATENT #7358718 WITH THE CORRECT PATENT #7358178 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038669 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jun 8, 2017
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 043079/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 2, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038954/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 12, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038669/0001 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 12683309 · Jan 6, 2010
Continuation 11724910 · Mar 15, 2007
Related Publication 20110298512A1 · Dec 8, 2011