Clock distribution architecture for integrated circuit
View Patent ↗An integrated circuit (IC) includes multiple circuit modules that have specific clocking requirements, multiple clock sources (e.g., PLLs, duty cycle re-shaper, etc.), and at least one clock input port. The clock sources have specific clock source specifications, and the circuit modules have specific clocking requirements. The clock sources are selected based on an identification of the most common clocking requirements, and then placed at routing distances measured from the input port that are less than corresponding predetermined maximum routing distances such that the clocking requirements of the circuit modules are met. The IC thus generates clock signals internally, rather than externally.
1. An integrated circuit having a plurality of phase-locked loops (PLLs) connected to a common input port, the integrated circuit, comprising:
a first input port that receives a first external reference clock signal;
a first PLL, connected to the first input port and having a first clock source specification, that receives the first external reference clock signal and generates a first clock signal;
a second PLL, connected to the first input port and having a second clock source specification, that receives the first external reference clock signal and generates a second clock signal;
a first circuit module connected to the first PLL and having a first clock source requirement, wherein the first circuit module receives the first clock signal; and
a second circuit module connected to the second PLL and having a second clock source requirement different from the first clock source requirement, wherein the second circuit module receives the second clock signal,
wherein the first and second PLLs are located at respective first and second routing distances from the first input port, wherein the first and second routing distances are less than respective first and second predetermined maximum routing distances such that the first and second clock source requirements are met,
wherein the first and second clock source requirements each include at least one of a frequency, jitter, voltage swing, and duty cycle requirement of the first and second circuit modules respectively,
a second input port that receives the first external reference clock signal;
a third PLL, connected to the second input port and having a third clock source specification, that receives the first external reference clock signal by way of the second input port and generates a third clock signal; and
a third circuit module, connected to the third PLL and having a third clock source requirement different from the first and second clock source requirements, that receives the third clock signal, wherein the third PLL is located at a third routing distance from the second input port, and wherein the third routing distance is less than a third predetermined maximum routing distance, such that the third clock source requirement is met, and wherein the third clock source requirement includes at least one of a frequency requirement, a jitter requirement, a voltage swing requirement, and a duty cycle requirement of the third circuit module, and wherein a routing distance between the first input port and the third PLL is greater than the third predetermined maximum routing distance.
2. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first external reference clock signal is routed to the second input port by way of a clock signal path that is external to the integrated circuit.
3. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third PLLs each comprise at least one of an integer PLL, a fractional PLL, and an IP specific PLL.
4. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined maximum routing distance is a function of at least one of a jitter specification of the first PLL, a jitter specification of the second PLL, and a jitter specification of the third PLL.
5. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first external reference clock signal is a single-ended clock signal.
6. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , further comprising first and second low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) receivers, connected between the first input port and the first and second PLLs, respectively, that receive the first external reference clock signal and generate first and second single-ended clock signals, respectively, wherein the first external reference clock signal is a differential clock signal.
7. The integrated circuit of claim 6 , further comprising:
a clock scaler circuit, connected to the first LVDS receiver, that receives the first single-ended clock signal and generates a scaled clock signal;
a third PLL, connected to the clock scaler circuit and having a third clock source specification, that is located at a third routing distance from the first input port, such that the third routing distance is less than a third predetermined maximum routing distance, and that receives the scaled clock signal and generates a third clock signal; and
a third circuit module, connected to the third PLL and having a third clock source requirement different from the first and second clock source requirements, and that receives the third clock signal, such that the third clock source requirement is met.
8. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second input port that receives a second external reference clock signal that has a first duty cycle;
a duty cycle re-shaper, connected to the second input port, wherein the duty cycle re-shaper is a third routing distance from the second input port, that receives the second external reference clock signal and generates a third clock signal that has a second duty cycle; and
a third circuit module having a third clock source requirement different from the first and second clock source requirements, wherein the third circuit module receives the third clock signal such that the third clock source requirement is met.
9. An integrated circuit, comprising:
a first input port that receives a first external differential reference clock signal;
first and second low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) receivers, connected to the first input port for receiving the first external differential reference clock signal and generating respective first and second single-ended clock signals;
a first PLL, connected to the first LVDS receiver and having a first clock source specification, and that receives the first single-ended clock signal and generates a first clock signal;
a second PLL connected to the second LVDS receiver and having a second clock source specification, and that receives the second single-ended clock signal and generates a second clock signal;
a first circuit module, connected to the first PLL and having the first clock source requirement, and that receives the first clock signal;
a second circuit module connected to the second PLL and having the second clock source requirement different from the first clock source requirement, and that receives the second clock signal, wherein the first and second PLLs are at first and second routing distances from the first input port, respectively, and wherein the first and second routing distances are less than first and second predetermined maximum routing distances, respectively, such that the first and second clock source requirements are met;
a second input port that receives the first external differential reference clock signal;
a third PLL, connected to the second input port and having a third clock source specification, and that receives the first external differential reference clock signal and generates a third clock signal;
a third circuit module, connected to the third PLL and having a third clock source requirement different from the first and second clock source requirements, and that receives the third clock signal, wherein the third PLL is at a third routing distance from the second input port, and wherein the third routing distance is less than a third predetermined maximum routing distance such that the third clock source requirement is met, and wherein a routing distance between the first input port and the third PLL is greater than the third predetermined maximum routing distance;
a third input port that receives a second external reference clock signal, wherein the second external reference clock signal has a first duty cycle;
a duty cycle re-shaper, connected to the third input port, that is at a fourth routing distance from the third input port, receives the second external reference clock signal and generates a fourth clock signal, wherein the fourth clock signal has a second duty cycle; and
a fourth circuit module, having a fourth clock source requirement different from the first, second, and third clock source requirements, that receives the fourth clock signal, such that the fourth clock source requirement is met, and wherein the first, second, third, and fourth clock source requirements each include at least one of a frequency, jitter, voltage swing, and duty cycle requirement of the first, second, third, and fourth circuit modules, respectively.
10. The integrated circuit of claim 9 , wherein the first external differential reference clock signal is routed to the second input port by way of a clock signal path that is external to the integrated circuit.
11. The integrated circuit of claim 9 , wherein the first, second, and third PLLs each comprise at least one of an integer PLL, a fractional PLL, and an IP specific PLL.
12. The integrated circuit of claim 9 , further comprising:
a clock scaler circuit, connected to the first LVDS receiver, that receives the first single-ended clock signal and generates a scaled clock signal;
a fourth PLL, connected to the clock scaler circuit and having a fourth clock source specification, that is at a fifth routing distance from the first input port that is less than a fourth predetermined maximum routing distance, and that receives the scaled clock signal and generates a fifth clock signal; and
a fifth circuit module, connected to the fourth PLL and having a fifth clock source requirement different from the first, second, third, and fourth clock source requirements, and that receives the fifth clock signal, such that the fifth clock source requirement is met.
13. A method for designing an integrated circuit (IC) that has a plurality of clock sources that receive an external clock signal from a common input port, the method comprising:
identifying a plurality of clock sources required by respective circuit modules of the IC using an electronic design automation (EDA) tool that includes a memory for storing an initial IC design and a processor in communication with the memory, wherein the plurality of clock sources have a corresponding plurality of clock source specifications;
defining an input port of the IC to be used as a common clock input port;
placing the plurality of clock sources in the initial design such that respective routing distances between the input port and the clock sources is less than respective predetermined maximum routing distances so that at least one of a frequency, jitter, voltage swing, and duty cycle requirement is met;
connecting the placed, clock sources to the common input port and to respective ones of the circuit modules; and
placing at least one of a clock scaler circuit and a duty cycle re-shaper between the input port and at least one of the clock sources.