IP Library Granted Patent US 10,990,121
Granted Patent B2
US 10,990,121 · App. 16/795,668 · Granted Apr 27, 2021

Apparatus and method for achieving glitch-free clock domain crossing signals

Inventors: Kesava Reddy Talupuru (Fremont, CA); Sanjai B. Athi (Santa Clara, CA)
Assignee: ARM Finance Overseas Limited
G06F1/12G06F1/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,990,121
App. No.
16/795,668
Granted
Apr 27, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer implemented method includes identifying in an original circuit output signals that drive domain crossing logic separating a first clock domain from a second clock domain. A revised circuit is formed with a register attached to the domain crossing logic. The register receives an output signal and a synchronization signal that precludes the output signal from transitioning at selected clock cycle intervals.

Claims (24)

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions to:

form a circuit comprising drive domain crossing logic separating a first clock domain driven by a first clock from a second clock domain driven by a second clock wherein the first clock and second clock have different frequencies, the circuit further comprising a register attached to the domain crossing logic, wherein the register receives an output signal and a synchronization signal that precludes the output signal from transitioning at selected clock cycle intervals.

2. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the circuit is a revised circuit based on an original circuit.

3. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 2 , the non-transitory computer readable storage medium further comprising executable instructions to simultaneously apply test signals to the original circuit and to the revised circuit and to apply the resulting outputs from the original circuit and revised circuit to logic gates to generate a digital value.

4. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 3 , wherein the logic gates comprise Exclusive-OR gates.

5. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 4 , wherein the digital value is a digital high value when the test signals are not equal.

6. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 4 , wherein the digital value is a digital low value when the test signals are equal.

7. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the circuit is expressed in Register Transfer Level (RTL) code.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the selected clock cycle interval comprises a 0.5T clock cycle interval.

9. A computer implemented method, comprising:

forming a circuit comprising drive domain crossing logic separating a first clock domain driven by a first clock from a second clock domain driven by a second clock wherein the first clock and second clock have different frequencies, the circuit further comprising a register attached to the domain crossing logic, wherein the register receives an output signal and a synchronization signal that precludes the output signal from transitioning at selected clock cycle intervals.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the circuit is a revised circuit based on an original circuit.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

simultaneously applying test signals to the original circuit and to the revised circuit; and

applying the resulting outputs from the original circuit and revised circuit to logic gates to generate a digital value.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the logic gates comprise Exclusive-OR gates.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the digital value is a digital high value when the resulting outputs are not equal or wherein the digital value is a digital low value when the resulting outputs are equal.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising expressing the circuit in Register Transfer Level code.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the selected clock cycle interval comprises a 0.5T clock cycle interval.

16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising embodying the circuit in a hardware description language.

17. The method of claim 9 , further comprising transforming the circuit to hardware.

18. A circuit comprising:

drive domain crossing logic separating a first clock domain driven by a first clock from a second clock domain driven by a second clock wherein the first clock and second clock have different frequencies, the circuit further comprising a register attached to the domain crossing logic, wherein the register receives an output signal and a synchronization signal that precludes the output signal from transitioning at selected clock cycle intervals.

19. The circuit of claim 18 , wherein the circuit is an integrated circuit.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2020
From: BRIDGE CROSSING, LLC
To: ARM FINANCE OVERSEAS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 051899/0628 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 21, 2020
From: MIPS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: BRIDGE CROSSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 051885/0211 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2020
From: TALUPURU, KESAVA REDDY; ATHI, SANJAI B.
To: MIPS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 051868/0357 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 15783559 · Oct 13, 2017
Continuation 13683912 · Nov 21, 2012
Provisional Application 61562975 · Nov 22, 2011
Related Publication 20200192421A1 · Jun 18, 2020