IP Library Granted Patent US 8,633,747
Granted Patent B2
US 8,633,747 · App. 13/219,621 · Granted Jan 21, 2014

Synchronization circuit

Inventor: Dong Suk Shin (Icheon-si, KR)
Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,633,747
App. No.
13/219,621
Granted
Jan 21, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A synchronization circuit includes a first delay unit configured to delay an input signal by a delay time corresponding to first initial delay information and generate a pre-delayed signal; a second delay unit configured to delay the pre-delayed signal by a delay time corresponding to second initial delay information and generate a delayed signal; and an initial delay monitoring circuit configured to generate the first initial delay information and the second initial delay information in response to internal delayed signals of the first delay unit and the input signal.

Claims (57)

1. A synchronization circuit comprising:

a first delay unit configured to delay an input signal by a delay time corresponding to first initial delay information and generate a pre-delayed signal;

a second delay unit configured to delay the pre-delayed signal by a delay time corresponding to second initial delay information and generate a delayed signal; and

an initial delay monitoring circuit configured to generate the first initial delay information and the second initial delay information in response to internal delayed signals of the first delay unit and the input signal.

2. The synchronization circuit according to claim 1 , wherein a unit delay time of the second delay unit is set to be shorter than a unit delay time of the first delay unit.

3. The synchronization circuit according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a shift register configured to set the delay time of the first delay unit in response to the first initial delay information.

4. The synchronization circuit according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an initial operation setting unit configured to generate initial operation period signals in response to the input signal and an operation start signal.

5. The synchronization circuit according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a replica delay configured to delay the delayed signal by a preset time and generate a feedback signal.

6. The synchronization circuit according to claim 5 , wherein the first delay unit is configured to delay the feedback signal and generate the internal delayed signals.

7. The synchronization circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the initial delay monitoring circuit is configured to detect phase differences between the input signal and the internal delayed signals and generate the first initial delay information.

8. The synchronization circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the initial delay monitoring circuit is configured to delay the input signal with the delay time of the first delay unit locked, detect a corresponding change in the first initial delay information, and generate the second initial delay information.

9. The synchronization circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the initial delay monitoring circuit comprises:

a fine mixer configured to delay by a predetermined delay time and output the input signal in response to preliminary initial delay information;

a first initial delay information generation unit configured to decode phase differences between an output signal of the fine mixer and the internal delayed signals and generate the first initial delay information; and

a second initial delay information generation unit configured to detect a change in the first initial delay information according to a change of the preliminary initial delay information, and output the preliminary initial delay information at a time when the change in the first initial delay information is detected, as the second initial delay information.

10. The synchronization circuit according to claim 9 , wherein the fine mixer is configured in the same manner as the second delay unit.

11. The synchronization circuit according to claim 9 , wherein the second initial delay information generation unit comprises:

a latch configured to latch the first initial delay information of which the change is completed;

a comparator configured to compare first initial delay information latched by the latch and the first initial delay information and generate a comparison signal;

a shift register configured to change the preliminary initial delay information in response to the comparison signal; and

a multiplexer configured to output the preliminary initial delay information as the second initial delay information in response to the comparison signal.

12. The synchronization circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the initial delay monitoring circuit is configured to output the second initial delay information with a preset value to the second delay unit until generation of the second initial delay information is completed.

13. A synchronization circuit comprising:

a first loop circuit configured to adjust a delay time of a first input signal in response to first coarse initial delay information and fine initial delay information, and generate a first delayed signal;

a second loop circuit configured to adjust a delay time of a second input signal by a preset initial delay time in response to second coarse initial delay information and the fine initial delay information, and generate a second delayed signal;

a duty cycle compensation unit configured to compensate for a duty cycle of the first delayed signal using the second delayed signal; and

an initial delay monitoring circuit configured to generate the first coarse initial delay information, the second coarse initial delay information and the fine initial delay information in response to internal delayed signals of the first loop circuit and the first input signal.

14. The synchronization circuit according to claim 13 , further comprising:

an initial operation setting unit configured to generate a first initial operation period signal and a second initial operation period signal in response to the first input signal and an operation start signal.

15. The synchronization circuit according to claim 14 , wherein the first loop circuit comprises:

a first delay unit configured to delay the first input signal and generate a first pre-delayed signal;

a second delay unit configured to delay the first pre-delayed signal by a delay time in response to the fine initial delay information and generate a first delayed signal;

a replica delay configured to delay the first delayed signal by a preset time and generate a feedback signal; and

a shift register configured to set a delay time of the first delay unit in response to the first initial operation period signal and the first coarse initial delay information.

16. The synchronization circuit according to claim 14 , wherein the second loop circuit comprises:

a first delay unit configured to delay the second input signal and generate a second pre-delayed signal;

a second delay unit configured to delay the second pre-delayed signal by a delay time in response to the fine initial delay information and generate a second delayed signal; and

a shift register configured to set a delay time of the first delay unit in response to the first initial operation period signal and the second coarse initial delay information.

17. The synchronization circuit according to claim 13 , wherein the duty cycle compensation unit comprises a mixer configured to mix the first delayed signal and the second delayed signal.

18. The synchronization circuit according to claim 13 , wherein the initial delay monitoring circuit is configured to detect phase differences between the first input signal and the internal delayed signals and generate the first coarse initial delay information, and detect phase differences between the first input signal and the internal delayed signals and a row pulse width of the first input signal and generate the second coarse initial delay information.

19. The synchronization circuit according to claim 13 , wherein the initial delay monitoring circuit is configured to detect a change in the first coarse initial delay information with the delay time of the first loop circuit locked and generate the fine initial delay information.

20. The synchronization circuit according to claim 13 , wherein the initial delay monitoring circuit comprises:

a fine mixer configured to delay by a predetermined delay time and output the first input signal in response to preliminary initial delay information;

a coarse initial delay information generation unit configured to decode phase difference information between an output signal of the fine mixer and the internal delayed signals and generate the first coarse initial delay information and the second coarse initial delay information; and

a fine initial delay information generation unit configured to detect a change in the first coarse initial delay information according to a change of the preliminary initial delay information, and output the preliminary initial delay information at a time when the change in the first coarse initial delay information is detected, as the fine initial delay information.

21. The synchronization circuit according to claim 20 , wherein the initial delay monitoring circuit further comprises:

an initial phase information extraction unit configured to compare phases of the output signal of the fine mixer and the internal delayed signals and generate the phase difference information, and output one bit of signal bits of the phase difference information as a switching control signal.

22. The synchronization circuit according to claim 20 , wherein the fine initial delay information generation unit comprises:

a latch configured to latch the first coarse initial delay information of which the change is completed;

a comparator configured to compare first coarse initial delay information latched by the latch and the first coarse initial delay information and generate a comparison signal;

a shift register configured to change the preliminary initial delay information in response to the comparison signal; and

a multiplexer configured to output the preliminary initial delay information as the fine initial delay information in response to the comparison signal.

23. The synchronization circuit according to claim 21 , further comprising:

a switching unit configured to output a clock signal or a clock bar signal as the first input signal or the second input signal in response to the switching control signal.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 27, 2011
From: SHIN, DONG SUK
To: HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
Reel/Frame 026818/0048 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2011-0009270 · Jan 31, 2011 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120194241A1 · Aug 2, 2012