Clock generator, system on a chip integrated circuit and methods for use therewith
View Patent ↗A system on a chip integrated circuit includes a first circuit module and N other circuit modules that are operable to produce at least one output signal based on at least one input signal. A reference oscillator for generating a base clock signal for the first circuit module. A clock delay generator generates N delayed clock signals at a corresponding N clock delays, wherein N is greater than or equal to 2. The N delayed clock signals are provided to the N other circuit modules.
1. A clock generator for use in an integrated circuit, the clock generator comprising:
a reference oscillator for generating a base clock signal at a base clock signal frequency; and
a clock delay generator, operably coupled to the base clock signal, for generating N delayed clock signals at a corresponding N clock delays and at the base clock signal frequency, wherein N is greater than or equal to 2 and providing the N delayed clock signals to N circuit modules of the integrated circuit, wherein at least one of the N circuit modules includes a digital circuit and at least one of the N circuit modules includes an analog circuit;
wherein T represents a base clock period and wherein at least one or the plurality of clock delays is less than T/(N+1).
2. The clock generator of claim 1 wherein the clock delay generator includes a tapped delay line.
3. The clock generator of claim 1 wherein the clock delay generator includes a plurality of buffers.
4. The clock generator of claim 1 and wherein at least one of the plurality off clock delays is less than T/2 (N+1).
5. The clock generator of claim 1 wherein the N clock delays are uniformly spaced from the base clock signal.
6. The clock generator of claim 1 wherein the N clock delays are non-uniformly spaced from the base clock signal.
7. The clock generator of claim 1 wherein the clock delay generator includes a phased lock loop circuit.
8. The clock generator of claim 7 wherein the phase locked loop circuit includes a multi-tap voltage controlled oscillator.
9. The clock generator of claim 1 wherein at least one of the N delayed clock signals is supplied to an analog portion of the integrated circuit.
10. A method comprising:
generating a base clock signal; and
providing the base clock signal to a first circuit module of a system on a chip integrated circuit;
generating N delayed clock signals at a corresponding N clock delays, wherein N is greater than or equal to 2;
providing the N delayed clock signals to N corresponding other circuit modules of the system on a chip integrated circuit, wherein at least one of the other circuit modules includes an analog to digital converter, and wherein at least one of the other circuit modules includes a digital circuit and, at least one of the other circuit modules includes an analog circuit.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein T represents a base clock period, and wherein at least one of the plurality of clock delays is less than T/(N+1).
12. The method of claim 10 wherein T represents a base clock period, and wherein at least one of the plurality of clock delays is less than T/2(N+1).
13. The method of claim 10 wherein the N clock delays are uniformly spaced from the base clock signal.
14. The method of claim 10 wherein the N clock delays are non-uniformly spaced from the base clock signal.
15. A system on a chip integrated circuit including an analog portion and a digital portion, the system on an chip integrated circuit comprising:
a reference oscillator for generating a base clock signal;
a clock delay generator, operably coupled to the base clock signal, for generating N delayed clock signals at a corresponding N clock delays, wherein N is greater than or equal to 2;
a first circuit module operably coupled to the base clock signal; and
N other circuit modules, each of the N other circuit modules operably coupled to a corresponding delayed clock signal of the N delayed clock signals, the N other circuit modules includes an analog to digital converter module, and wherein at least one of the N other circuit modules includes a digital circuit and at least one of the N other circuit modules includes an analog circuit;
wherein the first circuit module and the N other circuit modules are operable to produce at least one output signal based on at least one input signal.
16. The system on a chip integrated circuit of claim 15 wherein the clock delay generator includes a tapped delay line.
17. The system on a chip integrated circuit of claim 15 wherein the clock delay generator includes a plurality of buffers.
18. The system on a chip integrated circuit of claim 15 wherein T represents a base clock period, and wherein at least one of the plurality of clock delays is less than T/(N+1).
19. The system on a chip integrated circuit of claim 15 wherein T represents a base clock period, and wherein at least one of the plurality of clock delays is less than T/2(N+1).
20. The system on a chip integrated circuit of claim 15 wherein the N clock delays are uniformly spaced from the base clock signal.
21. The system on a chip integrated circuit of claim 15 wherein the N clock delays are non-uniformly spaced from the base clock signal.
22. The clock generator of claim 15 wherein the clock delay generator includes a phased lock loop circuit.
23. The clock generator of claim 22 wherein the phase locked loop circuit includes a multi-tap voltage controlled oscillator.