IP Library Granted Patent US 7,501,872
Granted Patent B2
US 7,501,872 · App. 11/871,741 · Granted Mar 10, 2009

Clock-generator architecture for a programmable-logic-based system on a chip

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,501,872
App. No.
11/871,741
Granted
Mar 10, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A programmable system-on-a-chip integrated circuit device comprises at least one of a crystal oscillator circuit, an RC oscillator circuit, and an external oscillator input. A clock conditioning circuit is selectively coupleable to one of the programmable logic block, the crystal oscillator circuit, the RC oscillator circuit, and the external oscillator input. A real-time clock is selectively coupleable to one of the programmable logic block, the crystal oscillator circuit, the RC oscillator circuit, and the external oscillator input. A programmable logic block is coupled to the clock conditioning circuit and the real-time clock.

Claims (31)

1. A programmable system-on-a-chip integrated circuit device comprising:

an RC oscillator circuit;

a crystal oscillator circuit;

an external oscillator input;

a programmable logic block;

a clock conditioning circuit selectively coupleable to the RC oscillator circuit, the crystal oscillator circuit, the external oscillator input, and the programmable logic block, the clock conditioning circuit comprising:

a first multiplexer having a first data input coupled to the RC oscillator circuit, a second data input coupled to the crystal oscillator circuit, a third data input coupled to the external oscillator input, a set of select inputs coupled to the programmable logic block, and an output;

a first programmable frequency divider circuit having an input coupled to the output of the first multiplexer, at least one control input coupled to the programmable logic block, and an output;

a phase locked loop having an input coupled to the output of the first programmable divider circuit, a feedback input, and an output;

a second programmable frequency divider circuit having an input coupled to the output of the phase locked loop, at least one control input coupled to the programmable logic block, and an output coupled to the feedback input of the phase locked loop;

a second multiplexer having a first data input coupled to the RC oscillator circuit, a second data input coupled to the crystal oscillator circuit, a third data input coupled to the external oscillator input, a fourth input coupled to the output of the phase locked loop, a set of select inputs coupled to the programmable logic block, and an output;

a delay line having an input coupled to the output of the second multiplexer, at least one control input coupled to the programmable logic block, and an output coupled to the programmable logic block; and

a real time clock having an input selectively coupleable to the RC oscillator circuit, the crystal oscillator circuit, and the external oscillator input.

2. The programmable system-on-a-chip integrated circuit device of claim 1 , further including a third programmable divider circuit having an input coupled to the output of the second multiplexer, at least one control input coupled to the programmable logic block, and an output coupled to input of the delay line.

3. The programmable system-on-a-chip integrated circuit device of claim 1 , further including a third multiplexer having a first data input coupled to the RC oscillator circuit, a second data input coupled to the crystal oscillator circuit, a third data input coupled to the external oscillator input, a fourth input coupled to the output of the delay line, a set of select inputs coupled to the programmable logic block, and an output coupled to an I/O pad of the integrated circuit device.

4. The programmable system-on-a-chip integrated circuit device of claim 1 further including a non-volatile memory and wherein the frequency divider circuit is configurable from at least one of the programmable logic block and the non-volatile memory.

5. The programmable system-on-a-chip integrated circuit device of claim 1 wherein the external oscillation input is coupled directly into the clock conditioning circuit and the programmable logic block can be programmably connected to the clock conditioning circuit.

6. The programmable system-on-a-chip integrated circuit device of claim 1 wherein the real-time clock includes a match output and further including a voltage-regulator controller circuit coupled to an I/O pad and to the match output for controlling the signal to an external voltage regulator in response to a signal on the match output.

7. The programmable system-on-a-chip integrated circuit device of claim 1 wherein:

the real-time clock includes a match output coupled to the programmable logic block;

the programmable system-on-a-chip integrated circuit device further includes a voltage-regulator controller circuit coupled to an I/O pad and to the programmable logic block for controlling the signal to an external voltage regulator in response to a signal on the match output.

8. The programmable system-on-a-chip integrated circuit device of claim 1 further including a third multiplexer having a first data input coupled to the RC oscillator circuit, a second data input coupled to the crystal oscillator circuit, a third data input coupled to the external oscillator input, a set of select inputs coupled to the programmable logic block, and an output coupled to the real time clock.

9. The programmable system-on-a-chip integrated circuit device of claim 1 wherein:

the real time clock has an output coupled to the programmable logic block; and

the programmable logic block is configured to enter a sleep mode in response to an input from the real time clock.

10. The programmable system-on-a-chip integrated circuit device of claim 1 further comprising:

a non-volatile memory block;

a voltage-regulator controller circuit coupled to an I/O pad, to the real time clock, to the programmable logic block and the non-volatile memory block, the voltage regulator controller circuit configured to power down the programmable logic block and the non-volatile memory block in response to a signal from the real time clock.

11. The programmable system-on-a-chip integrated circuit device of claim 10 further comprising:

an external-switch I/O pad coupled to the voltage regulator control circuit; and

wherein the voltage regulator controller circuit is configured to power down the programmable logic block and the non-volatile memory block in response to one of a signal from the real time clock or a signal on the external-switch I/O pad.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 29, 2018
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI SEMICONDUCTOR (U.S.), INC.; MICROSEMI FREQUENCY AND TIME CORPORATION; MICROSEMI COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; MICROSEMI SOC CORP.; MICROSEMI CORP. - POWER PRODUCTS GROUP; MICROSEMI CORP. - RF INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS
Reel/Frame 046251/0391 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 3, 2016
From: MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI SEMICONDUCTOR (U.S.) INC. (F/K/A LEGERITY, INC., ZARLINK SEMICONDUCTOR (V.N.) INC., CENTELLAX, INC., AND ZARLINK SEMICONDUCTOR (U.S.) INC.); MICROSEMI FREQUENCY AND TIME CORPORATION (F/K/A SYMMETRICON, INC.); MICROSEMI COMMUNICATIONS, INC. (F/K/A VITESSE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION); MICROSEMI SOC CORP. (F/K/A ACTEL CORPORATION); MICROSEMI CORP. - POWER PRODUCTS GROUP (F/K/A ADVANCED POWER TECHNOLOGY INC.); MICROSEMI CORP. - RF INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS (F/K/A AML COMMUNICATIONS, INC.)
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 037691/0697 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORP.-ANALOG MIXED SIGNAL GROUP, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; MICROSEMI SOC CORP., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; MICROSEMI SEMICONDUCTOR (U.S.) INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; MICROSEMI FREQUENCY AND TIME CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; MICROSEMI COMMUNICATIONS, INC. (F/K/A VITESSE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION), A DELAWARE CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORP.-MEMORY AND STORAGE SOLUTIONS (F/K/A WHITE ELECTRONIC DESIGNS CORPORATION), AN INDIANA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 037558/0711 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 28, 2015
From: ACTEL CORPORATION
To: MICROSEMI SOC CORP.
Reel/Frame 037393/0572 →
NOTICE OF SUCCESSION OF AGENCY Recorded Apr 9, 2015
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA (AS SUCCESSOR TO MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC)
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 035657/0223 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 11, 2011
From: WHITE ELECTRONIC DESIGNS CORP.; ACTEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION
To: MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 025783/0613 →