Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080303553 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A CONFIGURABLE LOW POWER HIGH FAN-IN MULTIPLEXER - A configurable, low power high fan-in multiplexer (MUX) is disclosed. The MUX circuit includes multiple current control elements, which each include multiple inverters coupled to a transmission gate. Each current control element receives a data signal and a select signal that corresponds to the data signal. If a select signal exceeds a threshold value (e.g., a logical “1”), the select signal deactivates a pull-up transistor (e.g., a p-type field effect transistor), and the transmission gate enables the corresponding data signal to provide input to a logic gate (e.g., a NAND gate) coupled to the output of the MUX. If the select signal does not exceed the threshold value, the select signal activates the pull-up transistor, and the transmission gate prevents the corresponding data signal from providing input to the logic gate. | 12-11-2008 |
20080303554 | STRUCTURE FOR A CONFIGURABLE LOW POWER HIGH FAN-IN MULTIPLEXER - A configurable, low power high fan-in multiplexer (MUX) and design structure thereof are disclosed. The MUX circuit includes multiple current control elements, which each include multiple inverters coupled to a transmission gate. Each current control element receives a data signal and a select signal that corresponds to the data signal. If a select signal exceeds a threshold value (e.g., a logical “1”), the select signal deactivates a pull-up transistor (e.g., a p-type field effect transistor), and the transmission gate enables the corresponding data signal to provide input to a logic gate (e.g., a NAND gate) coupled to the output of the MUX. If the select signal does not exceed the threshold value, the select signal activates the pull-up transistor, and the transmission gate prevents the corresponding data signal from providing input to the logic gate. | 12-11-2008 |
20090072863 | Transmission Gate Multiplexer - A technique for operating a multiplexer includes selecting, from multiple transmission gate groups, a transmission gate group. A transmission gate is selected from the selected transmission gate group. Finally, a data signal associated with the selected transmission gate is provided at an output of the multiplexer. | 03-19-2009 |
20090096486 | Structure for Transmission Gate Multiplexer - A technique and design structure for operating a multiplexer includes selecting, from multiple transmission gate groups, a transmission gate group. A transmission gate is selected from the selected transmission gate group. Finally, a data signal associated with the selected transmission gate is provided at an output of the multiplexer. | 04-16-2009 |
20090134925 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HARDENING LATCHES IN SOI CMOS DEVICES - A method of determining one or more transistors within a particular circuit to be respectively replaced with a hardened transistor includes: identifying, as not requiring hardening, one or more transistors; identifying, as candidates for hardening, each transistor in the circuit not previously identified as not requiring hardening; and employing the hardened transistor in place of a transistor identified as a candidate for hardening. The circuit is a latch and the transistor is an SOI CMOS FET. The transistor is also an SOI transistor. The series transistor includes first and second series-connected transistors having a shared source/drain region whereby a drain of the first series-connected transistor is merged with a source of the second series-connected transistor. | 05-28-2009 |
20090199036 | LSSD compatibility for GSD unified global clock buffers - A method, system and program are provided for generating level sensitive scan design (LSSD) clock signals from a general scan design (GSD) clock buffer using an intermediate clock signal and one or more first mode control signals to generate a plurality of LSSD clock signals from an output section of the GSD clock buffer that receives the intermediate clock signal and the first mode control signal(s), where the GSD clock buffer is also configured to generate a plurality of GSD clock signals in response to receiving a GSD mode, generating an intermediate clock signal from the input section of the GSD clock buffer in response receiving a GSD mode signal. | 08-06-2009 |
20090199038 | LOW-POWER MULTI-OUTPUT LOCAL CLOCK BUFFER - An improved circuit for reducing a capacitance load on a processor. The circuit includes a global clock circuit capable of producing a primary timing signal. The circuit further includes a local clock buffer circuit having a plurality of outputs. The local clock buffer circuit is connected to the global clock circuit. The local clock buffer circuit is capable of producing a secondary timing signal based on the primary timing signal. The circuit also includes a latch connected to the local clock buffer circuit. The latch is capable of producing a select signal that controls which outputs of the plurality of outputs are active. Only a third signal, based on the secondary timing signal, controls an operation of the latch. | 08-06-2009 |
20110102042 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HARDENING LATCHES IN SOI CMOS DEVICES - A method of determining one or more transistors within a particular circuit to be respectively replaced with a hardened transistor includes: identifying, as not requiring hardening, one or more transistors; identifying, as candidates for hardening, each transistor in the circuit not previously identified as not requiring hardening; and employing the hardened transistor in place of a transistor identified as a candidate for hardening. The circuit is a latch and the transistor is an SOI CMOS FET. The transistor is also an SOI transistor. The series transistor includes first and second series-connected transistors having a shared source/drain region whereby a drain of the first series-connected transistor is merged with a source of the second series-connected transistor. | 05-05-2011 |
20140138842 | CONTINUOUS VIA FOR POWER GRID - A power grid of a Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) circuit includes a sandwich structure in a cell. The sandwich structure includes a first metal layer configured to carry current along a lateral axis, and a second metal layer, parallel to the first metal layer with a gap therebetween. The second metal layer carries current along a second lateral axis which is parallel to the lateral axis of the first metal layer. The sandwich structure also includes interconnect material disposed as a continuous via throughout the gap, the continuous via interconnecting the first metal layer and the second metal layer throughout the gap. | 05-22-2014 |
20140141607 | CONTINUOUS VIA FOR POWER GRID - A power grid of a Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) circuit includes a sandwich structure in a cell. The sandwich structure includes a first metal layer configured to carry current along a lateral axis, and a second metal layer, parallel to the first metal layer with a gap therebetween. The second metal layer carries current along a second lateral axis which is parallel to the lateral axis of the first metal layer. The sandwich structure also includes interconnect material disposed as a continuous via throughout the gap, the continuous via interconnecting the first metal layer and the second metal layer throughout the gap. | 05-22-2014 |
20140201561 | CLOCK SKEW ANALYSIS AND OPTIMIZATION - A method for adjusting clock skew in a network is disclosed. A model is fit to a first clock input signal received at a first receiver of the network and to a second clock input signal received at a second receiver of the network to obtain a fitted model. A first response signal is simulated using the fitted model and the first clock input signal and a second response signal is simulated using the fitted model and the second clock input signal. A time difference is determined between the simulated first response signal and the simulated second response signal. A parameter of at least one of the network clock network, the first receiver and the second receiver is altered to adjust the determined time difference. | 07-17-2014 |
20140201695 | POWER GRID DESIGN FOR INTEGRATED CIRCUITS - A method of generating a power grid to supply current to a plurality of cells of an integrated circuit includes routing an initial power grid representing a power usage estimate for the plurality of cells. The method also includes performing power grid analysis prior to routing of signal wires to make a determination of whether the initial power grid meets power requirements of the integrated circuit, and selectively modifying portions of the initial power grid based on the performing the power grid analysis to generate the power grid. | 07-17-2014 |
20150084673 | MARGIN IMPROVEMENT FOR CONFIGURABLE LOCAL CLOCK BUFFER - A timing margin circuit of a local clock buffer circuit may include an inverter logic gate having an inverter input and an inverter output, whereby the inverter input receives an input clock signal. A NAND logic gate includes a first NAND input coupled to the inverter output, a second NAND input, and a NAND output. The circuit also includes a logic device having a first logic device input that is coupled to the inverter output, a second logic device input that receives a mode selection signal, and a logic device output that couples to the second NAND input, whereby the NAND logic gate generates a first time delayed input clock signal and a second time delayed input clock signal, such that the first and the second time delayed input clock signal control a falling edge transition of a local clock signal derived from the input clock signal. | 03-26-2015 |