Altera Corporation

Imp Inc.

Rambus Inc.

Silicon Bridge Inc.

Sriram Narayan

Sergey Yuryevich Shumarayev

Xiaoyan Su

Wilson Wong

Weiqi Ding

Hans W Klein

Richard G Cliff

Tim Tri Hoang

Peng T Li

Thungoc M Tran

Cosmin Iorga

Kumara Tharmalingam

Tien Duc Pham

Peng Li

A delay circuit device configured for delay adjustment monotonicity and method of operating therefor. This delay circuit device is configured with hybrid coarse-fine delay cells and uses a sequence of these delay cells activated in a way that builds-up the delay as a sequence of fine steps until it reaches the coarse delay value. This configuration allows for the continuing build of propagation delay by adding the fine steps of the following delay cells. In this manner, the monotonicity of the signal delay circuit is ensured by the architecture independent from device mismatch, thus eliminating problems with conventional delay circuits such as gaps and overlaps specific the these conventional delay cells.

Method and circuit for delay adjustment monotonicity in a delay line

One embodiment relates to a receiver circuit for a data link. The receiver circuit includes at least a first signal path, a second signal path, and a path selector circuit. The first signal path includes first equalization circuitry, and the second signal path includes second equalization circuitry. The path selector circuit is configured to select one signal path of the first and second signal paths. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed.

Flexible receiver architecture

Systems and methods are disclosed for employing an equalization technique that improves equalizer input sensitivity and which reduces power consumption. In particular, an equalization architecture is described that includes a continuous-time linear equalizer and a decision feedback equalizer, each with offset cancellation that enables the equalizer to be used at high data rates. In addition, the equalization structure has a power-saving mode for bypassing the decision feedback equalizer. These offset cancellation and power-saving features are enabled and controlled using programmable logic on a programmable device.

Reconfigurable equalization architecture for high-speed receivers

Equalizer circuitry on an integrated circuit ('IC') includes first, second, and third continuous time, equalizer stages connected in series. Each stage includes peaking inductor circuitry. The equalizer circuitry may further include controllably variable, static, DC mode offset voltage compensation circuitry and/or dynamic, continuous mode, offset voltage compensation circuitry for respectively reducing DC voltage offset and/or time-varying, continuous mode voltage offset between an output of the third equalizer stage and utilization circuitry to which that output is applied. The first equalizer stage may be preceded by termination circuitry having controllably variable impedance. Differential circuitry and signalling may be used for various circuit components. The equalizer circuitry is particularly useful for fabrication as part of a programmable IC, using 28 nm CMOS technology, and as a receiver equalizer for a high-speed serial data signal having a bit rate of 20-25 Gbps.

Receiver equalizer circuitry with offset voltage compensation for use on integrated circuits

One embodiment relates to an integrated circuit including a first strip of phase-locked loop (PLL) circuits on a first side of the integrated circuit, and a second strip of PLL circuits on a second side of the integrated circuit which is opposite from the first side. The PLL circuits in the first and second strips may be configured by programming the integrated circuit. Another embodiment relates to an integrated circuit including a plurality of phase-locked loop (PLL) circuits and a plurality of physical media attachment (PMA) triplet modules adjacent to the plurality of PLL circuits. Each PMA triplet module includes first, second and third channels. The first and third channels are arranged for use as receiving channels, and the second channel is arranged to be configurable as either a receiving channel or a clock multiplication unit. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed.

Phase-locked loop architecture and clock distribution system

A test driver transmitter drives a test signal through a resistive termination circuit to a first pin to test components on a board during a boundary scan test operation. A test receiver receives the test signal through a second pin and a pass gate coupled to the second pin during the boundary scan test operation. A test signal is transmitted to the test receiver during loopback operation through a loopback circuit.

Techniques for boundary scan testing using transmitters and receivers

A circuit includes a current mirror circuit and first and second transistors coupled as a differential pair. A first input voltage is provided to a control input of the first transistor. A second input voltage is provided to a control input of the second transistor. The current mirror circuit includes a third transistor, a fourth transistor coupled to the third transistor, and a fifth transistor coupled in series with the fourth transistor. The third transistor provides a current through the differential pair that is proportional to a current through the fourth transistor. A control input of the fourth transistor is coupled between the fifth transistor and a source of current.

Techniques for current mirror circuits

One embodiment relates to a continuous-time circuit configured with an offset cancellation loop. The continuous-time circuit includes a multi-stage amplifier chain, including a first amplifier stage and a last amplifier stage, and an offset cancellation loop. The offset cancellation loop is configured to receive an output of the last amplifier stage and to provide an offset correction voltage signal to the first amplifier stage. The offset compensation loop may create one dominant pole and a single consequential parasitic pole so as to have greater stability and may advantageously achieve a second-order roll-off in response magnitude at higher frequencies. Other embodiments, aspects, and features are also disclosed.

Offset cancellation for continuous-time circuits

A high-speed I/O driver includes circuitry that is configurable to meet single-ended and differential I/O signal standards. For one embodiment, the driver includes four input circuits that can be configured to implement two CMOS inverters to process single-ended signals or configured to implement a differential circuit to process differential signals.

Multi-function input/output driver

A circuit for detecting when peaks occur in an amplitude modulated electrical signal, and for measuring in real time the amplitudes of the detected peaks. The circuit delays the input signal a short time, and then notes when the input signal and its delayed version have the same amplitude, thereby to detect when a peak has occurred. The amplitude of the peak is then measured. This circuit and technique have particular advantages when used as part of a servo control system that positions a read/write head to accurately follow moving tracks of recorded data on magnetic tape, magnetic disks, optical disks, and the like.

Growing community of inventors

Pleasanton, CA, United States of America

Sriram Narayan