Integrated Device Technology, Inc.

Timothy Gillespie

William G Baker

David John Reid

Peter Knight

A frequency synthesizer IC is disclosed that includes a variable delay circuit, a fractional-N phase locked loop circuit, and a feedback loop. The variable delay circuit is electrically coupled to the input of the fractional-N phase locked loop circuit. The feedback loop couples a first control signal from the fractional-N phase locked loop to the variable delay circuit. The variable delay circuit generates a reference signal that has a phase delay that varies in accordance with a second control signal and a first control signal. The fractional-N phase locked loop circuit is operable upon receiving the reference signal to generate the first control signal, the second control signal, and an output signal having a frequency that is a non-integer product of the reference signal.

Low jitter frequency synthesizer

An auto voltage sense circuit uses voltage controlled current sources to generate a desired reference voltage level that closely tracks the variations and changes of a first voltage level and a second voltage level. The auto voltage sensing circuit includes a first voltage controlled current source operable to receive the first voltage level to generate a reference current that is proportional to the first voltage level. The auto voltage sensing circuit also includes a second voltage controlled current source operable to receive the second voltage level and the reference voltage to generate an output current that is proportional to the difference between the second voltage level and the reference voltage. The reference voltage causes the output current to be approximately equal to the reference current so as to generate a reference voltage that is proportional to the difference between the second voltage level and the first voltage level.

Voltage sensing circuit

A high speed MOSFET output driver is disclosed that includes a voltage level shifter stage operable to transition an input signal at a first voltage level to an output signal at a second voltage level, an output stage operable to drive high voltage output load, and a hot inverter, biased between the second voltage level and the bias voltage such that the voltage gain of the output signal is increased and at the same time the minimum voltage level of the output signal introduced to the output stage is decreased, improving the control and the transition time of the output signal and allowing all components of the high speed MOSFET output driver of the present invention to be fabricated using a single thin gate oxide process.

High speed MOSFET output driver

Ripple counter circuits in integrated circuit devices can have fast terminal count capability. A terminal count circuit can be configured to mask selected unstable counter bits generated by a ripple counter circuit using an indication that a terminal state of the ripple counter circuit has been reached. Related methods are also disclosed.

Ripple counter circuits in integrated circuit devices having fast terminal count capability and methods of operating the same

Integrated circuit inductors achieve high quality factors by replacing a single conductive strand having a first cross-sectional area with a plurality of conductive strands having a combined second cross-sectional area that is smaller than the first cross-sectional area and a combined periphery that is greater than a periphery of the single conductive strand. The dimensions of the plurality of the conductive strands are greater than a skin depth at a desired operating frequency. This results in slightly higher dc resistance, but significantly lower ac resistance. The conductive strands are electrically coupled in parallel and extend side-by-side across an integrated circuit substrate. These strands include a plurality of crossing strand segments that enable the respective strand to be repeatedly transposed from one side of the plurality of strands to another side of the plurality of strands without electrical interruption. In some embodiments, the plurality of strands extend side-by-side in a horizontal plane that is at least substantially parallel to a surface of the integrated circuit substrate. In these embodiments, the crossing strand segments may be treated as cross-over/under strand segments.

Integrated circuit inductors having high quality factors

Integrated circuit charge pumps reduce parasitic charge injection from signals that drive control inputs of the charge pumps. This reduction in parasitic charge injection can be utilized to lower phase error when the charge pumps are used in phase-locked loops (PLLs). A charge pump may include an output current source and a control circuit that drives the output current source with control signals in a preferred manner. The output current source may include a totem pole driver therein. This totem pole driver includes at least an upper PMOS supply transistor and a lower PMOS current source transistor that are disposed in series in a pull-up path extending between an output of the driver and a power supply line (e.g., Vdd). The control circuit may include a pull-up control circuit that is configured to drive a gate of the upper PMOS supply transistor with a PMOS turn-on voltage in response to a leading edge of a pull-up control signal.

Growing community of inventors

Beverly Hills, Australia

Timothy Gillespie