Low latency flop circuit

Abstract

A flop circuit comprises a precharge circuit for precharging a first node in response to an occurrence of a first phase of a timing signal, and a discharge circuit for conditionally discharging the first node in response to an occurrence of a second phase of the timing signal depending upon a data input signal. The flop circuit further comprises a voltage retention circuit, such as a latch, configured to store a retained logic value that depends upon a logic value present at the first node during at least a portion of the second phase of the timing signal, and an output circuit configured to generate an output signal that depends upon the data input signal. The output circuit may be configured to drive the output signal in a first logic state when the first node is discharged regardless of the retained logic value, and may be configured to drive the output signal in a logic state that depends upon the retained logic value when the first node is charged. In one particular embodiment, the output circuit is implemented using a NAND gate.