The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 09, 2013
Filed:
Oct. 17, 2011
Michael E. Runas, McKinney, TX (US);
James S. Blomgren, Austin, TX (US);
Michael E. Runas, McKinney, TX (US);
James S. Blomgren, Austin, TX (US);
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Abstract
A system and method for reducing power consumption within clock distribution on a semiconductor chip. A 4-phase clock generator within a clock distribution network provides 4 non-overlapping clock signals dependent upon a received input clock. A reduced voltage swing clock generator receives the non-overlapping clock signals and charges and discharges a second set of clock lines in a manner sequenced by the non-overlapping clock signals. The sequencing prevents a voltage range from reaching a magnitude equal to a power supply voltage for each of the second set of clock lines. In one embodiment, the magnitude reaches half of the power supply voltage. The reduced voltage swing latch receives the second set of clock lines. The reduced voltage swing latch updates and maintains logical state based at least upon the received second set of clock lines.