Clock synchronization circuit having improved jitter property

{
  "publication_number": "US6573771B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Clock synchronization circuit having improved jitter property",
  "abstract": "A clock synchronization circuit. The clock synchronization circuit composed of a digital DLL outputs a clock signal delayed by a variable delay line and a clock signal delayed by an additional delay cell, mixes the two clock signals, and outputs an internal clock signal having a smaller delay than a delay time of a delay cell, thereby rapidly precisely synchronizing an external clock signal and the internal clock signal. In addition, a driving unit and a control unit for adjusting a duty cycle are provided to set up a ratio of 50%, thereby improving operation performance.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A clock synchronization circuit receiving an external clock signal, the clock synchronization comprising: a clock synchronization control means for outputting a normal delay clock signal by delaying the external clock signal for a predetermined time, and outputting an additional delay clock signal by delaying the normal delay clock signal; a phase mixing means for mixing phases of the normal delay clock signal and the additional delay clock signal from the clock synchronization control means, and outputting an internal clock signal; a control means for controlling the operation of the phase mixing means, and determining a phase of the internal clock signal; a shift register for controlling a delay time of the clock synchronization means; and a phase detecting means for comparing a phase of the external clock signal with a phase of the internal clock signal, and controlling the shift register to equalize the phases of the external clock signal and the internal clock signal.",
    "2. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein the clock synchronization control means comprises: a plurality of select output means for selectively outputting the external clock signal according to a plurality of output signals from the shift register; a plurality of unit delay cells connected in series for delaying the external clock signal selectively outputted by the select output means; an output driving means having an input terminal connected to receive a power voltage and its other input terminal connected to receive the output signal from the last unit delay cell, and outputting the normal delay output signal; and an additional delay cell for delaying the normal delay output signal for a predetermined time, and outputting the additional delay clock signal.",
    "3. The circuit according to claim 2, wherein the unit delay cell comprises: a first delay device having a first input terminal connected to receive the output signal from the previous unit delay cell, and a second input terminal connected to receive the external clock signal selectively outputted by the corresponding select output means; and a second delay device having a first input terminal connected to receive the power voltage, and a second input terminal connected to receive the output signal from the first delay device.",
    "4. The circuit according to claim 2, wherein the additional delay cell comprises: a first additional delay device having a first input terminal connected to receive the power voltage, and a second input terminal connected to receive the normal delay clock signal; and a second additional delay device having a first input terminal connected to receive the power voltage and a second input terminal connected to receive the output signal from the first additional delay device, and outputting the additional delay clock signal.",
    "5. The circuit according to claim 2, wherein the additional delay cell has the same structure as the unit delay cell, and thus has the same unit delay time.",
    "6. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein the phase mixing means comprises: a plurality of normal driving means for selectively driving the normal delay clock signal according to the control signal from the control means; a plurality of additional driving means for selectively driving the additional delay clock signal according to the control signal from the control means; and a clock mixing means for mixing the signals driven by the normal driving means and the additional driving means, and outputting the internal clock signal.",
    "7. The circuit according to claim 6, receiving a power voltage and a ground voltage, wherein the normal driving means comprises: a first PMOS transistor and a first NMOS transistor being connected in series between the power voltage and ground voltage, and having their gates connected to receive the normal delay clock signal; and a second PMOS transistor and a second NMOS transistor having their gates connected to receive the corresponding control signal from the control means, commonly-connected drains of the second PMOS transistor and the second NMOS transistor composing an output terminal.",
    "8. The circuit according to claim 6, receiving a power voltage and a ground voltage, wherein the additional driving means comprises: a first PMOS transistor and a first NMOS transistor being connected in series between the power voltage and ground voltage, and having their gates connected to receive the additional delay clock signal; and a second PMOS transistor and a second NMOS transistor having their gates connected to receive the corresponding control signal from the control means, commonly-connected drains of the second PMOS transistor and the second NMOS transistor composing an output terminal.",
    "9. The circuit according to claim 1, further comprising: a duty cycle driving means for driving the internal clock signal, and adjusting a duty cycle; and a control means for detecting a duty cycle of the output signal from the duty cycle driving means, and controlling the duty cycle driving means to have a previously-set duty cycle."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "1. Field of the Invention\n\nThe present invention relates to a clock synchronization circuit for a semiconductor memory device, and in particular to a clock synchronization circuit which can improve a jitter property by outputting a clock signal having a phase between phases of two clock signals generated in a digital delay locked loop (DLL) with a predetermined time difference by using a phase mixing unit.\n\n2. Description of the Background Art\n\nIn general, a clock synchronization circuit such as a DLL or PLL is used as a clock-generating device for compensating for a skew between an external clock signal and data or between the external clock signal and an internal clock signal.\n\nFIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional clock synchronization circuit for a semiconductor memory device. Here, a linear register controlled DLL is exemplified.\n\nThe conventional clock synchronization circuit includes: a receiving unit 1 for buffering an external clock signal EXCLK; a variable delay line 2 for delaying a buffered clock signal iCLK from the receiving unit 1, and generating an internal clock signal INCLK; a delay monitor 3 for monitoring a delay time of the internal clock signal INCLK from the variable delay line 2; a phase detector 4 for comparing a phase difference between the buffered clock signal iCLK and the internal clock signal INCLK, and outputting the results SHL and SHR; and a shift register 5 for controlling the delay time of the variable delay line 2 according to the output signals SHL and SHR from the phase detector 4.",
  "cpc": [
    "H03L 7/089",
    "G11C 8/00",
    "H03L 7/0814",
    "H03L 7/0816"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G11C 11/407",
    "G11C 8/00",
    "H03L 7/081",
    "H03L 7/089",
    "H04L 7/033"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Hynix Semiconductor Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Seong-Hoon Lee",
    "Jong Tae Kwak",
    "Chang-Ki Kwon"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2002-05-02",
  "publication_date": "2003-06-03",
  "grant_date": "2003-06-03",
  "priority_date": "2001-06-29",
  "application_number": "US-13630402-A",
  "family_id": "19711520",
  "cited_by_count": 94,
  "citations": [
    "US5875219A",
    "US6483359B2"
  ]
}