Patent ID: 8570088
Filing Date: 2013-10-29
Classification: G06F,H01L,H03L

Abstract:
1. A stack-wide synchronization circuit for synchronizing an asynchronous signal in each stratum of a 3D chip stack having two or more strata interconnected using at least a first and a second chain of vias, each of the first and the second chain of vias being in a stack-wide broadcast configuration, the stack-wide synchronization circuit comprising, on each of the two or more strata: a first connection point for receiving the asynchronous signal; an off-chip receiver having an input and an output, the input connected to the connection point; an asynchronous-to-synchronous signal converter having an input connected to an output of the off-chip receiver; a driver having a non-selection input connected an output of the asynchronous-to-synchronous signal converter; a second connection point, connected to an output of the driver; an inter-strata receiver having an input connected to the second connection point; and a latch having an input connected to an output of the inter-strata receiver, wherein the first connection point is connected to the first chain of vias and the second connection point is connected to the second chain of vias, the drivers are configured such that an output of a single driver on one of the two or more strata is selected at any given time, and wherein the output of the latch on each of the two or more strata provides a stack-wide synchronous signal during a given clock cycle responsive to a receipt of the asynchronous input signal by the first connection point on any of the two or more strata during an immediately preceding clock cycle with respect to the given clock cycle.