Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0032591, filed on Mar. 9, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a clock generation circuit. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    As the operation speed of an integrated circuit increases, clocking power consumption and speed bottlenecking become serious issues. In order to solve such problems, the integrated circuit operates at low clock speed and only the I/O circuit operates at high speed. Additionally, the integrated circuit uses multiple internal clocks having multiple phases. 
         [0006]    For example, four internal clocks, each of which has a phase difference of 90°, are generated from an external clock. Conducting internal operations using four internal clocks that operate at low-speed alleviates the internal operation speed problems, while the I/O operation speed is still high. The I/O operations are conducted by serialization of the four internal clocks at the input and output of the internal circuit. 
         [0007]    The internal clocks having multiple phases can be made by generating two internal clocks having phases of 0° and 90° and generating two internal clocks having phases of 180° and 270°, which are inverted versions of the two former internal clocks. That is, a pair of the internal clocks having phases of 0° and 180° are generated, and the other pair of the internal clocks having phases of 90° and 270° are generated. The phase relationship between the internal clocks should be always maintained. 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a clock generation circuit for generating internal clocks CK 1  to CK 4  having four difference phases. In  FIG. 1 , each phase difference among the internal clocks CK 1  to CK 4  is 90°. 
         [0009]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the clock generation circuit may include D flip-flops DFF 1  and DFF 2  and inverters I 1  and I 2 . 
         [0010]    The first D flip-flop DFF 1  may output a value of an input node D to an output node Q at the rising edge of a reference clock CK. When a reset signal RSTB is enabled, the first D flip-flop DFF 1  may low-disable the signal of the output node Q. The output signal of the first D flip-flop DFF 1  may be inverted by the inverter I 1  and input to the input node D of the first D flip-flop DFF 1 . In this case, a clock output from the output node Q of the first D flip-flop DFF 1  may be the first clock CK 1  having a phase of 0°, and a clock input to the input node D of the first D flip-flop DFF 1  may be the third clock CK 3  having a phase of 180°. 
         [0011]    The second D flip-flop DFF 2  may output a value of an input node D to an output node Q at the rising edge of a reference inversion clock CKB. The reference inversion clock CKB may have the opposite phase to the clock CK. When the reference reset signal RSTB is enabled, the second D flip-flop DFF 2  may low-disable the signal of the output node Q. The signal output to the output node Q of the second D flip-flop DFF 2  may be inverted by the inverter  12  and input to the input node D of the second D flip-flop DFF 2 . In this case, a clock output from the output node Q of the second D flip-flop DFF 2  may be the second clock CK 2  having a phase of 90°, and a clock input to the input node D may be the fourth clock CK 4  having a phase of 270°. 
         [0012]    In order for the integrated circuit to operate, the first to fourth clocks CK 1  to CK 4  generated by the clock generation circuit of  FIG. 1  need to have a constant phase relationship. 
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating problems which may occur in the clock generation circuit of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0014]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , it is assumed that at time point A the duty ratios of the reference clock CK and the reference inversion clock CKB are distorted due to noise generated in the integrated circuit. The distortion makes the first clock CK 1  fail to toggle at time point T 1 , when it is supposed to. However, the second clock CK 2  has shifted properly at time point T 2 , and thus the first to fourth clocks CK 1  to CK 4  have mismatched phase relationships as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . That is, the first to fourth clocks CK 1  to CK 4  have phases of 90°, 270°, 0°, and 180°. With the Internal clocks CK 1  to CK 4  having mismatched phase relationships, the integrated circuit cannot operate properly. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0015]    Various embodiments are directed to a clock generation circuit capable of recovering phase relationships among multiple-phase clocks when the phase relationship is distorted. 
         [0016]    In an embodiment, a clock generation circuit may include a clock generation unit suitable for generating a first clock, a first inversion clock having an opposite phase to the first clock, a second clock having a different phase from the first clock, and a second inversion clock having an opposite phase to the second clock; and a reset control unit suitable for comparing the phases of the first and second clocks, and controlling the clock generation unit to disable for a time and then enable the second clock and the second inversion clock when the second clock leads the first clock. 
         [0017]    In an embodiment, a clock generation circuit may include a first clock generation unit suitable for generating a first clock and a first inversion clock having an opposite phase to the first clock, disabling the first clock and the first inversion clock when a first reset signal is enabled, and enabling the first clock and the first inversion clock when the first reset signal is disabled; a second clock generation unit suitable for generating a second clock having a different phase from the first clock and a second inversion clock having an opposite phase to the second clock, disabling the second clock and the second inversion clock when a second reset signal is enabled, and enabling the second clock and the second inversion clock when the second reset signal is disabled; a detection signal generation unit suitable for generating a detection signal by detecting a logic value of either the second clock or the second inversion clock at an edge of the first clock; and a reset signal generation unit suitable for generating the first reset signal in response to a reference reset signal, and generating the second reset signal in response to the first reset signal while the detection signal is enabled. 
         [0018]    In an embodiment, a clock generation circuit may include a first D flip-flop suitable for outputting a signal input through a first input node to a first output node at an edge of a reference clock when a first reset signal is disabled, inverting the signal of the first output node, and feeding the inverted signal back to the first input node; a second D flip-flop suitable for outputting a signal input through a second input node to a second output node at an edge of a reference inversion clock having an opposite phase to the reference clock when a second reset signal is disabled, inverting the signal of the second output node, and feeding the inverted signal back to the second input node; a third D flip-flop suitable for outputting either the signal of the second input node or the signal of the second output node as a detection signal at an edge of the signal of the first output node when a reference reset signal is disabled; and a fourth D flip-flop suitable for outputting the first reset signal as the second reset signal at an edge of the reference clock while the signal of the first output node has a predetermined logic value when the detection signal is disabled. 
         [0019]    In an embodiment, a clock generation circuit may include a clock generation unit suitable for generating a first clock, a first inversion clock having an opposite phase to the first clock, a second clock having a different phase from the first clock, and a second inversion clock having an opposite phase to the second clock; a phase comparison unit suitable for comparing the phases of the first and second clocks; and a clock transfer unit suitable for transferring the first clock, the second clock, the first inversion clock, and the second inversion clock as first to fourth output clocks in accordance with a relationship based on the comparison result. 
         [0020]    In an embodiment, a clock generation circuit may include a first clock generation unit suitable for generating a first clock by dividing a reference clock by 2 and generating a first inversion clock by inverting the first clock; a second clock generation unit suitable for generating a second clock by dividing a reference inversion clock, which has an opposite phase to the reference clock, by 2 and generating a second inversion clock by inverting the second clock; a detection unit suitable for detecting a logic values of either the second clock or the second inversion clock at an edge of the first clock; and a clock transfer unit suitable for transferring the first clock, the second clock, the first inversion clock, and the second inversion clock as first to fourth output clocks in accordance with a relationship based on the comparison result. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a clock generation circuit for generating internal clocks having four difference phases. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating problems which may occur in the clock generation circuit of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a configuration diagram illustrating a clock generation circuit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a configuration diagram illustrating a clock generation unit of  FIG. 3  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a configuration diagram illustrating a reset control unit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an initialization operation of a clock generation circuit of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating a reset operation of the clock generation circuit in accordance with the embodiments of  FIGS. 3 and 6 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a configuration diagram illustrating a clock generation circuit in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  is a configuration diagram illustrating a first example of a clock transfer unit of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 10  is a configuration diagram illustrating a second example of a clock transfer unit of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating an operation of a clock generation circuit including a first example of a clock transfer unit of  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating an operation of a clock generation circuit including a second example of a clock transfer unit of  FIGS. 8 and 10 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]    Various embodiments will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art. Throughout the disclosure, like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures and embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  is a configuration diagram illustrating a clock generation circuit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the clock generation circuit may include a clock generation unit  310  and a reset control unit  320 . 
         [0036]    The clock generation unit  310  may generate a first clock CK 1  and a first inversion clock CK 3  in response to a reference clock CK, and generate a second clock CK 2  and a second inversion clock CK 4  in response to a reference inversion clock CKB having the opposite phase of the reference clock CK. Each pair of the first and the second clocks CK 1  and CK 2  and the first and the second inversion clocks CK 3  and CK 4  may have a phase difference of 90°. The first clock CK 1  may have a phase of 0°, the second clock CK 2  may have a phase of 90°, the first inversion clock CK 3  may have a phase of 180°, and the second inversion clock CK 4  may have a phase of 270°. 
         [0037]    The first clock CK 1  may be generated by dividing the reference clock CK by 2, and the second clock CK 2  may be generated by dividing the reference inversion clock CKB by 2. Through the 2-divisions, the first and second clocks CK 1  and CK 2  may have half the frequency and doubled the period of the reference and reference inversion clocks CK and CKB. 
         [0038]    The reset control unit  320  may control a reset operation of the clock generation unit  310 . The reset operation may disable one or more of the clocks CK 1  to CK 4  for a given time so that the target clock(s) does not toggle, and then resumes toggling. 
         [0039]    The reset control unit  320  may compare the phases of the first and second clocks CK 1  and CK 2 , and control the clock generation unit  310  so that the second clock CK 2  and the second inversion clock CK 4  are disabled for a given time and then enabled when the second clock CK 2  leads the first clock CK 1 . The reset control unit  320  may compare the phases of the first and second clocks CK 1  and CK 2  in several ways. 
         [0040]    For example, the reset control unit  320  may compare the phases of the first and second clocks CK 1  and CK 2  by detecting the logic value of the second clock CK 2  at the rising edge of the first clock CK 1 . The second clock CK 2  may have logic low value at the rising edge of the first clock CK 1  when the first clock CK 1  leads the second clock CK 2 . The second clock CK 2  may have logic high value at the rising edge of the first clock CK 1  when the second clock CK 2  leads the first clock CK 1 . Accordingly, in the latter case, the reset control unit  320  may perform the reset operation to the clock generation unit  310  so that the second clock CK 2  and the second inversion clock CK 4  are disabled for a while and then enabled. 
         [0041]    For another example, the reset control unit  320  may compare the phases of the first and second clocks CK 1  and CK 2  by detecting the logic value of the second inversion clock CK 4  at the rising edge of the first clock CK 1 . As described above, the second inversion clock CK 4  is inverted from the second clock CK 2 . When the first clock CK 1  leads the second clock CK 2 , the second inversion clock CK 4  has a logic high value at the rising edge of the first clock CK 1 . When the second clock CK 2  leads the first clock CK 1 , the logic value of the second inversion clock CK 4  may have a logic low value at the rising edge of the first clock CK 1 . Accordingly, in the latter case, the reset control unit  320  may perform the reset operation to the clock generation unit  310  so that the second clock CK 2  and the second inversion clock CK 4  are disabled for a given time and then enabled again. 
         [0042]    In addition, the reset control unit  320  may compare the phases of the first and second clocks CK 1  and CK 2  through various ways, and perform the reset operation to the clock generation unit  310  according to the comparison result. 
         [0043]    When the first clock CK 1  leads the second clock CK 2 , the reset control unit  320  may control the clock generation unit  310  to keep enabling the second clock CK 2  and the second inversion clock CK 4 . 
         [0044]    A reference reset signal RSTB may stay low-enabled before an initialization operation of the clock generation circuit, and stay high-disabled during and after the initialization operation. The reference reset signal RSTB may stay high-disabled during the reset operation. During the initialization operation, the clock generation circuit may be activated. During the reset operation, the clock generation circuit may disable the second clock CK 2  and the second inversion clock CK 4  for an amount of time that is based on the comparison result and then enable them to correct the misalignment of the phase difference between the first and second clocks CK 1  and CK 2 . 
         [0045]    When the reference reset signal RSTB is disabled at activation of the clock generation circuit, the reset control unit  320  may control the clock generation unit  310  to enable the first clock CK 1  and the first inversion clock CK 3  at the rising edge of the reference clock CK and then enable the second clock CK 2  and the second inversion clock CK 4  at the rising edge of the reference inversion clock CKB. For example, at the activation of the clock generation circuit, an integrated circuit including the clock generation circuit is powered on. At the activation of the clock generation circuit, all of the first to fourth clocks CK 1  to CK 4  of the clock generation circuit may be disabled in their initial state. In this example, the reference reset signal RSTB is a high-disabled and low-enabled signal. 
         [0046]    The reset control unit  320  may detect misalignment of the phase difference between the first and second clocks CK 1  and CK 2 , and may correct the misalignment by disabling the second clock CK 2  and the second inversion clocks CK 4  for a given time based on the detection result. 
         [0047]    For reference, the first clock CK 1  may lead the second clock CK 2  by the phase of 90° because the first and second clocks CK 1  and CK 2  are respectively generated through the 2-division of the reference clock CK and the reference inversion clock CKB. Accordingly, when the phases of the first clock CK 1  and the second clock CK 2  are mismatched (i.e., the second clock CK 2  lead the first clock CK 1  by 90°), the reset control unit  320  may correct the misalignment of the phase difference between the first and second clocks CK 1  and CK 2  (i.e., the first clock CK 1  leads the second clock CK 2  by 90°) by disabling the second clock CK 2  and the second inversion clocks CK 4  for a given time based on the detection result. 
         [0048]    A detailed configuration and operation of the clock generation circuit of  FIG. 3  are described below with reference to  FIGS. 4 to 7 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 4  is a configuration diagram illustrating the clock generation unit  310  of  FIG. 3  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the clock generation unit  310  may include a first clock generation unit  410  and a second clock generation unit  420 . 
         [0051]    The first clock generation unit  410  may disable the first clock CK 1  and the first inversion clock CK 3  when a first reset signal RST 1 B is enabled, and may enable the first clock CK 1  and the first inversion clock CK 3  when the first reset signal RST 1 B is disabled. The first reset signal RST 1 B may be a high-disabled and low-enabled signal. When the first reset signal RST 1 B is disabled, the first clock generation unit  410  may generate the first clock CK 1  through the 2-division of the reference clock CK and generate the first inversion clock CK 3  by inverting the first clock CK 1 . When the first reset signal RST 1 B is enabled, the first clock generation unit  410  may low-disable the first clock CK 1  and high-disable the first inversion clock CK 3 . 
         [0052]    The first clock generation unit  410  may include a first D flip-flop  411  and a first inverter  412 . When the first reset signal RST 1 B is disabled, the first D flip-flop  411  may output the logic value of a first input node D 1  to a first output node Q 1  at the rising edge of the clock CK. A signal of the first output node Q 1  may be inverted by the first inverter  412  and input to the first input node D 1 . When the first reset signal RST 1 B is enabled, the first D flip-flop  411  may low-disable the signal of the first output node Q 1 , and may high-disable the signal of the first input node D 1 . For reference, the signal of the first output node Q 1  may be the first clock CK 1 , and the signal of the first input node D 1  may be the first inversion clock CK 3 . 
         [0053]    The second clock generation unit  420  may disable the second clock CK 2  and the second inversion clock CK 4  when a second reset signal RST 2 B is enabled, and enable the second clock CK 2  and the second inversion clock CK 4  when the second reset signal RST 2 B is disabled. Similar to the first reset signal RST 1 B, the second reset signal RST 1 B may be a high-disabled and low-enabled signal. When the second reset signal RST 2 B is disabled, the second clock generation unit  420  may generate the second clock CK 2  through the 2-division of the reference inversion clock CKB and generate the second inversion clock CK 4  by inverting the second clock CK 2 . When the second reset signal RST 2 B is enabled, the second clock generation unit  420  may high-disable the second clock CK 2  and low-disable the second inversion clock CK 4 . 
         [0054]    The second clock generation unit  420  may include a second D flip-flop  421  and a second inverter  422 . When the second reset signal RST 2 B is disabled, the second D flip-flop  421  may output the logic value of a second input node D 2  to a second output node Q 2  at the rising edge of the reference inversion clock CKB. A signal output by the second output node Q 2  may be inverted by the second inverter  422  and then input to the second input node D 2 . When the second reset signal RST 2 B is enabled, the second D flip-flop  421  may high-disable the signal of the second output node Q 2 , and may low-disable the signal of the second input node D 2 . For reference, the signal of the second output node Q 2  may be the second clock CK 2 , and the signal of the second input node D 2  may be the second inversion clock CK 4 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 5  is a configuration diagram illustrating the reset control unit  320  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the reset control unit  320  may include a detection signal generation unit  510  and a reset signal generation unit  520 . 
         [0057]    The detection signal generation unit  510  may generate a detection signal DETB based on a logic value of the second clock CK 2  detected at the rising edge of the first clock CK 1 . When the reference reset signal RSTB is enabled, the detection signal generation unit  510  may enable the detection signal DETB. The detection signal DETB may be a high-disabled and low-enabled signal. When the reference reset signal RSTB is disabled, the detection signal generation unit  510  may high-disable the detection signal DETB in response to the high-logic-valued second inversion clock CK 4  or the low-logic-valued second clock CK 2  at the rising edge of the first clock CK 1  and may low-enable the detection signal DETB in response to the low-logic-valued second inversion clock CK 4  or the high-logic-valued second clock CK 2  at the rising edge of the first clock CK 1 . 
         [0058]    The detection signal generation unit  510  may include a third D flip-flop  511  for outputting the low-enabled detection signal DETB through a third output node Q 3  when the reference reset signal RSTB is enabled. When the reference reset signal RSTB is disabled, the detection signal generation unit  510  may output the logic value of a third input node D 3  to the third output node Q 3  at the rising edge of the first clock CK 1 . The signal of the third input node D 3  may be the second inversion clock CK 4  inverted from the second clock CK 2 , and the signal of the third output node Q 3  may be the detection signal DETB. Instead of the second inversion clock CK 4 , the detection signal generation unit  510  may use the second clock CK 2 , which is the inverted version of the second inversion dock CK 4 , as the input to the third input node D 3  with slight modification thereof. 
         [0059]    The reset signal generation unit  520  may generate the first and the second reset signals RST 1 B and RST 2 B. When the reference reset signal RSTB is high-disabled, the reset signal generation unit  520  may high-disable the first reset signal RST 1 B at the rising edge of the clock CK. When the reference reset signal RSTB is low-enabled, the reset signal generation unit  520  may low-enable the first reset signal RST 1 B. When the detection signal DETB is low-enabled, the reset signal generation unit  520  may low-enable the second reset signal RST 2 B. When the detection signal DETB is high-disabled, the reset signal generation unit  520  may output the first reset signal RST 1 B as the second reset signal RST 2 B at the falling edge of the reference clock CK while the first clock CK 1  has a logic low value. That is, the reset signal generation unit  520  may low-enable the second reset signal RST 2 B when the first reset signal RST 1 B is low-enabled at the falling edge of the reference clock CK while the first clock CK 1  has a logic low value, and high-disable the second reset signal RST 2 B when the first reset signal RST 1 B is high-disabled at the falling edge of the reference clock CK while the first clock CK 1  has a logic low value. 
         [0060]    The reset signal generation unit  520  may include a NOR gate  521  and fourth and fifth D flip-flops  522  and  523 . The NOR gate  521  may generate a release signal RELEASE by performing a NOR combination of the reference clock CK and the first clock CK 1 . The release signal RELEASE may toggle with the opposite phase of the reference clock CK while the first clock CK 1  has a logic low value, and may have a logic low value while the first clock CK 1  has a logic high value. The release signal RELEASE may have a falling edge at the rising edge of the reference clock CK while the first clock CK 1  has a logic low value. 
         [0061]    When the detection signal DETB is low-enabled, the fourth D flip-flop  522  may low-enable the second reset signal RST 2 B of a fourth output node Q 4 . When the detection signal DETB is high-disabled, the fourth D flip-flop  522  may output the logic value of the first reset signal RST 1 B of a fourth input node D 4  to the fourth output node Q 4  as the second reset signal RST 2 B at the rising edge of the release signal RELEASE. 
         [0062]    When the reference reset signal RSTB is low-enabled, the fifth D flip-flop  523  may low-enable the first reset signal RST 1 B of a fifth output node Q 5 . When the reference reset signal RSTB is high-disabled, the fifth D flip-flop  523  may output a logic high value of a fifth input node D 5  to the fifth output node Q 5  as the high-disabled first reset signal RST 1 B at the rising edge of the reference clock CK. 
         [0063]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating the initialization operation of the clock generation circuit of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0064]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the initialization operation may start from a time point T 1  when the reference reset signal RSTB is low-disabled. 
         [0065]    Before the initialization operation, the reference reset signal RSTB, the first reset signal RST 1 B, and the second reset signal RST 2 B are low-enabled. The first and the second clocks CK 1  and CK 2  are low-disabled, and the first and the second inversion clocks CK 3  and CK 4  are high-disabled. The detection signal DETB is low-enabled. 
         [0066]    When the reference reset signal RSTB is high-disabled, at the following rising edge R 1  of the reference clock CK, the first reset signal RST 1 B may be high-disabled. When the first reset signal RST 1 B is high-disabled, the first and the second clocks CK 1  and CK 3  may start to toggle. When the first clock CK 1  starts to toggle, the detection signal DETB may be high-disabled at the following rising edge R 2  of the first clock CK 1 . 
         [0067]    Before enablement of the first clock CK 1 , the release signal RELEASE has an opposite waveform of the reference clock CK. After enablement of the first clock CK 1 , the release signal RELEASE has the opposite waveform of the reference clock CK only while the first clock CK 1  has a logic low value. 
         [0068]    When the detection signal DETB is high-disabled, the first reset signal RST 1 B at the following rising edge R 3  of the release signal RELEASE may be output as the second reset signal RST 2 B. Accordingly, the second reset signal RST 2 B may be high-disabled. When the second reset signal RST 2 B is high-disabled, the second and the fourth clocks CK 2  and CK 4  may start to toggle from the following rising edge R 4  of the reference inversion clock CKB.  FIG. 6  shows the rising edge R 3  of the release signal RELEASE corresponding to the falling edge F 1  of the reference clock CK while the first clock CK 1  has a logic low value. 
         [0069]    When the initialization operation is completed, all of the reference reset signal RSTB, the first reset signal RST 1 B, and the second reset signal RST 2 B may be high-disabled, and the first to fourth clocks CK 1  to CK 4  may toggle with the phase difference of 90°. When the detection signal DETB is high-disabled, the second reset signal RST 2 B may have the value of the first reset signal RST 1 B at each rising edge of the release signal RELEASE. When the detection signal DETB is low-enabled, the second reset signal RST 2 B may be low-enabled. The release signal RELEASE has the opposite waveform of the reference clock CK only while the first clock CK 1  has a logic low value. 
         [0070]    During normal operation after the initialization operation, the clock generation circuit may continue to generate the first to fourth clocks CK 1  to CK 4  having correct phase differences. 
         [0071]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating the reset operation of the clock generation circuit of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0072]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , it is assumed that the phases of the first and the second clocks CK 1  and CK 2  are distorted due to noise at a specific time point.  FIG. 7  illustrates an example in which the second clock CK 2  leads the first clock CK 1  by the phase amount of 90° according to the phase distortion. 
         [0073]    The detection signal DETB is low-enabled at a time point T 1  because the logic value of the second clock CK 2  (or the second inversion clock CK 4 ) is detected as high (or low) at the rising edge R 1  of the first clock CK 1 . When the detection signal DETB is low-enabled, the second reset signal RST 2 B may become low-enabled and thus the second clock CK 2  and the second inversion clock CK 4  may become disabled respectively to have logic low and high values. During the disablement of the second clock CK 2  and the second inversion clock CK 4 , the operation of detecting the logic value of the second clock CK 2  (or the second inversion clock CK 4 ) at the rising edge of the first clock CK 1  continues. Accordingly, when the logic value of the second clock CK 2  (or the second inversion clock CK 4 ) is detected as low (or high) at the rising edge R 2  of the first clock CK 1 , the detection signal DETB is high-disabled at a time point T 2 . After the detection signal DETB becomes high-disabled, the high-disabled (“H”) first reset signal RST 1 B may be outputted as the second reset signal RST 2 B at the first rising edge R 3  of the release signal RELEASE, which corresponds to the falling edge F 1  of the reference clock CK during logic low of the first clock CK 1 . Accordingly, the second reset signal RST 2 B may become high-disabled, and the second clock CK 2  and the second inversion clock CK 4  may become enabled again. 
         [0074]    Therefore, the phase relationship between the first and the second clocks CK 1  and CK 2  may be recovered through the reset operation. 
         [0075]      FIG. 8  is a configuration diagram illustrating a clock generation circuit in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0076]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the clock generation circuit may include a clock generation unit  810 , a phase comparison unit  820 , a clock transfer unit  830 , and a reset signal generation unit  840 . 
         [0077]    The clock generation unit  810  and the phase comparison unit  820  may be the same as the clock generation unit  310  and the detection signal generation unit  510  described with reference to  FIGS. 3 to 7 . 
         [0078]    The reset signal generation unit  840  may be the same as the reset signal generation unit  520  described with reference to  FIGS. 5 to 7  except that the reset signal generation unit  840  receives the reference reset signal RSTB instead of the detection signal DETB of the phase comparison unit  820 . 
         [0079]    The reset signal generation unit  840  may generate the first and the second reset signals RST 1 B and RST 2 B. When the reference reset signal RSTB is high-disabled, the reset signal generation unit  840  may high-disable the first reset signal RST 1 B at the rising edge of the clock CK. When the reference reset signal RSTB is low-enabled, the reset signal generation unit  840  may low-enable the first reset signal RST 1 B. When the reference reset signal RSTB is low-enabled, the reset signal generation unit  840  may low-enable the second reset signal RST 2 B. When the reference reset signal RSTB is high-disabled, the reset signal generation unit  840  may output the first reset signal RST 1 B as the second reset signal RST 2 B at the falling edge of the reference clock CK while the first clock CK 1  has a logic low value. That is, the reset signal generation unit  840  may low-enable the second reset signal RST 2 B when the first reset signal RST 1 B is low-enabled at the falling edge of the reference clock CK while the first clock CK 1  has a logic low value, and high-disable the second reset signal RST 2 B when the first reset signal RST 1 B is high-disabled at the falling edge of the reference clock CK while the first clock CK 1  has a logic low value. 
         [0080]    As described above, the reference reset signal RSTB may stay low-enabled before an initialization operation of the clock generation circuit, and stay high-disabled during and after the initialization operation. The reference reset signal RSTB may stay high-disabled during the reset operation. During the initialization operation, the clock generation circuit may be activated. During the reset operation, the clock generation circuit may disable the second clock CK 2  and the second inversion clock CK 4  for an amount of time based on the comparison result and then enable them in order to correct the misalignment of the phase difference between the first and second clocks CK 1  and CK 2 . 
         [0081]    The reset signal generation unit  840  may include a NOR gate  841  and fourth and fifth D flip-flops  842  and  843 . The a NOR gate  841  and fourth and fifth D flip-flops  842  and  843  may be the same as the NOR gate  521  and fourth and fifth D flip-flops  522  and  523  described with reference to  FIGS. 5 to 7  except that the fourth D flip-flop  842  receives the reference reset signal RSTB instead of the detection signal DETB of the phase comparison unit  820 . 
         [0082]    When the reference reset signal RSTB is low-enabled, the fourth D flip-flop  842  may low-enable the second reset signal RST 2 B of the fourth output node Q 4 . When the reference reset signal RSTB is high-disabled, the fourth D flip-flop  842  may output the logic value of the first reset signal RST 1 B of the fourth input node D 4  to the fourth output node Q 4  as the second reset signal RST 2 B at the rising edge of the release signal RELEASE. 
         [0083]    The clock transfer unit  830  may transfer the first clock CK 1 , the second clock CK 2 , the first inversion clock CK 3 , and the second inversion clock CK 4  as first to fourth output clocks OCK 1  to OCK 4  according to the detection signal DETB of the phase comparison unit  810 . The first to fourth output clocks OCK 1  to OCK 4  may have a phase difference of 90°. The first output clock OCK 1  may have a phase of 0°, the second output clock OCK 2  may have a phase of 90°, the third output clock OCK 3  may have a phase of 180°, and the fourth output clock OCK 4  may have a phase of 270°. The first to fourth output clocks OCK 1  to OCK 4  may respectively represent the first clock CK 1 , the second clock CK 2 , the first inversion clock CK 3 , and the second inversion clock CK 4  having the correct phase differences. 
         [0084]    When the detection signal DETB is high-disabled, which means correct phase differences among the clocks CK 1  to CK 4 , the clock transfer unit  830  may output the first clock CK 1  as the first output clock OCK 1 , may output the second clock CK 2  as the second output clock OCK 2 , may output the first inversion clock CK 3  as the third output clock OCK 3 , and may output the second inversion clock CK 4  as the fourth output clock CK 4 . When the detection signal DETB is low-enabled, which means distortion of phase differences among the clocks CK 1  to CK 4 , the clock transfer unit  830  may output the first to fourth output clocks OCK 1  to OCK 4  respectively representing the first clock CK 1 , the second clock CK 2 , the first inversion clock CK 3 , and the second inversion clock CK 4  having the correct phase differences. 
         [0085]    Two examples will be described as follows among various ways to output the first to fourth output clocks OCK 1  to OCK 4  respectively representing the first clock CK 1 , the second clock CK 2 , the first inversion clock CK 3 , and the second inversion clock CK 4  having the correct phase differences. The examples assume that the distortion of phase differences makes the second clock CK 2  to lead the first clock CK 1  by the phase amount of 90°. 
         [0086]    In a first example, when the detection signal DETB is low-enabled, the clock transfer unit  830  may output the first inversion clock CK 3  as the first output clock OCK 1 , may output the second clock CK 2  as the second output clock OCK 2 , may output the first clock CK 1  as the third output clock OCK 3 , and may output the second inversion clock CK 4  as the fourth output clock OCK 4 . That is, the clock transfer unit  830  may correct the phase differences among the clocks CK 1  to CK 4  by selectively reordering the phase-distorted clocks CK 1  to CK 4 . Accordingly, the clock transfer unit  830  may output the first to fourth output clocks OCK 1  to OCK 4  respectively representing the first clock CK 1 , the second clock CK 2 , the first inversion clock CK 3 , and the second inversion clock CK 4  having the correct phase differences. 
         [0087]    In a second example, when the detection signal DETB is low-enabled, the clock transfer unit  830  may output the first clock CK 1  as the first output clock OCK 1 , may output the second inversion clock CK 4  as the second output clock OCK 2 , may output the first inversion clock CK 3  as the third output clock OCK 3 , and may output the second clock CK 2  as the fourth output clock OCK 4 . That is, similar to the first example, the clock transfer unit  830  may correct the phase differences among the clocks CK 1  to CK 4  by selectively reordering the phase-distorted clocks CK 1  to CK 4 . Accordingly, the clock transfer unit  830  may output the first to fourth output clocks OCK 1  to OCK 4  respectively representing the first clock CK 1 , the second clock CK 2 , the first inversion clock CK 3 , and the second inversion clock CK 4  having the correct phase differences. 
         [0088]    The clock transfer unit  830  may correct the phase differences among the clocks CK 1  to CK 4  by selectively reordering the phase-distorted clocks CK 1  to CK 4  based on a result of a comparison between the phases of the first and second clocks CK 1  and CK 2  so that the first to fourth output clocks OCK 1  to OCK 4  may respectively represent the first clock CK 1 , the second clock CK 2 , the first inversion clock CK 3 , and the second inversion clock CK 4  having the correct phase differences. 
         [0089]    A detailed configuration and operation of the clock generation circuit of  FIG. 8  are described below with reference to  FIGS. 9 to 12 . 
         [0090]      FIG. 9  is a configuration diagram illustrating the first example of the clock transfer unit  830  of  FIG. 8 . Referring to  FIG. 9 , the clock transfer unit  830  may include first to fourth transfer units  910  to  940 . 
         [0091]    The first transfer unit  910  may transfer the first clock CK 1  as the first output clock OCK 1  when the detection signal DETB is disabled and transfer the first inversion clock CK 3  as the third output clock OCK 3  when the detection signal DETB is enabled. The first transfer unit  910  may include an inverter IV 1  and pass gates PA 1  and PA 2 . 
         [0092]    The second transfer unit  920  may transfer the second clock CK 2  as the second output clock OCK 2  regardless of the logic value of the detection signal DETB. The second transfer unit  920  may include an inverter IV 2  and pass gates PA 3  and PA 4 . 
         [0093]    The third transfer unit  930  may transfer the first inversion clock CK 3  as the third output clock OCK 3  when the detection signal DETB is disabled and transfer the first clock CK 1  as the third output clock OCK 3  when the detection signal DETB is enabled. The third transfer unit  930  may include an inverter IV 3  and pass gates PA 5  and PA 6 . 
         [0094]    The second transfer unit  940  may transfer the second inversion clock CK 4  as the second output clock OCK 4  regardless of the logic value of the detection signal DETB. The fourth transfer unit  940  may include an inverter IV 4  and pass gates PA 7  and PA 8 . 
         [0095]      FIG. 10  is a configuration diagram illustrating the second example of the clock transfer unit  830  of  FIG. 8 . Referring to  FIG. 10 , the clock transfer unit  830  may include first to fourth transfer units  1010  to  1040 . 
         [0096]    The first transfer unit  1010  may transfer the first clock CK 1  as the first output clock OCK 1  regardless of the logic value of the detection signal DETB. The first transfer unit  1020  may include an inverter IV 1  and pass gates PA 1  and PA 1 . 
         [0097]    The second transfer unit  1020  may transfer the second clock CK 2  as the second output clock OCK 2  when the detection signal DETB is disabled and transfer the second inversion clock CK 4  as the second output clock OCK 2  when the detection signal DETB is enabled. The second transfer unit  1020  may include an inverter IV 2  and pass gates PA 3  and PA 4 . 
         [0098]    The third transfer unit  1030  may transfer the first inversion clock CK 3  as the third output clock OCK 3  regardless of the logic value of the detection signal DETB. The third transfer unit  1030  may include an inverter IV 3  and pass gates PA 5  and PA 6 . 
         [0099]    The fourth transfer unit  1040  may transfer the second inversion clock CK 4  as the fourth output clock OCK 4  when the detection signal DETB is disabled and transfer the second clock CK 2  as the fourth output clock OCK 4  when the detection signal DETB is enabled. The fourth transfer unit  1040  may include an inverter IV 4  and pass gates PA 7  and PA 8 . 
         [0100]      FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating an operation of the clock generation circuit including the first example of the clock transfer unit  830  of  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
         [0101]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , during a section SEC 1  in which the detection signal DETB is high-disabled, the first to fourth clocks CK 1  to CK 4  may be respectively outputted as the first to fourth output clocks OCK 1  to OCK 4 , and the first to fourth output clocks OCK 1  to OCK 4  may maintain respective phases of 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°. When the second clocks CK 2  and CK 4  do not shift at T 1  due to noise of the clock CK and the reference inversion clock CKB, the phase relationships between the first to fourth output clocks OCK 1 -OCK 4  may be mismatched. 
         [0102]    In this case, when the mismatched phase relationship between the first clock CK 1  and the second clock CK 2  is detected, the detection signal DETB may be low-enabled. In section SEC 2  in which the detection signal DETB is low-enabled, the first clock CK 1  may be outputted as the third output clock OCK 3 , the second clock CK 2  may be outputted as the second output clock OCK 2 , the first inversion clock CK 3  may be outputted as the first output clock OCK 1 , and the second inversion clock CK 4  may be outputted as the fourth output clock OCK 4 . Accordingly, the first to fourth output clocks OCK 1  to OCK 4  maintain the respective phases of 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°. 
         [0103]      FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating an operation of the clock generation circuit including the second example of the clock transfer unit  830  of  FIGS. 8 and 10 . 
         [0104]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , during a section SEC 1  in which the detection signal DETB is high-disabled, the first to fourth clocks CK 1  to CK 4  may be respectively outputted as the first to fourth output clocks OCK 1  to OCK 4 , and the first to fourth output clocks OCK 1  to OCK 4  may maintain respective phases of 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°. When the second clocks CK 2  and CK 4  do not shift at T 1  due to noise of the reference clock CK and the reference inversion clock CKB, the phase relationships between the first to fourth output clocks OCK 1  to OCK 4  are mismatched. 
         [0105]    In this case, when the mismatched phase relationship between the first clock CK 1  and the second clock CK 2  is detected, the detection signal DETB may be low-enabled. In a section SEC 2  in which the detection signal DETB is low-enabled, the first clock CK 1  may be outputted as the first output clock OCK 1 , the second clock CK 2  may be outputted as the fourth output clock OCK 4 , the first inversion clock CK 3  may be outputted as the third output clock OCK 3 , and the second inversion clock CK 4  may be outputted as the second output clock OCK 2 . Accordingly, the first to fourth output clocks OCK 1  to OCK 4  maintain the respective phases of 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°. 
         [0106]    In this technology, the clock generation circuit performs a comparison between the phases of clocks having multiple phases and initializes some of the clocks or changes the order of some of the clocks when the order of the phases is different from what it is intended. Accordingly, the order of the phases of clocks having multiple phases can be maintained as intended although it has been disrupted due to noise. 
         [0107]    Although various embodiments have been described for illustrative purposes, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Technology Category: 3