Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a typical computer system  10  has, among other components, a microprocessor  12 , one or more forms of memory  14 , integrated circuits  16  having specific functionalities, and peripheral computer resources (not shown), e.g., monitor, keyboard, software programs, etc. These components communicate with one another via communication paths  19 , e.g., wires, buses, etc., to accomplish the various tasks of the computer system  10 . 
     In order to properly accomplish such tasks, the computer system  10  relies on the basis of time to coordinate its various operations. To that end, a crystal oscillator  18  generates a system clock signal (referred to and known in the art as “reference clock” and shown in FIG. 1 as sys_clk) to various parts of the computer system  10 . Modern microprocessors and other integrated circuits, however, are typically capable of operating at frequencies significantly higher than the system clock, and thus, it becomes important to ensure that operations involving the microprocessor  12  and the other components of the computer system  10  use a proper and accurate reference of time. 
     One component used within the computer system  10  to ensure a proper reference of time among a system clock and a microprocessor clock, i.e., “chip clock,” is a type of clock generator known as a phase locked loop, or “PLL”  20 . The PLL  20  is an electronic circuit that controls an oscillator such that the oscillator maintains a constant phase relative to a reference signal. Referring to FIG. 1, the PLL  20  has as its input the system clock, which is its reference signal, and outputs a chip clock signal (shown in FIG. 1 as chip_clk) to the microprocessor  12 . The system clock and chip clock have a specific phase and frequency relationship that is controlled and maintained by the PLL  20 . This relationship between the phases and frequencies of the system clock and chip clock ensures that the various components within the microprocessor  12  use a controlled and accounted for reference of time. When this relationship is not maintained by the PLL  20 , however, the operations within the computer system  10  may become non-deterministic. 
     FIG. 2 shows a diagram of a typical PLL  30 . The PLL  30  uses a phase frequency detector  36  that operatively receives an input clock signal, clk_in  32 , and a feedback clock signal, fbk_clk  34 . The phase frequency detector  36  compares the phases of the input clock signal  32  and the feedback clock signal  34 , and dependent on the comparison, the phase frequency detector  36  outputs pulses on UP  38  and DOWN  40  signals to a charge pump  42 . Depending on the pulses on the UP  38  and DOWN  40  signals, the charge pump  42  transfers charge to or from a loop filter capacitor  46  via a voltage control signal, Vctrl  45 . Those skilled in the art will understand that the loop filter capacitor  46  along with a loop filter resistor  44  form a ‘loop filter’ of the PLL  30 . 
     The voltage control signal  45  serves as an input to a bias generator  50 , which, in turn, outputs at least one bias signal  51  to a voltage-controlled oscillator  52 . The voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO)  52 , dependent on the at least one bias signal  51 , outputs a clock signal, clk_out  60 , that (1) propagates through a clock distribution network  54  (modeled in FIG. 2 as buffers  56  and  58 ) and (2) serves as an output of the PLL  30 . The output clock signal  60  is fed back through a feedback divider  62 , which, in turn, outputs to a buffer  64  that generates the feedback clock signal  34  to the phase frequency detector  36 . For a more detailed background on the operation and behavior of a PLL, see J. Maneatis, “Low-Jitter Process-Independent DLL and PLL Based on Self-Biased Techniques,” IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, vol. 31, no. 11, November 1996. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, an integrated circuit comprises: a phase frequency detector arranged to detect a phase difference between a first clock signal and a second clock signal; a charge pump arranged to output a voltage control signal dependent on the phase difference; a capacitor operatively connected to the voltage control signal; a leakage control circuit operatively connected to the capacitor and a voltage potential, wherein the leakage control circuit comprises a switch responsive to the phase frequency detector; and a voltage-controlled oscillator arranged to output the second clock signal dependent on the voltage control signal. 
     According to another aspect, an integrated circuit comprises: means for detecting a phase frequency difference between a first clock signal and a second clock signal; means for generating a signal dependent on the phase frequency difference; means for storing charge to maintain a voltage potential on the signal; a switch arranged to control a leakage current of the means for storing charge dependent on the means for detecting the phase frequency difference; and means for generating the second clock signal dependent on the signal. 
     According to another aspect, a method for performing a phase locked loop operation comprises: comparing a phase difference between a first clock signal and a second clock signal; generating a voltage control signal dependent on the comparing; storing charge dependent on the voltage control signal using a capacitor; controlling a leakage current of the capacitor with a switch positioned in series with the capacitor, wherein the switch is responsive to the comparing; and generating the second clock signal dependent on the voltage control signal. 
     Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a typical computer system. 
     FIG. 2 shows a typical PLL. 
     FIG. 3 shows a PLL in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 shows a portion of the PLL shown in FIG. 3 in accordance with embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 shows a portion of a DLL in accordance with an embodiment of present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As device features, such as transistor features, used to implement integrated circuit components, e.g., PLLs, continue to get smaller, they may have higher leakage currents (i.e., higher gate tunneling currents). This is due to the fact that as transistor features are designed smaller, the thickness of the transistor&#39;s oxide layer (located between the transistor&#39;s gate and the semiconductor substrate) is reduced. As the oxide layer is reduced to a few angstroms, the transistor&#39;s gate terminal begins to leak charge to the other terminals of the transistor. In the case of a PLL&#39;s loop filter capacitor, which is typically desired to be large from a capacitance perspective and that can be implemented with a transistor, such reduction in transistor size features and consequential increase in leakage current can adversely affect the behavior of the PLL. In some cases, particular amounts of leakage current through the PLL&#39;s loop filter capacitor can even cause the PLL to malfunction. Accordingly, there is a need for a PLL design that guards against or compensates for a PLL loop filter capacitor&#39;s leakage current. 
     FIG. 3 shows a PLL  70  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The PLL  70  uses a phase frequency detector  72  that detects a phase difference between an input clock signal, clk_in  74 , and a feedback clock signal, fbk_clk  76 . Dependent on the phase difference detected by the phase frequency detector  72 , the phase frequency detector  72  outputs pulses on UP  78  and DOWN  80  signals to a charge pump  82 . The charge pump  82 , dependent on the pulses on the UP  78  and DOWN  80  signals, generates a voltage control signal, Vctrl  84 . 
     For stability, the PLL  70  uses a loop filter, formed by a loop filter capacitor  86  and a loop filter resistor  87 , that is operatively connected to the voltage control signal  84 . The loop filter capacitor  86  stores/dissipates charge dependent on the voltage control signal  84 . Those skilled in the art will understand that the loop filter capacitor  86  may be implemented using the gate capacitance of a metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET). The UP  78  and DOWN  80  signals are pulsed only once per clock cycle, and therefore, the voltage control signal  84  may not be maintained due to the leakage current of the loop filter capacitor  86 . To guard against increased leakage currents associated with smaller transistor features, a leakage control circuit  88  is positioned between the loop filter capacitor  86  and a voltage potential Vdd  90 . Those skilled in the art will note, that in one or more other embodiments, the leakage control circuit  88  may be connected to a voltage potential Vss (as shown in FIG. 5) instead of the voltage potential Vdd  90 . 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the leakage control circuit  88  is operatively connected to the UP  78  and DOWN  80  signals such that the leakage control circuit  88  (1) allows the loop filter capacitor  86  to leak when the charge pump  82  is ‘on,’ (the charge pump  82  is said to be ‘on’ when the charge pump  82  actively sources or sinks current to/from the voltage control signal  84 ) and (2) restricts the leakage current of the loop filter capacitor  86  when the charge pump  82  is ‘off.’ Those skilled in the art will understand that whenever one or both of the UP  78  and DOWN  80  signals is pulsed, the charge pump  82  turns ‘on’ for the duration of the pulse(s). A more detailed description of a leakage control circuit is given below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, the voltage control signal  84  serves as an input to a bias generator  92  that produces at least one bias signal  94  to a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO)  96 . The voltage-controlled oscillator  96 , dependent on the at least one bias signal  94  from the bias generator  92 , generates an output clock signal, clk_out  98 . The output clock signal  98 , in addition to serving as an output of the PLL  70 , is fed back to an input of the phase frequency detector  72  through a clock distribution network  100  and a feedback divider  102 . Those skilled in the art will note that, in one or more other embodiments, the PLL  70  may be implemented without the bias generator  92  by operatively connecting the voltage-controlled oscillator  96  with the voltage control signal  84 . 
     FIG. 4 shows an implementation of the leakage control circuit  88  shown in FIG. 3 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the leakage control circuit  88  includes a p-channel transistor switch  100  and NOR gate circuitry  108  responsive to the UP  78  and DOWN  80  signals (from the phase frequency detector  72  as shown in FIG.  3 ). More particularly, the p-channel transistor switch  100  has a first terminal  102  operatively connected to the voltage potential Vdd  90  and a second terminal  104  operatively connected to the loop filter capacitor  86 . A gate terminal  106  of the p-channel transistor switch  100  is operatively connected to an output of the NOR gate circuitry  108 . The NOR gate circuitry  108  outputs ‘low’ when one or both of the UP  78  and DOWN  80  signals are ‘high’ and outputs ‘high’ when both the UP  78  and DOWN  80  signals are ‘low.’ Accordingly, when one or both of the UP  78  and DOWN  80  signals are ‘high,’ (i.e., the charge pump ( 82  in FIG. 3) is ‘on’), the NOR gate circuitry  108  outputs ‘low’ to the p-channel transistor switch  100 , which, in turn, causes the p-channel transistor switch  100  to switch ‘on’ and allow the loop filter capacitor  86  to leak. Conversely, when both the UP  78  and DOWN  80  signals are ‘low’ (i.e., the charge pump ( 82  in FIG. 3) is ‘off’), the NOR gate circuitry  108  outputs ‘high’ to the p-channel transistor switch  100 , which, in turn, causes the p-channel transistor switch  100  to switch ‘off’ and restrict the leakage current of the loop filter capacitor  86 . 
     Due to this configuration, the leakage current of the loop filter capacitor  86  is controlled because it cannot get larger than the source to drain current of the p-channel transistor switch  100 . Moreover, because the charge pump ( 82  in FIG. 3) is ‘off’ the majority of the time, the cumulative reduction of the loop filter capacitor&#39;s  86  leakage current facilitates the increased integrity of the voltage control signal  84 , which, in turn, leads to reliable and stable PLL operation. 
     FIG. 5 shows a leakage control circuit  114  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, a PLL loop filter capacitor  110  is referenced to a voltage potential Vss, or ground  112 , instead of the voltage potential Vdd ( 90  in FIGS.  3  and  4 ). In this embodiment, the leakage control circuit  114  includes a n-channel transistor switch  116  an OR gate circuitry  124  responsive to the UP  78  and DOWN  80  signals (from the phase frequency detector  72  as shown in FIG.  3 ). More particularly, the n-channel transistor switch  116  has a first terminal  120  operatively connected to the voltage potential ground  112  and a second terminal  118  operatively connected to the loop filter capacitor  110 . A gate terminal  122  of the n-channel transistor switch  116  is operatively connected to an output of the OR gate circuitry  124 . The OR gate circuitry  124  outputs ‘high’ when one or both of the UP  78  and DOWN  80  signals are ‘high’ and outputs ‘low’ when both the UP  78  and DOWN  80  signals are ‘low.’ Accordingly, when one or both of the UP  78  and DOWN  80  signals are ‘high,’ (i.e., the charge pump ( 82  in FIG. 3) is ‘on’), the OR gate circuitry  124  outputs ‘high’ to the n-channel transistor switch  116 , which, in turn, causes the n-channel transistor switch  116  to switch ‘on’ and allow the loop filter capacitor  110  to leak. Conversely, when both the UP  78  and DOWN  80  signals are ‘low’ (i.e., the charge pump ( 82  in FIG. 3) is ‘off’), the OR gate circuitry  124  outputs ‘low’ to the n-channel transistor switch  116 , which, in turn, causes the n-channel transistor switch  116  to switch ‘off’ and restrict the leakage current of the loop filter capacitor  110 . 
     Due to this configuration, the leakage current of the loop filter capacitor  110  is controlled because it cannot get larger than the source to drain current of the n-channel transistor switch  116 . Moreover, because the charge pump ( 82  in FIG. 3) is ‘off’ the majority of the time, the cumulative reduction of the loop filter capacitor&#39;s  110  leakage current facilitates the increased integrity of the voltage control signal  84 , which, in turn, leads to reliable and stable PLL operation. 
     Those skilled in the art will understand that, in other embodiments, the switches in the leakage control circuit ( 88  in FIG. 4 and 114 in FIG. 5) may be implemented using devices other than p- and n-channel transistors. 
     Advantages of the present invention may include one or more of the following. In one or more embodiments, because a leakage current of a PLL loop filter capacitor may be controlled, a more stable and reliable operation of the PLL may be facilitated. Accordingly, the phase shift of the PLL may not drift or may not drift as much as a PLL design that does not use a switch to resistively isolate the loop filter capacitor. 
     In one or more embodiments, because a switch positioned in series with a PLL loop filter capacitor helps control a leakage current of the PLL loop filter capacitor, the chip area consumed by the PLL loop filter capacitor may be reduced because the PLL loop filter capacitor does not have to be as large to maintain the voltage potential on a voltage control signal. 
     While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.

Technology Category: 5