CA2302020C - Interface circuit for full-custom and semi-custom clock domains - Google Patents

Interface circuit for full-custom and semi-custom clock domains Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2302020C
CA2302020C CA002302020A CA2302020A CA2302020C CA 2302020 C CA2302020 C CA 2302020C CA 002302020 A CA002302020 A CA 002302020A CA 2302020 A CA2302020 A CA 2302020A CA 2302020 C CA2302020 C CA 2302020C
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Prior art keywords
circuit section
signal
interface
clock
digital
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Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA002302020A
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French (fr)
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CA2302020A1 (en
Inventor
Jurgen Niedermaier
Uwe Weder
Korbinian Engl
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Siemens AG
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Siemens AG
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    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06FELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F1/00Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
    • G06F1/04Generating or distributing clock signals or signals derived directly therefrom
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06FELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F5/00Methods or arrangements for data conversion without changing the order or content of the data handled
    • G06F5/06Methods or arrangements for data conversion without changing the order or content of the data handled for changing the speed of data flow, i.e. speed regularising or timing, e.g. delay lines, FIFO buffers; over- or underrun control therefor

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Semiconductor Integrated Circuits (AREA)
  • Tests Of Electronic Circuits (AREA)
  • Design And Manufacture Of Integrated Circuits (AREA)
  • Logic Circuits (AREA)
  • Continuous Casting (AREA)
  • Radar Systems Or Details Thereof (AREA)
  • Paper (AREA)

Abstract

An integrated circuit comprises an interface circuit between analog circuit part FC (full-custom) and digital circuit part SC (semi-custom) for every signal to be exchanged. The interface circuits are combined to form a central interface block. As a result, line lengths and loads are predetermined, which yields a simplified dimensioning of the gates and their drivers as well as an exact timing simulation of the semi- custom part. Developments are directed to the application of predetermined signals and the sequential through-connection of a signal at the outputs of the interface facing toward the digital circuit part.

Description

INTERFACE CIRCUIT FOR FULL-CUSTOM AND SEMI-CUSTOM CLOCK DOMAINS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention The subject matter of the application is directed to an integrated circuit having both analog and digital circuit parts.
Description of the Prior Art High-complexity integrated circuits ICs with an analog circuit part FC (full-custom) and a digital circuit SC
(semi-custom) have a plurality of clock domains. The semi-custom part generally contains a clock domain in the form of a clock tree. The full-custom part contains a plurality of clock domains. A realization of the clock domains of the full-custom part in the form of a clock tree, however, is of the question due to the non-regular layout structure of the full-custom part, the punctually required highly punctual driver capability and a special consideration of running times also referred to as specified timing in the art that is sometimes required between the various full-custom clock domains.
Given the transfer of several hundred data signals from the full-custom to the semi-custom clock domain and vice versa, difficulty arises in the exact simulatability an infringement-free design of setup and hold time given the simultaneous testability of the interface signals.
In semi-custom part, the gate selection is not performed until the conversion of the Very-High Speed Integrated Circuit Hardware Description Language (VHDL) code.
These gates are located in the layout via a place & route
2 algorithm. An individual timing is thus required for every individual semi-custom input/output signal I/O. Exact timing simulations based on layout data given an extremely high plurality of locally scattered I/0 signals is not possible.
Moreover, the driver dimensioning of each full-custom output signal must be individually oriented to the semi-custom gate to be driven, the input capacitance thereof and the delivery lead. These values, however, are not completely available until after the place & route algorithm, i.e. until a very late design stage.
The subject matter of the present application is based on the problem of overcoming the difficulties that have been addressed.
SUMMARY OF THE INENTION
The subject matter of the application at least solves the above problems by utilizing an interface connected between an analog circuit section and a digital circuit section in an integrated circuit, wherein the interface is configured to time the forwarding of the data signals between the sections based on a particular clock signal and output the data signal from the interface based another clock signal.
The subject matter of the application exhibits an advantage of:
employment of characteristic standard cells, as a result of a closed loop. Thus, the complete and exact timing simulation of the semi-custom part based on the extracted layout data is possible.
3 In addition due to the prescription of the interface gates and their position in the layout, the dimensioning of the corresponding full-custom gates and their drivers specifically, is drastically simplified on the basis of defined line lengths and loads.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an integrated circuit comprising: an analog circuit section constructed substantially of analog circuitry and having a first clock domain generating a first clock signal; a digital circuit section constructed substantially of digital circuitry and having a second clock domain generating a second clock signal; and an interface connected between the analog circuit section and the digital circuit section, the interface configured to forward a data signal from the digital circuit section to the analog circuit section based on the second clock signal and to output the data signal to the analog circuit section based on the first clock signal.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an integrated circuit comprising: an analog circuit section constructed substantially of analog circuitry and having a first clock domain generating a first clock signal; a digital circuit section constructed substantially of digital circuitry and having a second clock domain generating a second clock signal; and an interface connected between the analog circuit section and the digital circuit section, the interface configured to forward a data signal from the analog circuit section to the digital circuit section based on the first clock signal and to output the data signal to the digital circuit section based on the second clock signal.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an integrated circuit comprising:
an analog circuit section constructed substantially of analog ' 3a circuitry and having a first clock domain generating a first clock signal; a digital circuit section constructed substantially of digital circuitry and having a second clock domain generating a second clock signal; and an interface connected between the analog circuit section and the digital circuit section, the interface configured to forward a first data signal from the analog circuit section to the digital circuit section based on the first clock signal and to output the first data signal to the digital circuit signal based on the second clock signal, and the interface also configured to forward a second data signal from the digital circuit section to the analog circuit section based on the second clock signal and to output the second data signal to the analog circuit section based on the first clock signal.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAV~IINGS
Figure 1 illustrates a schematic of the integrated circuit of the present application.
Figure 2 shows a fundamental illustration of the circuit of the interface I shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 illustrates the circuit fc_scl shown in Figure 2.
Figure 4 illustrates circuit fc-scl as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 5 illustrates circuit sc_fc as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 6 illustrates a clock delay circuit by which signal CK-FC is delayed by fixed phase shift 2 produced clock signal CK DELAY.

' 3b DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Identical reference characters in the Figures refer to identical elements.
Figure 1 shows the layout of an integrated circuit IC
that has a complex structure with, for example, 3 million transistors. The integrated circuit comprises a circuit section SC (semi-custom), which is implemented essentially in digital circuit technology and referred to below as digital
4 circuit section, as well as a circuit section FC (full-custom), which is implemented essentially in analog circuit technology and is referred to below as analog circuit section. At its edge, the integrated circuit comprises a pad area PB wherein only a few contacting surfaces PAD are arranged by way of example in Figure 1. The digital circuit section SC comprises a clock domain TDS that, as shown in the drawing, can be arranged as a clock tree. The analog circuit section FC
comprises a plurality of clock domains TDC1,...,TCn-1 and TDCn.
According to the application, an interface I is arranged between the digital circuit section and the analog circuit section. A signal that is to be forwarded from the digital circuit section to the analog circuit section or from the analog circuit section to the digital circuit section is forwarded via the interface I. In a specific embodiment of the subject matter of the application, all signals to be forwarded from one circuit section to the other circuit section are forwarded via the interface I. In a preferred embodiment of the subject matter of the application, all signals to be forwarded from the digital circuit section to the analog circuit section as well as all signals to be forwarded from the analog circuit section to the digital circuit section are forwarded via the interface I. The circuit blocks fc sc 0, fc-sc 1 or, sc-fc as shown in Figure 2 are combined to form an overall interface and are arranged on the integrated circuit at a central location between the digital circuit section and the analog circuit section.
Figure 2 shows further details of the interface I. A
circuit block fc-sc 0 or fc-sc 1 is provided for forwarding a signal DIN-(i-1), DIN-(i) from the analog circuit section to the digital circuit section. A circuit block sc-fc is provided for forwarding a signal from the digital circuit section to the analog circuit section. The circuit blocks fc-sc or, respectively, sc-fc are provided in a number that corresponds in number to the plurality of signals to be forwarded. Each circuit block receives a first clock signal CK FC, a second
5 clock signal CK-SC, a signal TEST and an activation signal SCAN EN. The signal TEST is considered activated when it exhibits a high signal level "1". Each circuit block includes an input SCAN-IN. An output D OUTSC of a circuit block fc-sc 1 for example is connected to the input SCAN-IN of another circuit block fc sc 0.
The first clock signal CK FC and the second clock signal CK_SC operate at the same frequency and have a phase shift by half a clock period relative to one another. This phase shift is accomplished by the circuit shown in Figure 6, to be described later.
Figure 3 shows further details of a circuit block fc sc 0. A flip-flop FF1 has its data input supplied with a data signal D-IN delivered from the analog circuit section and has the first clock signal CK_FC supplied to its trigger input.
A gate AND realizing the logical AND function has its input side supplied with the signal output by the flip-flop FF1 at its output side and with the inverted TEST signal. A data multiplexer MUX has its input side supplied with the signal output by the gate AND at its output side and with the SCAN-IN
[sic] signal. Based on the state of the signal SCAN EN, one of the two signals supplied to the input side of the data multiplexer is connected through to the output.
A flip-flop FF2 has its data input supplied with the signal output by the data multiplexer at its output side and has the second clock signal CK SC supplied to its trigger input. The signal D OUTSC and the signal D OUT are supplied at
6 the output of the flip-flop FF2, whereby the signal D OUT is intermediately amplified via a buffer B.
It is assumed that, when, the signal TEST is at a low signal level "0", as a result of not being activated, the signal supplied to the other input of the gate AND is through-connected. Also, signal SCAN EN is assumed to be in a state where the signal supplied from the AND gate is through-connected. The signal D-IN is taken with the clock signal CK-FC from the flip-flop FF1 and supplied to the flip-flop FF2.
The signal D-IN is supplied from the flip-flop FF2 to the digital circuit section with the clock signal CK SC.
When the signal TEST is at a high signal level "1", as a result of being activated, the gate realizing the logical AND function always outputs a low signal level "0" at its output side regardless of the signal level at its other input.
This low signal level then also forms the signal D OUTSC and the signal D OUT. Hence as a result of an activated signal TEST, the signals D OUT at the outputs of all circuit blocks fc-sc 0 can be set to a low signal level "0". The signal TEST
in Figures 3 and 4 generates predefined signals at the input of the digital circuit section, making possible a separate test of the semi-custom part as a result.
When the signal SCAN EN is at state where the signal SCAN-IN [sic] is through-connected by the data multiplexer MUX, it is forwarded from one to the next circuit block fc sc 0, fc_sc 1 or, respectively, sc-fc. The signal SCAN-IN supplied to the first circuit block thus appears at the outputs of all circuit blocks fc_sc 0, fc_sc 1, sc_fc. All FF outputs D OUTSC
can be connected in series via the signal SCAN EN, the multiplexer MUX and the flip-flop FF2 as a scan path. The
7 connected scan path enables the monitoring of all interface data signals.
Differing from the circuit block fc sc 0 shown in Figure 3, a circuit block fc-sc 1 shown in Figure 4 comprises a gate OR 1 realizing the logical OR function instead of a gate realizing the logical AND function. Given an asserted signal TEST, the gate OR 1 then always outputs a high signal level "1"
at its output side regardless of the signal level at its other input. This high signal level then also forms the signal D OUTSC and the signal D OUT. Hence as a result of an asserted signal TEST the signals D OUT at the outputs of all circuit blocks fc sc 1 can be set to a high signal level "1".
Figure 5 shows further details of a circuit block sc fc. A data multiplexer MUX has its input side supplied with a data signal D-IN delivered from the digital circuit section and with the SCAN-IN signal. Based on the state of the signal SCAN EN, one of the two signals supplied to the data multiplexer at the input side is connected through to the output. A flip-flop FF2 has its data input supplied with the signal output by the data multiplexer at its output side, and the second clock signal is supplied to its trigger input. The signal D OUTSC is supplied at the output of the flip-flop FF2.
A flip-flop FF1 has its data input supplied with the signal D OUTSC output by the flip-flop FF2 at its output side, and the first clock signal CK-FC is supplied to its trigger input. At the output of the flip-flop FF1, the signal D OUT is delivered to the analog circuit section, whereby the signal D OUT is intermediately amplified via a buffer B.
Figure 6 illustrates a clock delay circuit that delays existing clock signal CK-FC to obtain clock signal CK DELAY, which, in turn, is used to supply clock signal CK SC.
8 A gate OR 2 realizing the logical OR function has one input receiving the clock signal CK-FC and has the other input receiving the reference potential (e. g. ground). A data multiplexer MUX receives, at its input side, the signal delivered from the gate OR 2 and the reference potential (ground). The selection input of the data multiplexer receives the reference potential. After forwarding via two inverters INV1, INV2 and a non-inverting buffer B, the signal output by the data multiplexer is available as signal CK DELAY.
With an interface circuit according to Figure 6 matched to the delay of the interface circuits according to Figures 3, 4 and 5, the full-custom clock drives the semi-custom clock tree in such a way that an adequate delay is generated between the two clock domains that precludes setup and hold time infringements within the interface block.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims (8)

CLAIMS:
1. An integrated circuit comprising:
an analog circuit section constructed substantially of analog circuitry and having a first clock domain generating a first clock signal;
a digital circuit section constructed substantially of digital circuitry and having a second clock domain generating a second clock signal; and an interface connected between the analog circuit section and the digital circuit section, the interface configured to forward a data signal from the digital circuit section to the analog circuit section based on the second clock signal and to output the data signal to the analog circuit section based on the first clock signal.
2. An integrated circuit comprising:
an analog circuit section constructed substantially of analog circuitry and having a first clock domain generating a first clock signal;
a digital circuit section constructed substantially of digital circuitry and having a second clock domain generating a second clock signal; and an interface connected between the analog circuit section and the digital circuit section, the interface configured to forward a data signal from the analog circuit section to the digital circuit section based on the first clock signal and to output the data signal to the digital circuit section based on the second clock signal.
3. An integrated circuit comprising:
an analog circuit section constructed substantially of analog circuitry and having a first clock domain generating a first clock signal;
a digital circuit section constructed substantially of digital circuitry and having a second clock domain generating a second clock signal; and an interface connected between the analog circuit section and the digital circuit section, the interface configured to forward a first data signal from the analog circuit section to the digital circuit section based on the first clock signal and to output the first data signal to the digital circuit signal based on the second clock signal, and the interface also configured to forward a second data signal from the digital circuit section to the analog circuit section based on the second clock signal and to output the second data signal to the analog circuit section based on the first clock signal.
4. The integrated circuit according to claim 3, wherein the interface is centrally located between the analog circuit section and the digital circuit section.
5. The integrated circuit according to claim 3, wherein the interface is configured such that all data signals forwarded between the analog circuit section and digital circuit section are forwarded by the interface.
6. The integrated circuit according to claim 3, further comprising:
a delay circuit within the interface that generates the second clock based on delay of the first clock signal.
7. The integrated circuit according to claim 3, wherein a predetermined signal consisting of either a binary "0" value or a binary "1" value is output from an output to the digital circuit section based on a test signal condition.
8. The integrated circuit according to claim 3, wherein a signal that is adjacent to an output directed toward the digital circuit section is connected in series to another output directed toward the digital circuit section based on a condition of an enable signal.
CA002302020A 1997-08-28 1998-08-19 Interface circuit for full-custom and semi-custom clock domains Expired - Fee Related CA2302020C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19737589A DE19737589C1 (en) 1997-08-28 1997-08-28 Interface arrangement for IC with full-custom and semi-custom clock domain
DE19737589.8 1997-08-28
PCT/DE1998/002431 WO1999012090A1 (en) 1997-08-28 1998-08-19 Interface circuit for full-custom and semi-custom timing domains

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2302020A1 CA2302020A1 (en) 1999-03-11
CA2302020C true CA2302020C (en) 2006-12-12

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CA002302020A Expired - Fee Related CA2302020C (en) 1997-08-28 1998-08-19 Interface circuit for full-custom and semi-custom clock domains

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EP (1) EP1010053B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2001515238A (en)
CN (1) CN100392556C (en)
AT (1) ATE221679T1 (en)
CA (1) CA2302020C (en)
DE (2) DE19737589C1 (en)
WO (1) WO1999012090A1 (en)

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DE10122702C2 (en) 2001-05-10 2003-08-21 Infineon Technologies Ag Method and device for generating a second signal with a clock based on a second clock from a first signal with a first clock
CN112949830B (en) * 2021-03-09 2022-12-06 合肥辉羲智能科技有限公司 Intelligent inference network system and adding unit and pooling unit circuit system

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Publication number Publication date
EP1010053A1 (en) 2000-06-21
CN1269028A (en) 2000-10-04
DE19737589C1 (en) 1998-11-26
EP1010053B1 (en) 2002-07-31
WO1999012090A1 (en) 1999-03-11
JP2001515238A (en) 2001-09-18
CN100392556C (en) 2008-06-04
ATE221679T1 (en) 2002-08-15
CA2302020A1 (en) 1999-03-11
DE59805029D1 (en) 2002-09-05

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