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Maximum Operating Frequency of a Flip-Flop

The maximum operating frequency of a single flip-flop cannot be calculated without its
surrounding components. Its position in a clock tree or in a synchronous counter can
bring the maximum frequency down to 1Hz or with a good timing design can be high as
the maximum frequency of this specific flip-flop. This Q&A proposes two questions
regarding this topic.

_
Data
D Q

Clk
CLK Q

Figure 1: D. Flip-Flop

Question A

For a flip-flop which connected in toggle configuration:

Tsu = 2ns
Th = 1ns
Tcq(max) = 2ns
What will be the maximum operating frequency of this flip-flop? (Tcq=clock-to-q)

Data _
D Q

Clk
CLK Q

Figure 2: T. Flip-Flop

Question B

For two-cascaded flip-flops sharing the same clock. The Data pin of the second flip-flop
is output from a combinatorial logic of output of flip-flop1 and other signals.
Flip-flops:
Tsu = 2ns
Th = 1ns
Tcq(max) = 2ns
Logic:
Tpd = 6ns
What will be the maximum operating frequency of the design?
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_ _
Data1 Data2
D Q Logic D Q

CLK Q CLK Q

Clk
Figure 3: Flip-Flop with Combinatorial Logic

Answer A

Tsu = 2ns
Th = 1ns
Tcq(max) = 2ns

Clk

Data Tsu Tcq

Figure 4: Timing Diagram of T. Flip-Flop

The maximum operating frequency will be 1/(Tsu+Tcq(max)). The Th is smaller then the
Tcq therefore is not calculated.

Answer B

Tsu = 2ns
Th = 1ns
Tcq(max) = 2ns

Tpd = 6ns

If you cascade two flip-flops with some logic in between then

Fmax = 1/[Tcq(first_FF) + Tpdlogic+ Tsu (second_FF)]

Please note: Th < Tcq(min) + Tpdlogic(min)

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