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Design of Clock Distribution Networks-Case Study
Design of Clock Distribution Networks-Case Study
Design of Clock Distribution Networks-Case Study
Study
[2].
1) Buffered Clock Distribution Networks
Buffered clock distribution networks consist of a global III. OTHER CLOCK DISTRIBUTION METHODS
clock signal that is buffered at several points at interconnects The rapidly decreasing feature size and the increase in
to boost the clock signal. The main disadvantage of this switching speed of the devices necessitate more efficient
distribution network is that the buffers can cause additional designs for clock distribution networks. Some of the
delays in the path that has to be accounted for, and that the interesting techniques currently under researches include
clock transition at the buffers inputs and outputs cause wireless clock distribution using RF/ microwave
additional dynamic power loss. Due to high switching speeds technologies[4] and clock distribution networks using De-Skew
of the conventional clock, these power losses are more buffers[5][6], and 3-D ICs[7].
significant and have effect on the overall performance of the
chip. A. Wireless Clock Distribution Networks
2) Mesh Clock Distribution Network Wireless clock distribution network is analyzed in [4] and
Mesh clock distribution networks are similar to buffered is shown to be more promising than the other potential
clock distribution networks. In meshed clock distribution distribution networks. These networks employ local
network additional buffers are used along the interconnect transmission of microwave or RF signals through antennas
path to reduce interconnect resistances [2]. These buffers place at several points across the chip. These signals are
serve a dual purpose to minimize the path resistance while received and amplified locally using receivers and low noise
also amplifying the clock signal along the path so as to amplifiers. In this type of clock network, the global clock
maintain the potential of the clock. The main drawback with generates a clock frequency 8 times the local clock frequency
this type is the same as in buffered clock distribution, i.e, the which is down-converted using frequency dividers [8]. A major
buffers cause addition delays and power losses. drawback as put forth in[4] is the signal to noise ratio of the
3) H-Tree and X-Tree Clock Distribution Networks signal. This is of great concern because these devices operate
H-tree and X-tree clock distribution network consists of a among the digital devices which are usually noisy.
global clock interconnect which branches out in symmetrical
B. De-Skew Buffers
H or X type topology. This branching continues until the
registers are reached. Each branch interconnect is scaled 1/3 Clock skew can also be reduced/adjusted locally using delay
[2] to balance the load at those branches. This type of clock locked loops (DLL) or phase locked loops(PLL). Such
distribution network resolves the issue of buffer delay but approaches are described in [5] and [6] employing ring
produces power loss in the clock interconnect. It is shown in tuning architecture with DLL and phase detectors,
respectively. The DLL with ring tuning architecture described
[1] that the thermal power loss in distribution networks as
in [5] uses an UP/DOWN detector to measure the skew
these are more in the global clock network than on the
between the two clocks and use tunable buffers with
branches. This may cause over heating in the nearby circuits temperature-coded delays to vary the delay of the clock period
thereby affecting their performance if not failing permanently. according to the skew measured. These type of de-skew
Figure 2 shows a H-tree Distribution network given in [2]. buffers are shown to be used with H-tree clock distribution
networks in [5]. Method proposed in [6] uses a single phase
detector to adjust the clock skew in the H-tree network. In this
work the de-skewing of the clock signal is achieved by
detecting the phase difference in the two clock signals and
using tunable capacitors to match the delay in the signals.
These methods however are used in the final stages of
processing to fine tune the local clock signals.
3
IV. CONCLUSION
A brief case study of the clock distribution networks was
performed. Clock distribution networks are an important part
of designing large scale integrated circuits employing
sequential elements, to ensure the correct operation of the
device. The rapid decrease in feature size and the increase in
clock rate pose a serious concern in clock delays. Proper
design of clock distribution could reduce these delays.
REFERENCES
[1] Rabaey, J M, Chandrashekaran, A; Nicholic, B ; Digital Integrated
Cicuits. 2nd Edition, Prentice Hall- Publications.
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integrated circuits," Proceedings of the IEEE , vol.89, no.5, pp.665-692,
May 2001
[3] Friedman, E.G.; Powell, S.; , "Design and analysis of a hierarchical
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VLSI," Solid-State Circuits, IEEE Journal of , vol.21, no.2, pp. 240- 246,
Apr 1986
[4] M.-C. Chang, et al., RF/wireless interconnect for inter-and intra-chip
communications, Proc. IEEE, vol. 89, pp.456-466, Apr. 2001.
[5] Kapoor, A.; Jayakumar, N.; Khatri, S.P.; , "Dynamically De-Skewable
Clock Distribution Methodology," Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI)
Systems, IEEE Transactions on , vol.16, no.9, pp.1220-1229, Sept. 2008
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Scheme for Post-Silicon Active Clock Deskewing Over Intra-Die
Variations," Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) Systems, IEEE
Transactions on , vol.PP, no.99, pp.1-14, 0
[7] Pavlidis, V.F.; Savidis, I.; Friedman, E.G.; , "Clock distribution networks
for 3-D integrated Circuits," Custom Integrated Circuits Conference,
2008. CICC 2008. IEEE , vol., no., pp.651-654, 21-24 Sept. 2008