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[OCLUG-Tech] Re: Linux Digest, Vol 34, Issue 6

Hi Bill:

The problem and challenge of clocking is one that the digital semiconductor design community and the electronic design automation (eda) industry continues to struggle with and come with innovative ways to trying to solve.

Based on the line of questioning, and what you are looking for, you may need to separate your questions between system level and chip level clocking.

The best source of information on chip(ASIC) can be found obtained from whitepapers and any papers from EDA providers such as Synopsys, Mentor and Cadence Design Systems. Current strategies include mesh, h-tree, traditional binary distribution schemes as well as hybrids schemes incorporating one or more of the strategies.

Board level clock planning and implementation is more hand constructed.

Regards,

Peter


> 
> From: linux-request [ at ] lists [ dot ] oclug [ dot ] on [ dot ] ca
> Date: 2007/10/13 Sat PM 12:00:02 EDT
> To: linux [ at ] lists [ dot ] oclug [ dot ] on [ dot ] ca
> Subject: Linux Digest, Vol 34, Issue 6
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> Today's Topics:
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>    1. How clock (cycle) distribution works ?? (William Case)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 13 Oct 2007 00:19:00 -0400
> From: William Case <billlinux [ at ] rogers [ dot ] com>
> Subject: [OCLUG-Tech] How clock (cycle) distribution works ??
> To: OCLUG Technical <linux [ at ] lists [ dot ] oclug [ dot ] on [ dot ] ca>
> Message-ID: <1192249140.2701.179.camel@CASE>
> Content-Type: text/plain
> 
> Hi;
> 
> I am trying to get a handle on how clocks (ticks) are distributed
> throughout the CPU and northbridge/memory (where and if applicable).  I
> am specifically looking for some text or Internet site that will give me
> an overview discussion of how distribution works, what acronyms mean and
> what is applicable to my AMD 64 x2 or equivalent Intel chip.
> 
> I have climbed into "Patterson, David A, Hennessy, John L.; Computer
> Organization & Design  The Hardware / Software Interface, Second
> Edition" and am more than 3/4 of the way through.  This text answers
> most my questions on how computer hardware/software works.  I wish I had
> found it two years ago.  I mention this to indicate I am not looking for
> something superficial, even if it must start with the basics.
> 
> I now know how an oscillator creates a timed signal, how the signal
> opens the flip-flops, how the data and code are driven from register to
> register when pipelined, how the various opcodes, flags and signals are
> used to transform the data bits, etc. etc..  
> 
> The one thing that is missing is how the clock signal is distributed to
> the various flip-flops.  This is a process that must involve more than
> just an oscillator and a line to a register.  I.e it must have have it's
> own unique problems such as skew and jitters, interrelating various
> clocks, plus, plus.  There surely is some discussions somewhere of
> various design considerations.
> 
> I have searched online and found lots of very technical papers that
> assume the reader has a level of knowledge about the problems and
> proposed solutions of clocking, that I do not have but would like to
> acquire.  For example, there was one paper that discussed H trees that I
> kinda sorta understood, but would like to learn more.  On the other side
> of the available information conundrum, is just very simplified
> explanations that I came to understand a several weeks ago.
> 
> As usual, I want to get from one level of understanding to the next.
> 
> Any direction to an appropriate text or online site would be very much
> appreciated.
> 
> -- 
> Regards Bill
> 
> 
> 
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> End of Linux Digest, Vol 34, Issue 6
> ************************************
>