CLOCK DISTRIBUTION USING MTJ SENSING

摘要

Clock signals are distributed on a chip by applying an oscillating magnetic field to the chip. Local clock generation circuits including magnetic field sensors are distributed around the chip and are coupled to local clocked circuitry on the chip. The magnetic field sensors may include clock magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) in which a magnetic orientation of the free layer is free to rotate in the free layer plane in response to the applied magnetic field. The MTJ resistance alternates between a high resistance value and a low resistance value as the free layer magnetization rotates. Clock generation circuitry coupled to the clock MTJs senses voltage oscillations caused by the alternating resistance of the clock MTJs. The clock generation circuitry includes amplifiers, which convert the sensed voltage into local clock signals.

主权项

1. An apparatus for distributing a clock signal, comprising:
a first clocked circuit on a chip; and clock generation circuitry on the chip coupled to the first clocked circuit, the clock generation circuitry including,
a first magnetic field sensing device configured to sense an oscillating magnetic field, andamplifier circuitry coupled between the first magnetic field sensing device and the first clocked circuit, the clock generation circuitry configured to output the clock signal in response to the oscillating magnetic field.