Application Note 14
Managing Clock Distribution and
Optimizing Clock Skew in Networking Applications
by Cameron Katrai
Abstract
Today’s high performance systems need low skew clock
generation and distribution. Clock skew is defined as the
difference in time between simultaneous clock transitions
within a system. The skew has become the major part of con-
straints that form the upper boundary for the system clock fre-
quency.
Clock networks must be designed to minimize skew or the
differences in delay throughout a clocking network. It is ideal
that every component, such as sequential elements, i.e. flip-
flops and latches, that need clocking, should receive the edge
of the clock at the same time within each clock period. Fully
synchronous designs require this methodology. Synchronous
designs are highly recommended since they can tolerate higher
clock rates and are easier to perform timing analysis.
Reduction in system clock skew reduces cost by avoiding com-
plicated architecture or faster logic. Phase Lock Loop-based
clock distribution is becoming one of the most sought after
solutions for creating low skew system designs. Pericom has
developed the following set of low-skew PLL Clock Drivers:
PI6C2501(3V), PI6C2308A (3V), PI6C2509A (3V),
PI6C2510 (3V), PI6C5932 (5V), PI6C9910 (5V), and
PI6C9930 (3V). They provide zero input-to-output delay
using high-speed process and phase lock loop technology. In
a 24-pin TSSOP package, the PI6C2509A supports Spread
Spectrum modulation of timing signals and operates faster and
consumes less space than alternative devices, providing
significant improvements in performance and cost.
PI6C2501(3V), PI6C2308A(3V), PI6C2509A/2510A(3V),
PI6C5932(5V), PI6C9910(5V), and PI6C9930(3V), provide
the lowest phase error over all frequencies and introduce no
additional jitter as a result of Spread Spectrum modulated in-
put clock signal. It is these features that allow Pericom’s PLL
clock drivers to support stringent input-to-output delay (150ps)
and output-to-output skew less than 200ps.
To ensure that the network operates as closely to the ideal as
possible, the skew must be minimized along the entire clock-
ing network. This ensures that all sequential elements see a
common clock edge. For any design with more than 100 flops
and latches, Pericom strongly suggests some form of clock
tree structure for clocking. Buffer delays and wiring delays
are the two most significant factors contributing to skew. The
clock topology can significantly contribute to skew. As will be
discussed, a good clock network must balance factors such as
skew and clock tree delays. In the next section a real clock
design is examined for analysis of clock skew.
Design Example
Both the delay in the data path and the clock skew affect data
transfer from one section of the design to the other sections.
The data path delay is defined as the delay from a register (F1)
in a section to the D input of another register (F2). Figure 1
depicts this delay. The delay includes CLKA to Q1 and set up
hold time at point B.
Introduction
The clock skew or Tskew is the difference between a rising
edge on CLKA in F1 and CLKB in F2. The Tskew defines
both the positive and negative skew. Positive skew affects data
transfer from a hold time standpoint. Negative skew affects data
transfer from a set up time standpoint. If the data path from F1
to F2 is too long, a set up time violation is realized on F2.
Clock skews also affect the set up and hold time. A more
practical and realistic clock distribution is shown in Figure 2.
Better Clock distribution strategies using PLL clock drivers
have made a significant contribution to high-performance
system design. If clock distribution networks are not properly
constructed, they may detract from system-level performance.
This application note defines the skew in a system, describing
its effect on performance. Recommendation and supporting
analysis are given for designing near optimal clock networks.
This note also illustrates that clock network design can be a
surprisingly complex task involving many tradeoffs.
12/29/98
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