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com 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 _ Q

Clk

CLK

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

_ Q

Clk

CLK

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

_ Q

Logic

Data2

_ Q

CLK Clk

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) Comments and suggestions: interview@hardware-guru.com