Clock Generation Delay Line With Dual-Voltage Jitter Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated circuits face challenges in generating clock signals with reduced jitter, especially when processing high-frequency digital and RF signals, as existing methods fail to effectively mitigate noise-induced jitter, which degrades high-speed operations.
Innovation Solution
A clock generation apparatus and method that includes a pulse generator, a delay line circuit, and a controller to generate a clock signal with reduced jitter by selecting between a pulse signal and a feedback delay clock signal, adjusting delay cells, and switching between different voltages based on phase differences and frequency errors to maintain a target frequency, thereby minimizing noise effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a higher frequency clock signal is utilized to process high-frequency digital and RF signals, then the processing capability of the integrated circuit is improved, but clock jitter increases which degrades high-speed operation
Solution Approach 1:
The clock generation process is segmented into two distinct phases: coarse tuning phase using a first voltage for rapid frequency acquisition, and fine tuning phase using a second voltage for precise jitter reduction. This temporal segmentation allows the system to achieve both high processing capability and low clock jitter at different stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The control voltage supplied to the delay line circuit is dynamically switched between two different voltages based on the tuning phase. The first voltage enables rapid frequency adjustment during coarse tuning, while the second voltage provides fine-grained control for jitter reduction during fine tuning, optimizing performance at each stage.
2Device complexity
If noise effects are not mitigated in the clock signal, then the circuit operation is simpler, but jitter increases which degrades high-speed operation
Solution Approach 1:
A feedback mechanism is implemented where the clock signal is fed back through the delay line circuit, allowing continuous monitoring and adjustment of phase and frequency. This feedback loop enables automatic correction of jitter without requiring complex external intervention, maintaining relatively simple circuit operation while effectively reducing noise effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the control voltage parameter supplied to the delay line circuit from a single static voltage to a dynamically switched dual-voltage system. This parameter change enables the circuit to operate in two distinct modes: rapid tuning mode and precision tuning mode, achieving effective jitter reduction without substantially increasing circuit complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A clock generation apparatus includes a pulse generator configured to generate a pulse signal and a selection signal using a reference clock signal, a delay line circuit, a switch and a controller. The delay line circuit selects, as an input signal to a delay path, the pulse signal or a fed back portion of a delay clock signal at an output of the delay path, where the selection is based on the selection signal; and thereby generates the delay clock signal. The switch switches a first voltage or a second voltage to the delay line circuit for its operation, where the first voltage further provides power to the pulse generator. The second voltage is generated based on a phase difference between the reference clock signal and the delay clock signal. The controller generates a switch control signal based on a frequency of the delay clock signal.