High-Speed Clock Divider Phase Skew Detection and Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional synchronization schemes for high-speed clock dividers are inadequate in managing clock skew, especially at deep-submicron technology nodes, where reduced timing margins lead to phase skew failures and inaccuracies, particularly at clock speeds exceeding 12.5 GHz.
Innovation Solution
A high-speed clock divider system that includes a reset synchronizer, phase skew detector, and phase skew corrector to generate synchronous internal reset signals and correct phase misalignment between clock signals, using a phase skew detector and corrector to adjust the phase alignment of the clock divider outputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional synchronization schemes are used to synchronize clock dividers, then device complexity is reduced, but clock skew correction capability deteriorates leading to phase misalignment at high speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The synchronization scheme is segmented into distinct functional blocks: a phase skew detector that monitors phase alignment between clock signals, and a phase skew corrector that independently adjusts timing. This modular segmentation allows each component to specialize in one aspect of skew management, improving correction capability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A phase skew detector acts as an intermediary component between the clock divider outputs and the final synchronized output. This intermediary monitors phase alignment and provides feedback to the phase skew corrector, enabling precise skew correction while maintaining a clear separation of concerns and manageable system complexity.
2Productivity
If deep-submicron technology nodes are used to increase clock speed, then productivity is improved, but timing margin is reduced leading to phase skew failures
Solution Approach 1:
The phase skew corrector implements dynamic timing adjustment by continuously monitoring phase alignment and actively correcting skew in real-time. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain reliable synchronization even at high clock speeds where static timing margins are insufficient, effectively decoupling productivity gains from reliability degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
A feedback loop is established through the phase skew detector and corrector, where the detector continuously monitors phase alignment between clock signals and feeds this information back to the corrector. This feedback mechanism enables automatic compensation for timing variations, maintaining reliability at high clock speeds where traditional fixed timing margins fail.
3Manufacturing precision
If reset release synchronization is used to synchronize clock dividers, then device complexity is minimized, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to inability to correct systematic phase skew
Solution Approach 1:
The phase skew corrector changes the timing parameter of the clock signals by introducing adjustable delay elements that can be programmed to compensate for systematic phase skew. This parameter adjustment capability enables precise phase alignment correction without requiring complex hardwired delay circuits, balancing manufacturing precision with manageable device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A synchronizing high-speed clock divider has a Clk input, a Clks input, and a reset input configured to correct phase misalignment on clock divider outputs caused by phase skew between a Clk input signal and a Clks input signal, and comprises a reset synchronizer configured to generate at least one synchronous internal reset signal in response to a reset signal and the Clk input signal, a first clock divider configured to receive the Clk input signal on the Clk input and a reset signal on a first clock divider reset input to provide a Clk out signal, a second clock divider configured to receive the Clks input signal on the Clks input and the reset signal on a second clock divider reset input to provide a Clks out signal, a phase skew detector configured to detect a phase alignment between the Clk out signal and the Clks out signal, and a phase skew corrector coupled to the phase skew detector and the second clock divider configured to change the phase alignment to be within a same phase as the first clock divider. A key aspect of the clock divider is that once phase misalignment between the Clk and Clks out signals is detected, the phase misalignment is corrected.