Clock Synchronization Circuit for Sub-Nanosecond Delay Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The delay deviation between multiple power-ons of a system chip in radio-frequency direct sampling transceivers is excessively large, exceeding 10 ns, which contradicts the need for sub-ns precision in modern communication systems.
Innovation Solution
A clock synchronization system comprising a pulse generation module, output frequency divider module, and synchronous output module, utilizing a voltage-controlled oscillator to synchronize clocks within the system, ensuring precise delay functions by sampling and synchronizing signals across subsystems like analog-to-digital converters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If direct radio-frequency sampling architecture is used to simplify the system, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but clock synchronization precision deteriorates with delay deviations exceeding 10 ns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a clock synchronization module as an intermediary component that mediates between the simplified direct RF sampling architecture and the required precision. This module includes a voltage-controlled oscillator, phase detector, and delay adjustment unit that work together to synchronize multiple clock domains, reducing delay deviation from 10 ns to below 1 ns while maintaining architectural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts the delay parameter of the clock signal through a voltage-controlled oscillator and delay adjustment unit. By changing the delay parameter dynamically, the system compensates for interface delay deviations and cross-clock-domain deviations, achieving precise synchronization without complicating the overall architecture
2Reliability
If multiple cross-clock-domain designs are implemented to improve design reliability and power consumption, then system reliability is improved, but delay and jitter deviations increase to levels exceeding 10 ns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism through the phase detector that continuously monitors the phase difference between clock domains and adjusts the delay accordingly. This feedback loop maintains synchronization precision below 1 ns while allowing the system to use multiple cross-clock-domain designs for improved reliability and power efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The clock synchronization module acts as an intermediary that manages multiple cross-clock-domain interfaces. It standardizes the interface delays and provides a unified synchronization mechanism, allowing reliable multi-domain design without accumulating delay deviations
3Measurement precision
If clock precision is controlled within high-frequency clock period (62.5 ps at 16 GHz) to achieve sub-ns delay accuracy, then positioning delay precision is improved, but device complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the clock control function into distinct modular components: voltage-controlled oscillator for coarse frequency control, phase detector for phase comparison, and delay adjustment unit for fine-tuning. This segmentation achieves 62.5 ps precision while keeping each module relatively simple and manageable
Data Source
AI summary
A clock synchronization system and method are provided. The clock synchronization system includes: a pulse generation module, configured to receive an input first signal, perform sampling processing of the first signal to obtain a second signal, and generate a pulse signal according to the second signal; a voltage-controlled oscillator, configured to output a first output clock; the output frequency divider module, configured to perform frequency division on the first output clock, and synchronize, according to the pulse signal, the first output clock which has been subjected to the frequency division, so as to obtain a second output clock; and the synchronous output module, configured to receive the first output clock, the second output clock, the first signal, and the pulse signal, and perform synchronization processing on the first signal according to the first output clock, the second output clock and the pulse signal, so as to obtain a third signal.