Crystal-Less Clock Regeneration Using Sync Pattern Frequency Lock

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional USB receivers require external crystal oscillators, leading to increased complexity, cost, and power consumption, and are not suitable for thin applications due to size limitations, with existing solutions complicating the process and increasing costs further.

Innovation Solution

A clock regeneration method and crystal-less system that generates a clock signal without an external crystal oscillator, using data/pattern detection, synchronization pattern detection, and frequency-locking to achieve high accuracy and performance, suitable for USB standards, and applicable to various devices including portable electronics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an external crystal oscillator is used as the source of reference frequency, then the receiver can achieve stable frequency reference, but the device complexity increases due to additional terminals and ESD protection circuits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefrequency reference stabilityVSAvoidreceiver architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the external crystal oscillator from the receiver architecture. By using the incoming signal itself as the reference source through correlation processing, the patent removes the need for external frequency reference components, thereby simplifying the receiver architecture while maintaining frequency stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The receiver performs self-service by using its own incoming signal as the frequency reference. The correlation processor compares the incoming signal with a locally generated replica, allowing the receiver to autonomously establish frequency lock without external assistance, thus eliminating complex external reference circuits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If an external crystal oscillator is used, then the receiver achieves accurate frequency reference, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefrequency reference accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the power-consuming external crystal oscillator from the system. The frequency reference function is transferred to the incoming signal itself, processed through correlation operations that consume less power than maintaining an external oscillator, thereby reducing overall power consumption while preserving frequency accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The receiver utilizes the incoming signal's own energy and characteristics to establish frequency reference, eliminating the need for separate power-intensive reference components. The correlation processing efficiently extracts frequency information from the signal itself, reducing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If an external crystal oscillator is used, then the receiver maintains stable operation, but switching noises are generated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereceiver operation stabilityVSAvoidswitching noises

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the external crystal oscillator that generates switching noises. By using the incoming signal as the frequency reference through correlation processing, the patent eliminates the noise-generating components while maintaining operational stability through signal-based frequency locking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If an external crystal oscillator is used, then the receiver achieves frequency reference functionality, but the chip thickness exceeds 800 micrometers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefrequency reference functionalityVSAvoidchip thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the bulky external crystal oscillator from the system. By implementing frequency reference functionality through correlation processing using the incoming signal, the receiver achieves the required frequency reference capability while maintaining a compact form factor suitable for thin chip card applications under 800 micrometers thickness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS8724762B2Clock regeneration method, reference-less receiver, and crystal-less system

Publication Date: 2014.05.13 FARADAY TECH CORP

AI summary

A clock regeneration method, for generating a clock signal for being utilized by a receiver/transceiver/receiver system/transceiver system, includes: performing data/pattern detection on at least one input signal to generate recovered data; detecting at least one synchronization pattern in the input signal according to a synchronization pattern rule, and generating a synchronization signal corresponding to the synchronization pattern; and performing frequency-locking on the synchronization signal to generate the clock signal. More particularly, the step of detecting the at least one synchronization pattern in the input signal according to the synchronization pattern rule further comprises: detecting the at least one synchronization pattern by performing synchronization pattern detection on the recovered data. An associated reference-less receiver and an associated crystal-less system are also provided.