FPGA Internal Phase-Locked Loop for Low-Latency Clock Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) face a technical challenge in synchronizing receiver and transmitter clock signals, leading to unwanted latency and processing delays, particularly in high-frequency applications like high-frequency trading where microsecond accuracy is crucial.
Innovation Solution
A field programmable gate array system with an internal phase controller that includes a phase detector and adjustable oscillator to align the phases of the receiver and transmitter clock signals, eliminating the need for clock domain crossing circuits and minimizing latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If clock domain crossing circuits are used to synchronize receiver and transmitter clock signals, then phase synchronization is achieved, but processing delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the phase detection and adjustment functionality from traditional clock domain crossing circuits and implements it through a dedicated phase detector and adjustable oscillator. This separation allows phase synchronization to be achieved independently without the full overhead of clock domain crossing, thereby reducing processing delay while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a phase detector as an intermediary component that measures phase differences between receiver and transmitter clocks and generates control signals to adjust the transmitter clock phase. This intermediary enables precise phase synchronization without requiring complex clock domain crossing circuits, thus reducing processing delay while maintaining synchronization reliability.
2Reliability
If traditional synchronous Ethernet systems are used, then frequency synchronization is achieved, but phase alignment is not maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the phase detector continuously measures the phase difference between receiver and transmitter clocks and feeds back control signals to the adjustable oscillator. This closed-loop feedback system maintains both frequency and phase alignment, overcoming the limitation of traditional synchronous Ethernet systems that only achieve frequency synchronization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the transmitter clock by using an adjustable oscillator that can modify both frequency and phase based on phase detector feedback. This parameter adjustment capability enables precise phase alignment while maintaining frequency synchronization, surpassing traditional systems that only control frequency.
3Reliability
If phase alignment is implemented in high-frequency trading applications, then data integrity is improved, but processing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs phase alignment in advance through the adjustable oscillator that pre-adjusts the transmitter clock phase based on phase detector measurements. By establishing proper phase relationships before data transmission, the system ensures data integrity without requiring real-time phase adjustments that would slow down processing, thus maintaining high processing speed in high-frequency trading applications.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables sub-microsecond processing throughput without introducing unnecessary delays, ensuring efficient data processing and transmission across the FPGA system.
Implementation Method 1
a phase detector and adjustable oscillator to align the phases of the receiver and transmitter clock signals
Implementation Method 2
internal phase controller providing phase matching between a receiver clock and a transmitter clock used in the field programmable gate array
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a field programmable gate array system that provides phase control with minimal latency.