Isochronous Receiver Phase Alignment for Superconducting AC Clocks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Superconducting computer systems face challenges in isochronous communication due to unknown or arbitrary phase relations between clock signals used for transmission and reception, particularly in systems like reciprocal quantum logic (RQL) where clock recovery with AC clock signals is precluded.
Innovation Solution
An isochronous receiver system that includes a pulse receiver and a phase converter system with multiple pulse converters associated with sampling windows across an AC clock signal, allowing for phase-alignment of output signals with sampling phases, even when clock signals have arbitrary phase relations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If clock signals are generated from multiple sources or transmitted across inter-chip communication systems, then communication between separate chips and systems is enabled, but the phase relation between transmission and reception clock signals becomes unknown or arbitrary
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver system is segmented into multiple pulse converters, each associated with a specific sampling window across the AC clock signal period. This segmentation allows the system to handle arbitrary phase relationships by distributing sampling tasks across multiple specialized converters, where each converter is optimized for a specific phase window.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary phase alignment by pre-configuring multiple sampling windows with known phase relationships before data reception. The pulse converters are预先 arranged to cover all possible phase offsets, so when data arrives with an unknown phase relation, the correct aligned sample is already prepared and available.
2Use of energy by moving object
If AC clock signal is used as power source in superconducting logic, then power efficiency is improved, but clock recovery becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary phase alignment mechanism that mediates between the AC clock signal used for power and the data sampling requirement. Instead of directly recovering the clock from data, the intermediary sampling windows with known phase relationships enable indirect phase alignment, allowing the AC clock to serve dual purposes as both power source and timing reference.
3Measurement precision
If multiple pulse converters with overlapping sampling windows are used, then phase alignment accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple pulse converters with overlapping sampling windows are merged into a unified phase alignment system. The converters work cooperatively, with their overlapping windows providing redundant coverage that ensures accurate phase alignment regardless of the actual clock phase offset. This merging allows the system to achieve high precision without requiring each individual converter to be overly complex.
Data Source
AI summary
One example includes an isochronous receiver system. The system includes a pulse receiver configured to receive an input data signal from a transmission line and to convert the input data signal to a pulse signal. The system also includes a converter system comprising a phase converter system. The phase converter system includes a plurality of pulse converters associated with a respective plurality of sampling windows across a period of an AC clock signal. At least two of the sampling windows overlap at any given phase of the AC clock signal, such that the converter system is configured to generate an output pulse signal that is phase-aligned with at least one of a plurality of sampling phases of the AC clock signal based on associating the pulse signal with at least two of the sampling windows.