Phase Detector Alignment for Phase Loss in Decimated Clock Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clock synchronization and frequency translation systems face challenges in reducing system clock errors, minimizing clock propagation delay variation, and achieving precise timing distribution and recovery, particularly in environments with temperature and vibration fluctuations.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a system clock compensation circuit within integrated circuits (ICs) that utilizes error models to estimate and digitally compensate for system clock errors based on temperature, vibration, and supply voltage conditions, combined with delay models to adjust for signal path delays, ensuring accurate timing and phase alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If decimation is used to reduce data rate, then bandwidth is reduced, but phase information is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by capturing and storing phase information before decimation occurs. Phase detectors are positioned to sample the phase of decimated signals at specific timing points, preserving phase information that would otherwise be lost during the decimation process. This allows the system to maintain low data rates while recovering phase information for synchronization purposes.
2Measurement precision
If clock frequency is increased to improve timing precision, then timing resolution is improved, but clock errors and propagation delay variation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through phase detectors that continuously monitor the phase relationship between reference clocks and data signals. The phase detection results are fed back to adjust timing, allowing the system to achieve high timing precision without requiring excessively high clock frequencies. This feedback loop compensates for clock errors and propagation delay variations dynamically.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by using phase detection timing information to dynamically adjust sampling and synchronization parameters. Rather than relying solely on increasing clock frequency, the system adapts timing parameters based on detected phase information, achieving high precision while maintaining clock stability.
3Quantity of substance
If phase detection is performed after decimation, then data rate is reduced, but phase information is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by capturing and storing phase information before decimation occurs. Phase detectors are positioned to sample the phase of decimated signals at specific timing points, preserving phase information that would otherwise be lost during the decimation process. This allows the system to maintain low data rates while recovering phase information for synchronization purposes.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods for clock synchronization and frequency translation are provided herein. Clock synchronization and frequency translation integrated circuits (ICs) generate one or more output clock signals having a controlled timing relationship with respect to one or more reference signals. The teachings herein provide a number of improvements to clock synchronization and frequency translation ICs, including, but not limited to, reduction of system clock error, reduced variation in clock propagation delay, lower latency monitoring of reference signals, precision timing distribution and recovery, extrapolation of timing events for enhanced phase-locked loop (PLL) update rate, fast PLL locking, improved reference signal phase shift detection, enhanced phase offset detection between reference signals, and/or alignment to phase information lost in decimation.