Phase Detector Extrapolation for Faster PLL Locking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clock synchronization and frequency translation systems face challenges in reducing system clock error, minimizing clock propagation delay variation, and achieving low latency monitoring of reference signals, while also ensuring precision timing distribution and recovery.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves an integrated circuit (IC) with a system clock compensation circuit that generates compensation signals to correct errors in the system clock signal based on error models that account for temperature, vibration, and supply voltage conditions, thereby improving clock synchronization and frequency translation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional phase detection methods are used, then the system can operate with simpler circuitry, but the PLL locking time is excessive and update rate is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing forward and backward extrapolation of timing events to predict future phase differences before they actually occur. This allows the PLL to be proactively adjusted based on predicted timing rather than reactively responding to actual timing errors, significantly reducing locking time and enabling faster update rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an additional dimensional approach by using multiple timing events (both forward and backward extrapolated) to determine phase difference, rather than relying on a single timing measurement. This multi-dimensional timing analysis enables more accurate and faster phase detection.
2Measurement precision
If timing events are measured directly without extrapolation, then the measurement is simpler, but phase information is lost due to decimation and timing resolution is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The phase detector performs preliminary extrapolation of timing events to recover phase information that would otherwise be lost due to decimation. By predicting timing events before they are sampled, the system maintains high measurement precision even when operating with reduced sampling rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual copies of timing events through extrapolation, generating predicted timing values that represent what the actual timing events would be. These copied timing values allow the system to maintain high measurement precision without requiring direct measurement of every actual timing event.
3Measurement precision
If the system uses higher sampling rates to improve timing resolution, then timing precision improves, but power consumption and circuit complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses preliminary extrapolation to predict timing events, allowing accurate timing measurement without requiring high sampling rates. This predictive approach maintains high timing resolution while operating at lower, more power-efficient sampling rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of increasing sampling rate to improve resolution with a computational approach using extrapolation algorithms. This substitution achieves the same timing precision goal through mathematical prediction rather than brute-force sampling, reducing power consumption.
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.