PLL Fast Locking via Sequential Frequency and Phase Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic systems face challenges in clock synchronization and frequency translation, including system clock errors, variations in clock propagation delay, and latency issues in monitoring reference signals, which affect the precision and reliability of timing distribution and phase-locked loops.
Innovation Solution
The development of integrated circuits (ICs) with system clock compensation and delay compensation circuits that utilize error models, digital phase-locked loops, and dynamically controlled latency to generate compensation signals for circuit blocks, improving clock synchronization and frequency translation by reducing errors and latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a PLL is used for clock synchronization, then frequency and phase locking is achieved, but the locking time is excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing frequency offset compensation before phase offset compensation. The frequency offset is corrected first using the frequency offset compensation module, which adjusts the frequency of the feedback signal to match the reference signal. Only after frequency locking is achieved does the system proceed to phase offset compensation. This sequential approach prevents the PLL from experiencing both frequency and phase errors simultaneously, significantly reducing the overall locking time while maintaining synchronization accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If traditional clock compensation methods are used, then system clock errors are addressed, but compensation signal generation is complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the clock compensation function into two independent modules: a frequency offset compensation module and a phase offset compensation module. Each module handles a specific type of offset independently. The frequency offset compensation module generates a frequency compensation signal based on the frequency difference between reference and feedback signals, while the phase offset compensation module generates a phase compensation signal based on the phase difference. This segmentation simplifies the overall compensation circuit by avoiding the need for a single complex compensation mechanism that would need to handle both frequency and phase simultaneously.
3Stability of the object's composition
If reference signal monitoring is performed with fixed latency, then system stability is maintained, but latency cannot be optimized for different operating conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic latency control in the reference signal monitoring module. Instead of using a fixed latency value, the system dynamically adjusts the monitoring latency based on the current operating conditions and signal characteristics. The reference signal monitoring module receives the reference signal and can adjust its monitoring parameters in real-time, allowing the system to optimize latency for different scenarios while maintaining stability through controlled adjustment mechanisms.
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.