Receiver Clock Calibration Using Coarse and Fine Delay Circuits
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Solution Overview
Problem
As data transfer and storage technologies advance, precise alignment of clock signals with data signals becomes increasingly challenging due to manufacturing and environmental conditions, leading to errors and inefficiencies in data processing.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of multi-delay circuits, comprising coarse and fine delay circuits, to calibrate clock signals across multiple input/output points, ensuring optimal alignment with data signals and minimizing timing discrepancies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If faster dock signals are used to increase data transfer speed, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to small deviations between data signal and dock signal causing errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs setup and hold calibration in advance before normal data transfer operations. The receiver circuit determines optimal setup and hold values beforehand, storing them for subsequent use. This preliminary calibration action ensures that when fast dock signals are used, the pre-determined timing parameters compensate for signal deviations, maintaining precision despite high-speed operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts timing parameters (setup and hold values) based on calibration results. By changing these parameters to optimal values determined through calibration, the system adapts to specific signal characteristics and environmental conditions, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision even when operating with faster dock signals that would otherwise cause alignment errors.
2Manufacturing precision
If setup and hold calibration is performed to improve signal alignment precision, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional calibration circuits and procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver circuit performs self-calibration by automatically determining optimal setup and hold values without requiring external intervention or complex test equipment. The calibration process uses the receiver's own resources and the incoming calibration data signal to autonomously optimize its timing parameters, thereby improving precision while minimizing the addition of external calibration devices and procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration functionality is merged into the existing receiver circuit structure rather than being implemented as a separate standalone system. The calibration data signal is transmitted through the same data signal path, and the calibration logic is integrated with the normal data reception and latching operations, thereby reducing overall device complexity while achieving improved signal alignment precision.
3Manufacturing precision
If multi-delay circuits are implemented to calibrate clock signals across multiple input/output points, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration system is segmented into independent per-latch calibration units. Each latch circuit has its own dedicated calibration logic that independently determines and applies optimal setup and hold values specific to that latch's timing characteristics. This segmentation allows precision calibration of each individual latch without requiring a monolithic complex calibration system, as each segment operates autonomously with simplified calibration circuitry.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides for calibrating clock signals in an unmatched data input system. In various embodiments, an unmatched data input system uses multi-delay circuits to calibrate a clock signal distributed to various input/outputs in the unmatched data input system. These multi-delay circuits can include coarse delay circuits and fine delay circuits that provide a broad range as well as accurate delay capabilities. Through the use of these multi-delay circuits, the unmatched data input system can optimally align a clock signal with its associated data signal across multiple input/outputs.