Segmented Delay Adjustment Circuit for Fine Clock Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing delay adjustment circuits face challenges in achieving high-speed operation due to large output loads from selectors, which hinder precise clock timing adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A delay adjustment circuit with multiple delay adjustment units connected in series, each comprising first delay elements and a selector to output either the input signal or the delayed signal, reducing output load and enabling high-speed operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple FF circuits are connected to multiple selection input terminals of the selector to achieve fine timing control, then timing adjustment precision is improved, but output load of the selector increases and operation speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The delay adjustment circuit is divided into multiple delay adjustment units connected in series, where each unit contains a subset of FF circuits. This segmentation reduces the number of FF circuits connected to each selector, thereby reducing the output load on each selector while maintaining fine timing control capability through the cumulative effect of multiple units.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit transitions from a two-dimensional structure (multiple FF circuits connected in parallel to a single selector) to a three-dimensional structure (multiple delay adjustment units with multiple stages of selectors connected in series). This dimensional change allows the system to achieve fine timing control through multiple coarse adjustment stages rather than relying on a single high-load selector.
2Measurement precision
If multiple FF circuits are connected in parallel to a single selector for fine timing control, then timing adjustment precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit is segmented into multiple delay adjustment units, each handling a portion of the total FF circuits. This segmentation distributes the complexity across multiple manageable modules rather than concentrating all FF circuits and selectors in a single complex unit, making the overall circuit easier to design, implement, and maintain.
3Device complexity
If a single selector handles multiple FF circuits for timing adjustment, then device complexity is reduced, but timing adjustment precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single selector to handle all FF circuits, the circuit segments the FF circuits into multiple groups, with each group connected to its own selector within a delay adjustment unit. This segmentation enables finer timing control by allowing independent adjustment of each group, achieving high precision without requiring an overly complex single-selector design.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit employs multiple stages of delay adjustment units that can be dynamically configured through control signals. Each stage provides coarse or fine adjustment capabilities, and the combination of stages enables flexible and precise timing control. The dynamic control signals allow the system to adapt the delay adjustment to different timing requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A delay adjustment circuit according to an embodiment includes: a plurality of delay adjustment units connected in series, each of the plurality of delay adjustment units including one or more first delay elements (102) connected in series that delay an input signal on the basis of a clock, and a first selector (120) that outputs one of the input signal and an output of the first delay element at a last stage among the one or more first delay elements; and an output unit (103, 104, 130a, 130b, 140) that outputs a clock according to an output of the first selector included in a delay adjustment unit at a last stage among the plurality of delay adjustment units, in which each of the plurality of delay adjustment units includes a different number of the first delay elements.