SERDES Clock Phase Locking via Receive-to-Transmit Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed serializer/deserializer (SERDES) devices face challenges in synchronizing transmitter clock signals with receiver clock signals across different SERDES cores, substrates, or boards, leading to frequency drift issues that compromise data integrity due to the difficulty in maintaining a common clock over large distances.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for synchronizing receive clock signal phases with transmit clock signal phases using a timing recovery module and retiming module, which transfer receive clock signal pulses and phase data to adjust the transmit clock signal phase based on calculated phase differences and directions, ensuring phase locking without violating minimum pulse width requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a common clock is used at the receiver and transmitter, then clock matching is improved, but device complexity and distance constraints worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (phase detector and feedback circuit) that indirectly synchronizes clocks by detecting phase differences and adjusting the transmitter clock phase accordingly, rather than directly connecting clocks over long distances
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback loop where the phase difference between receiver and transmitter clocks is continuously detected and used to adjust the transmitter clock phase, ensuring continuous synchronization without requiring direct clock distribution
2Stability of the object's composition
If direct clock matching is maintained over distance, then frequency stability is improved, but feasibility and signal integrity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses phase detection and feedback circuits as intermediaries to maintain frequency stability without requiring direct physical clock distribution over long distances, making the system feasible for large-scale implementations
3Adaptability or versatility
If large frequency changes are allowed in clock synchronization, then adaptability is improved, but data integrity and system stability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by limiting the maximum phase adjustment amount in each synchronization step, preventing excessive frequency changes that would compromise data integrity while still achieving the necessary adaptability for frequency tracking
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for synchronizing a receive clock signal phase with a transmit clock signal phase are presented. A system includes a receiving channel and a transmitting channel, wherein the transmitting channel synchronizes a transmit clock signal phase with a receive clock signal phase based on receive clock signal phase data. A method includes storing a previous receive clock signal phase of a receiving channel and identifying a current receive clock signal phase of the receiving channel. The method further includes determining a phase difference between the previous receive clock signal phase and the current receive clock signal phase, and identifying a direction of the phase difference. The method further includes adjusting a previous transmit clock signal phase of the transmitting channel to a current transmit clock signal phase of the transmitting channel based on the phase difference and direction.