Serializer Clock Selection Circuit for Low-Power High-Speed SerDes
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a growing need for serializers in SerDes data links that offer low power consumption and a smaller area as the operating speed of these data links continues to rise.
Innovation Solution
A serializer design that includes a selection circuit, clock generator, and selection control circuit, utilizing synchronous clock dividers and multiplexing to convert parallel data into serial data with low latency and low power consumption, supporting various serialization ratios through a combination of clock dividers and inverters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If traditional serializer designs are used to achieve high-speed data transmission, then the operating speed increases, but power consumption increases and area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The serializer is divided into multiple independent serialization lanes, each handling a portion of the parallel data. This segmentation allows each lane to operate at lower individual speeds while achieving high overall throughput, reducing power consumption compared to a single high-speed lane.
Solution Approach 2:
The serializer dynamically adjusts the number of active serialization lanes based on the required data rate. When lower speeds are needed, fewer lanes are activated, reducing power consumption. The clock generator dynamically controls the serialization rate to match system requirements.
2Speed
If traditional serializer designs are used to achieve high-speed data transmission, then the operating speed increases, but the area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The serializer uses a unified clock generation and control structure that serves all serialization lanes. The single clock generator and control logic unit can configure multiple lanes to operate at different rates, reducing the overall area compared to having separate clock generators and control logic for each lane.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple serialization lanes share common resources including the clock generator, control logic, and output multiplexing circuitry. This merging of resources significantly reduces the total area required compared to implementing separate serializer circuits for each lane.
3Productivity
If high-speed serialization is implemented, then the data transmission rate increases, but timing jitter increases and setup/hold time margins decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The serializer uses periodic clock signals with well-defined edges to control the serialization process. The clock generator produces clean, periodic clock waves that provide stable timing references, ensuring consistent setup and hold time margins even at high data rates. The periodic nature of the clock ensures predictable timing behavior.
Solution Approach 2:
The serializer incorporates timing feedback mechanisms where the actual timing of serialized data is monitored and used to adjust the clock phase and frequency. This feedback ensures that setup and hold time requirements are met by dynamically compensating for timing variations and jitter.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a circuit, which includes a clock generator, a selection control circuit, and a selection circuit. The clock generator is configured to divide an input clock signal into a first divided clock set and a second divided clock set, and generate a control clock set from the first divided clock set and the second divided clock. The selection control circuit is configured to generate a first selection signal and a second selection signal using the control clock set. The selection circuit is configured to sequentially output each bit of an input data signal within a duration of predetermined clock cycles of the input clock signal based on the first selection signal and the second selection signal.