Parallel-to-Serial Converter Using Unequal-Phase Clocking

The serializer is divided into multiple independent logic circuits (first logic circuit, second logic circuit, third logic circuit, fourth logic circuit), each handling a specific data input signal. This segmentation allows each circuit to operate independently with dedicated clock signals, reducing mutual interference and jitter while maintaining high overall transmission rate.

The patent employs dynamic clock signal generation with unequal phases for different logic circuits. Each logic circuit receives clock signals with specific phase relationships (e.g., first clock signal and third clock signal are complementary; second clock signal and fourth clock signal are complementary). This dynamic timing arrangement optimizes data capture at rising edges while minimizing jitter accumulation at high frequencies.

The patent explicitly removes transmission gates from the logic circuit design. Instead of using traditional transmission gate-based multiplexing, the invention employs direct logic circuit implementations that capture data at clock rising edges. This extraction of the transmission gate component eliminates the associated jitter and design complexity while achieving the same signal routing function through alternative logical structures.

Rather than using transmission gates to pass signals through controlled switches, the patent inverts the approach by using direct logic circuits that actively drive the output based on clocked data capture. This inversion replaces passive signal routing with active logic-based signal generation, reducing jitter and simplifying design.

The patent combines multiple clock signal functions into a unified clock generation system. The first to fourth clock signals are generated with specific phase relationships and distributed to corresponding logic circuits. By merging the clock distribution architecture with the logic circuit design, the patent manages complexity while maintaining the jitter-reduction benefits of unequal phase clocking.

The clock signal system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides timing for data capture, establishes phase relationships between different data channels, and enables high-speed serialization. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate control mechanisms, thereby managing device complexity while achieving improved jitter characteristics.