Sub-Ranging ADC Clock Timing Adjustment for Skew Mismatch
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic circuits employing multiple clocks face issues with timing errors and skew mismatch, leading to operational errors and performance deficiencies, particularly in communication devices that rely on accurate clock synchronization for digital data conversion and processing.
Innovation Solution
The electronic circuit incorporates a reference ADC and a main ADC, along with delay circuits, to adjust and synchronize the timing of multiple clocks by analyzing bit strings generated from input signals, ensuring that the main clock aligns with the reference clock, thereby resolving timing errors and skew mismatch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple clocks are employed to increase communication speed and data processing capability, then productivity is improved, but timing errors and skew mismatch occur leading to operational errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the timing detector continuously monitors the timing difference between first and second bit strings and generates a timing adjustment signal. This feedback loop allows the system to automatically correct timing errors in real-time, maintaining synchronization between multiple clocks while enabling high-speed parallel operations. The feedback signal adjusts the phase or frequency of clocks dynamically to eliminate skew mismatch.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the timing parameters of multiple clocks dynamically based on detected timing errors. By adjusting clock phase, frequency, or duty cycle in response to measured skew, the system maintains accurate synchronization while operating at high speeds. This parameter adjustment enables the clocks to adapt their timing characteristics to eliminate errors without reducing overall communication speed.
2Productivity
If multiple clocks are used to process data in parallel, then productivity increases, but device complexity increases due to clock synchronization requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The timing detection and adjustment mechanism operates autonomously within the system, automatically detecting timing errors and generating correction signals without external intervention. The system self-regulates clock synchronization by continuously monitoring bit string timing relationships and adjusting clocks accordingly, reducing the need for complex external synchronization control circuitry.
Solution Approach 2:
The timing detector serves multiple functions: it detects timing errors, determines error directions, generates adjustment signals, and monitors synchronization status across multiple clocks. This multi-functional component consolidates what would otherwise require separate dedicated circuits for each function, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high-speed parallel processing capability.
3Measurement precision
If timing adjustment is performed based on bit string comparison, then timing accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional detection circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The timing detection function is merged with the existing data processing pathway. The timing detector utilizes the first and second bit strings that are already being generated during normal ADC operations to detect timing errors. By combining timing detection with the existing data conversion workflow rather than adding completely separate detection circuitry, the system achieves high timing measurement accuracy while minimizing additional device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic circuit includes a reference ADC, a delay circuit, and a main ADC. The reference ADC converts an input signal to an upper bit string of output data, in response to a reference clock. The delay circuit delays a source clock by a delay time to output a main clock. The main ADC converts the input signal to a lower bit string of the output data, in response to the main clock. When a value of the most significant bit included in the lower bit string is identical to a value of the bit which is adjacent to the most significant bit and lower than the most significant bit, the delay time is adjusted based on a direction in which a level of the input signal is changed and the value of the most significant bit of the lower bit string.