Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for synchronizing clock signals in spatially distributed nodes in large, synchronous electronic, optical, optoelectronic or wireless systems, such as systems comprising arrays of microprocessors and memories, and telecommunication systems. The nodes comprise a master node and a plurality of slave nodes. The master node generates first and second identical pulse trains and propagates them to the slave nodes via a first and second propagation channels, respectively, so that a pair of pulses, one from each pulse train, arrive at each slave node substantially simultaneously, travelling in opposite directions. Each slave node generates a clock signal event in response to the substantially simultaneous arrival of each pair of pulses. The master node maintains the rate of the two pulse trains such that there are “pN” pulses in each propagation channel at any time, where “N” is the number of nodes and “p” is an integer.

Abstract: To synchronize clock signals in spatially distributed nodes in a large, synchronous electronic, optical, optoelectronic or wireless system, a master node generates two identical pulse trains and propagates them to a plurality of slave nodes via first and second propagation channels, respectively, so that a pair of pulses, one from each pulse train, arrive at each slave node simultaneously, travelling in opposite directions. Each slave node generates a clock signal event when the pair of pulses arrive substantially simultaneous. When the pulses in the two channels do not arrive simultaneously, the slave node adjusts delays in each propagation channel so as to adjust arrival times of subsequent pairs of pulses. The delays may comprise pre-delays upstream of the detection point and post-delays downstream of the detection point, any increment in a pre-delay being compensated by an equal decrement in the post-delay in the same propagation channel.