Abstract: A clock and data recovery device includes a phase detector, a quantizer, and a loop filter. The phase detector produces a phase error samples at an output representing a phase difference between a phase-adjusted clock and an input data signal. The quantizer, coupled to the output of the phase detector and responsive to high threshold and low threshold values, produces a tri-valued quantized phase error samples at an output. The loop filter filters either the quantized phase error samples or the phase error samples to control the phase-controlled clock. A frequency detector, determining the frequency of jitter present in the input data signal, addresses a look-up table to provide the jitter-frequency dependent high and low threshold values and to control which phase error samples is processed by the loop filter. The frequency detector determines the jitter frequency by taking the ratio of peak values of low pass-filtered phase error samples.

Abstract: A communication system having a receiver with a linear path and a nonlinear path. As the receiver receives a data signal, it adaptively equalizes the received signal, and amplitude-limits the equalized signal in the nonlinear path using a saturable amplifier limiter or the like. A slicer extracts data from the limited equalized received signal. In the linear path, a clock recovery circuit generates a clock signal from the equalized received signal. A delay circuit in the linear path at least partially compensates for propagation delay in the limiter. Having the clock recovery occur in other than the nonlinear path, a low jitter clock is generated. The limiter enhances the vertical opening of the data eye by increasing the rise and fall times of the limited signal, providing more noise margin for the slicer to operate with and a greater timing margin in which to sample the sliced data.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide for, in a SerDes device, an adaptation process that adjusts termination impedance automatically to obtain a tuned termination. The termination adaptation is realized with a ‘biased’ bang-bang phase detector (BBPD) that biases the weights applied to UP and DOWN outputs of the phase detector. Through an optimization process, the system locks to data eye corners, and thereby is able to optimize termination though a predetermined criteria, such as signal to noise ratio (SNR), horizontal eye (H-) margin, vertical eye (V-) margin or joint SNR and H-/V-margin optimization. As part of the receiver equalization, adaptive termination tuning is performed after the SerDes receiver (RX) path is initially powered-up by tuning the termination above and below its current initial setting and performing the optimization process.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a receiver for a serial-deserializer or the like. The receiver has adaptive offset voltage compensation capability. The offset voltage is canceled by a controller in a feedback loop to generate a compensation signal depending on a data decision error signal or by timing signals used for clock recovery.

Abstract: In described embodiments, a method for producing sample decisions with a digital signal processing-based SERDES device includes converting an analog signal to a digital signal, equalizing the digital signal, selecting inputs for a phase detector in a main CDR loop, computing a phase difference signal, producing a phase skew to signals for a last equalization stage by a first interpolation filter bank, generating a control signal to control the phase provided by the first interpolation filter bank by a phase skew adaptation loop, and updating the phase skew values to generate a resulting decision. A device includes a first interpolation filter bank inserted between the equalization stages is configured to generate phase skew signals to a last equalization stage and a phase skew loop responsive to the last equalization stage is configured to adjust the phase skew provided by the first interpolation filter bank.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a process and apparatus that takes into account the operating voltage and temperature (VT) variations of a SERDES receiver implemented in an integrated circuit (IC) or system-on-chip (SoC). An analog equalizer (AEQ) adaptation loop and a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) adaptation loop are disabled after the loops have converged or stabilized the parameters of the AEQ and DFE. While the AFE and DFE adaptation loops are disabled, certain monitor coefficients related to signals corrected by the AFE and DFE are adapted and metrics derived therefrom are generated. The metrics are compared to threshold values to check if they have sufficiently changed over time to warrant re-enabling of the AFE and DFE adaptation loops.

Abstract: A clock and data recovery device includes a phase detector, a quantizer, and a loop filter. The phase detector produces a phase error samples at an output representing a phase difference between a phase-adjusted clock and an input data signal. The quantizer, coupled to the output of the phase detector and responsive to high threshold and low threshold values, produces a tri-valued quantized phase error samples at an output. The loop filter filters either the quantized phase error samples or the phase error samples to control the phase-controlled clock. A frequency detector, determining the frequency of jitter present in the input data signal, addresses a look-up table to provide the jitter-frequency dependent high and low threshold values and to control which phase error samples is processed by the loop filter. The frequency detector determines the jitter frequency by taking the ratio of peak values of low pass-filtered phase error samples.

Abstract: A frequency band estimator for use in a data receiver or the like to enhance sinusoidal jitter tolerance by the clock and data recovery device (CDR) in the receiver. The detector uses two moving-average filters of different tap lengths that receive a gain-controlled signal from within the CDR. Output signals from the moving average filters are processed to determine a half-wave time period for each output signal by measuring the number clock cycles occurring between transitions of each output signal. The number of clock cycles of the longest half-wave period is compared to multiple values representing frequency limits of various frequency bands to determine which frequency band to classify jitter the gain-controlled signal. The determined frequency band is used to select from a look-up table a set of gain values for use in the CDR.

Abstract: In described embodiments, a method for producing sample decisions with a digital signal processing-based SERDES device includes converting an analog signal to a digital signal, equalizing the digital signal, selecting inputs for a phase detector in a main CDR loop, computing a phase difference signal, producing a phase skew to signals for a last equalization stage by a first interpolation filter bank, generating a control signal to control the phase provided by the first interpolation filter bank by a phase skew adaptation loop, and updating the phase skew values to generate a resulting decision. A device includes a first interpolation filter bank inserted between the equalization stages is configured to generate phase skew signals to a last equalization stage and a phase skew loop responsive to the last equalization stage is configured to adjust the phase skew provided by the first interpolation filter bank.

Abstract: A receiver containing analog circuitry that generates distortion, a distortion compensation circuit coupled to an output of the analog circuitry, and a slicer, operating as a signal peak detector, coupled to the distortion compensation circuitry. The distortion compensation circuit has a subtractor, a function generator, and a weighting circuit. The subtractor has a first input coupled to the output of the analog circuitry, a second input, and an output. The function generator has an input coupled to the first input of the subtractor. The weighting circuit, responsive to a weighting coefficient, is coupled between an output of the function circuit and the second input of the first subtractor. The function generator has a transfer function with a third-power term and the weighting coefficient is set to a value based on the level of the signal peaks that will least partially reduce distortion in signals on the output of the subtractor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for determining the threshold position of one or mote DFE latches using an evaluation of the incoming data eye. A threshold position is determined for one or more transition latches employed by a decision-feedback equalizer by obtaining a plurality of samples of a data eye using a data eye monitor; obtaining a vertical eye opening metric from the data eye monitor; and determining the threshold position for the one or more transition latches based on the vertical eye opening metric. A decision-feedback equalizer is also disclosed that comprises at least one data latch having a data threshold; and at least one transition latching having a transition threshold, wherein the transition threshold and the data threshold ate unequal.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of phase detector circuits and a summing circuit. Each of the plurality of phase detector circuits may be configured to generate a phase up signal and a phase down signal in response to a respective pair of data samples and intervening transition sample. The summing circuit may be configured to generate an adjustment signal in response to the phase up and phase down signals of the plurality of phase detector circuits. A sum of the phase up signals and a sum of the phase down signals are weighted to provide a bias to a phase adjustment.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of phase detector circuits and a summing circuit. Each of the plurality of phase detector circuits may be configured to generate a phase up signal and a phase down signal in response to a respective pair of data samples and intervening transition sample. The summing circuit may be configured to generate an adjustment signal in response to the phase up and phase down signals of the plurality of phase detector circuits. A sum of the phase up signals and a sum of the phase down signals are weighted to provide a bias to a phase adjustment.

Abstract: Described embodiments adjust configurable parameters of at least one filter of a communication system. The method includes conditioning, by an analog front end (AFE) of a receiver in the communication system, an input signal applied to the receiver. Sampled values of the conditioned input signal are generated and digitized. An error detection module generates an error signal based on digitized values of the input signal and a target value. A decision feedback equalizer generates an adjustment signal based on the digitized values of the input signal and values of the error signal. A summer subtracts the adjustment signal from the conditioned input signal, generating an adjusted input signal. An adaptation module determines a conditional adaptation signal based on a comparison of sampled values of the adjusted input signal and values of the error signal. The adaptation module adjusts a transfer function of at least one filter based on the conditional adaptation signal.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a receiver for a serial-deserializer or the like. The receiver has adaptive offset voltage compensation capability. The offset voltage is canceled by a controller in a feedback loop to generate a compensation signal depending on a data decision error signal or by timing signals used for clock recovery.

Abstract: A communication system having a receiver with a linear path and a nonlinear path. As the receiver receives a data signal, it adaptively equalizes the received signal, and amplitude-limits the equalized signal in the nonlinear path using a saturable amplifier limiter or the like. A slicer extracts data from the limited equalized received signal. In the linear path, a clock recovery circuit generates a clock signal from the equalized received signal. A delay circuit in the linear path at least partially compensates for propagation delay in the limiter. Having the clock recovery occur in other than the nonlinear path, a low jitter clock is generated. The limiter enhances the vertical opening of the data eye by increasing the rise and fall times of the limited signal, providing more noise margin for the slicer to operate with and a greater timing margin in which to sample the sliced data.

Abstract: A variable gain amplifier (VGA) useful in a receiver that recovers transmitted digital signals. A first amplifier in the VGA has a first gain, an input coupled to an input of the VGA, and an output coupled to a load. A second amplifier in the VGA has a second gain, an input coupled to the input of the VGA, and an output coupled to the load. In a first mode of operation, the first gain is substantially zero and the second gain ranges between a maximum gain and a fraction of the maximum gain. In a second mode of operation the first gain is substantially the maximum gain and the second gain ranges between the maximum gain and the fraction of the maximum gain, and an algebraic sum of the first gain and second gain is no greater than the maximum gain to reduce non-linear distortion at low VGA gain.

Abstract: A receiver containing analog circuitry that generates distortion, a distortion compensation circuit coupled to an output of the analog circuitry, and a slicer, operating as a signal peak detector, coupled to the distortion compensation circuitry. The distortion compensation circuit has a subtractor, a function generator, and a weighting circuit. The subtractor has a first input coupled to the output of the analog circuitry, a second input, and an output. The function generator has an input coupled to the first input of the subtractor. The weighting circuit, responsive to a weighting coefficient, is coupled between an output of the function circuit and the second input of the first subtractor. The function generator has a transfer function with a third-power term and the weighting coefficient is set to a value based on the level of the signal peaks that will least partially reduce distortion in signals on the output of the subtractor.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a receiver for a serial-deserializer or the like. The receiver has adaptive offset voltage compensation capability. The offset voltage is canceled by a controller in a feedback loop to generate a compensation signal depending on a data decision error signal or by timing signals used for dock recovery.

Abstract: Described embodiments receive a signal by a set of fixed taps and a set of floating taps of a receiver, each tap corresponding to a detected symbol. Each of the floating taps is stored in a corresponding shift register to account for process, operating voltage and temperature (PVT) variations of the receiver without calibration of delay elements. Multiplexing logic selects (i) corresponding floating taps for equalization by coupling selected floating taps to the outputs of the fixed taps, and (ii) different phases of each possible floating tap position. The multiplexing logic prunes and/or amalgamates the phases of each possible floating tap position and selects floating taps based on a magnitude of each phase. A combiner adjusts each output value of the fixed taps and the selected floating taps by a corresponding tap-weight, combines the adjusted values into an output signal and subtracts the output signal from the input signal.