Abstract: The invention is directed to a clock data recovery system for resampling a clock signal according to an incoming data signal. The clock data recovery system comprises a clock generator for generating the clock signal and a phase adjustment unit for generating sampling phases dependent on a phase adjustment control signal. It also comprises a data sampling unit operable to generate a stream of input samples and an edge detector for generating therefrom an internal early signal and an internal late signal. A phase adjustment control unit is disposed for generating under use of the early signal and the late signal the phase adjustment control signal. The phase adjustment control unit is feedable with an external early/late signal and/or comprises an output for delivering an export early/late signal.

Abstract: A differential clock signal gating method and system is provided, providing a clock gating signal with a timing relationship to a clock signal and a differential pair current to a buffer differential pair load element. Switching the differential pair current from the load element to a buffer differential pair responsive to a gating signal pulse, the gating signal pulse correlated to a first clock signal pulse, the buffer differential pair buffers a second clock signal pulse occurring immediately and sequentially after the first clock signal pulse and successive clock signal pulses as a buffer clock signal output, the output comprising a plurality of pulses each having the clock signal amplitude and the clock signal pulse width.

Abstract: A circuit design, method, and system for tracking VCO calibration without requiring an over-designed divider as in conventional implementation. A filter reset component is added to the inputs of the VCO. A process step is added to the calibration mechanism/process that shorts the filter nodes and thus centers the frequency of the VCO before stepping from one frequency band to the next.

Abstract: Disclosed are a receiver circuit, method and design architecture of a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) Clock-And-Data Recovery (CDR) architecture that utilizes/produces one sample-per-bit in the receiver and reduces bit-error-rate (BER). An integrating receiver is combined with a decision feedback equalizer along with the appropriate (CDR) loop phase detector to maintain a single sample per bit requirement. The incoming voltage is converted to a current and connected to a current summing node. Weighted currents determined by the values of previously detected bits and their respective feedback coefficients are also connected to this node. Additionally, the summed currents is integrated and converted to a voltage. A sampler is utilized to make a bit decision based on the resulting voltage. After sampling, the integrator is reset before analysis of the next bit. The necessary amplification is achieved by maximizing the sensitivity of the latch, using integration in front of the data latch.

Abstract: Substantially-accurate calibration of output impedance of a device-under-test (DUT) to within a predetermined range of allowable impedance. The DUT is part of a source series terminated (SST) serial link transmitter, in which two branches of parallel transistors each provide an impedance value when particular transistors of the parallel branch are turned on. The impedance value is added to a series-connected resistor to provide the output impedance. The DUT consists of one branch of parallel transistors in series with a resistor. Output impedance of the DUT is compared to the resistance of a reference resistor, and the comparator provides a control signal based on whether the output impedance falls within the pre-set percentage variance of the reference resistance. The control signal is processed by a FSM (finite state machine) that individually turns on or off the transistors within the parallel branch until the DUT impedance value falls within the desired range.

Abstract: A differential clock signal gating method and system is provided, wherein a clock buffer circuit control path develops a clock gating signal with a timing relationship to a clock signal. The clock gating signal gates a buffer on the clock buffer circuit controlled path in communication with the clock signal responsive to a first clock signal pulse negative half. The buffer provides second and successive clock signal pulses occurring immediately and sequentially after the first clock signal pulse as a buffer clock signal output to a second buffer stage in a second stage clock path, each having the nominal clock amplitude and the nominal clock pulse width of the clock signal without jitter.

Abstract: A serializer/deserializer (SERDES) receiver circuit designed to support multiple serial data rates (full, half, and quarter rates) based on user selection, while requiring substantially minimal amounts of additional logic and complexity within the core logic functions and analog circuits of a full rate SERDES. Over-sampled data from the analog block is provided to support each of the different rates, and the data is stored in three preliminary rate registers, one for full rate, one for half rate and one for quarter rate. In full rate mode, all samples coming from the analog circuits are utilized. In half rate and quarter rate modes, one out of every two samples and one out of every four samples is utilized, respectively. The selected samples are converted to parallel data by core logic functions, which are provided a single clock signal corresponding to the particular mode of operation.

Abstract: A method, circuit and system for altering the power consumption in communication links. A type of noise and an amount of jitter in a signal transmitted across a communication link is measured. Upon determining the contribution of the measured noise to the measured jitter in the signal, the measured noise is classified based on such contribution and the intensity of the measured jitter. The power consumption in a component(s) of the communication link may be adjusted based on the classification of the measured noise. For example, if the measured noise is classified as being a low amount of noise, then the power consumption of the component(s) may be reduced such as by lowering the voltage of the power supply and/or reducing the complexity of the circuitry. By reducing the power consumption when the communication link is not subject to the worst-case condition, a savings in power consumption may be made.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements to determine phase adjustments for a sampling clock of a clock and data recovery (CDR) loop based upon subsets of data samples, or values, derived from an incoming data signal are disclosed. In particular, embodiments extend the CDR loop by slowing the clock rate with respect to the sampling clock. For instance, the slower clock rate may be implemented by dividing the frequency of the sampling clock by a number such as 128, slowing a sampling clock frequency designed to handle multiple gigabits per second (Gbps) to a frequency of less than one kilohertz (Khz). In addition to the reduced power consumption realized by operating at a lower frequency, the slower clock rate allows components of the CDR loop circuitry to operate a lower operating voltage reducing power consumption by the CDR loop even more.

Abstract: A unified, unidirectional serial link is described for providing data across wired media, such as a chip-to chip or a card-to-card interconnect. It consists of a transmit section and a receive section that are operated as pairs to allow the serial data communication. The serial link is implemented as part of a VLSI ASIC module and derives its power, data and clocking requirements from the host modules. The logic transmitter portion contains a phase locked loop (PLL), a dibit data register, a finite impulse response (FIR) filter and a transmit data register. The phase locked loop comprises both a digital coarse loop and an analog fine loop. The digital receiver portion contains a PLL, an FIR phase rotator, a phase rotator control state machine, and a clock buffer. The transmitter and the receiver each preferably utilize a pseudo-random bit stream (PRBS) generator and checker.

Abstract: The present analog invention is related to a unified digital architecture comprising logic transmitter portions and logic receiver portions. A unified serial link system and method for transmitting digital data across wired media including a transmitter and a receiver portion is provided, one of the transmitter portion and receiver portion comprising a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit. The PLL circuit comprises a voltage control oscillator, a frequency divider, a phase-frequency detector, a charge pump and a multi-pole loop filter. One embodiment comprises a dual loop PLL having a digital coarse loop and an analog fine loop.

Abstract: A method for providing quality control on wafers running on a manufacturing line is disclosed. The resistances on a group of manufacturing test structures within a wafer running on a wafer manufacturing line are initially measured. Then, an actual distribution value is obtained based on the result of the measured resistances on the group of manufacturing test structures. The difference between the actual distribution value and a predetermined distribution value is recorded. The predetermined distribution value is previously obtained based on a ground rule resistance. Next, the resistances on a group of design test structures within the wafer are measured. The measured resistances of the group of design test structures are correlated to the measured resistances of the group of manufacturing test structures in order to obtain an offset value.

Abstract: Aspects of providing automatic adaptation to frequency offsets in high speed serial links are described. First signals for phase adjusts in a receiver link are adjusted by detecting trends in the first signals to generate second signals, the second signals improving a rate of compensation for the frequency offsets by the phase adjusts. An up/down counter is included for counting signals for phase adjustments by a clock-data-recovery loop of a serial receiver. An adder is coupled to the up/down counter and outputs accumulated data indicative of a trend in the phase adjustments. Combinatorial logic coupled to the adder adapts the signals based on the accumulated data.

Abstract: The method for determining jitter of a signal in a serial link according to the invention comprising the following steps: First, a section of the signal transmitted via a transmission channel is sampled at different sampling times. The total number of edges in the section is determined. The neighboring sample values are analyzed and from that a statistical value is formed. From the statistical value and the total number of edges a figure of merit is determined. Finally, by means of a look-up table or a jitter-versus-figure of merit curve, the total jitter corresponding to the figure of merit is derived.

Abstract: Aspects for reducing jitter in a PLL of a high speed serial link are described. The aspects include examining at least one parameter related to performance of a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) in the PLL, and controlling adjustment of a supply voltage to the VCO based on the examining. A regulator control circuit performs the examining and controlling.

Abstract: A method and system for testing a high-speed circuit is disclosed. The method and system include obtaining a high-speed statistical signature of the high-speed circuit using a conventional tester. The method and system further include comparing the high-speed statistical signature of the high-speed circuit to an expected signature. Consequently, it can be determined whether the high-speed circuit functions within the desired parameters.

Abstract: A self-adaptive voltage regulator for a phase-locked loop is disclosed. The phase-locked loop includes a phase detector, a charge pump, a low pass filter, and a voltage control oscillator, wherein the low pass filter inputs a control voltage to a voltage controlled oscillator for generation of an output clock. According to the method and system disclosed herein, the self-adaptive voltage regulator is coupled to an output of the low pass filter for sensing the control voltage during normal operation of the phase-locked loop, and for dynamically adjusting the supply voltage, which is input to the voltage controlled oscillator in response to the control voltage, such that the phase-locked loop maintains the control voltage within a predefined range of a reference voltage.