Patent ID: 7046869
Filing Date: 2006-05-16
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
1. An integrated circuit, for use in optical communications systems, operable in a first mode as a parallel-to-serial converter for converting parallel data to serial data for optical transmission, and operable in a second mode as a serial-to-parallel converter for converting serial optically transmitted data to parallel data, comprising: a clock input, for receiving a first clock signal synchronous with parallel data in said first mode; a clock multiplier, for multiplying the first clock signal by a multiplication factor to obtain a second clock signal at a data rate of output serial data in said first mode, the clock multiplier comprising a first phase-locked loop; a clock recovery unit, for recreating a third clock signal from received serial data in said second mode, the clock recovery unit comprising a second phase-locked loop; and a clock divider, for dividing the third clock signal by a division factor to obtain a fourth clock signal at a data rate of output serial data in said second mode; wherein said first and second phase-locked loops share at least some components.