Patent ID: 8330508
Filing Date: 2012-12-11
Classification: G06F,H03K,H03L

Abstract:
1. Phase-generation circuitry comprising: a plurality of controllable delay stages arranged in series, each delay stage configured to phase shift a differential signal based on a control signal, the differential signal comprising a first component and a second component, wherein the plurality of controllable delay stages comprises at least first and second delay stages arranged in series, wherein the first delay stage is to delay the first and second components of the differential signal to provide respectively first and second components of a first phase-shifted signal, wherein the second delay stage is to delay the first and second components of the first phase-shifted signal to provide first and second components of the second phase-shifted signal; and phase detector circuitry configured to receive only the first component of the first and second components of the differential signal to generate the control signal based on a first time difference and a second time difference, the first time difference being between rising edges of the first component of the differential signal and a second component of a phase-shifted signal, the second time difference being between falling edges of the first component of the differential signal and the second component of the phase-shifted signal, wherein the phase detector circuitry is configured to adjust the control signal to attempt to equalize the first and the second time differences, wherein the first time difference is between rising edges of the first component of the differential signal and the second component of the second phase-shifted signal, and wherein the second time difference is between falling edges of the first component of the differential signal and the second component of the second phase-shifted signal, wherein the plurality of controllable delay stages comprises a third delay stage, wherein the third delay stage is to delay the first and second components of the second phase-shifted signal to provide first and second components of a third phase-shifted signal, and wherein the phase-generating circuitry is configured to generate a multiphase signal as an output.