Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field 
     The present application generally relates to a synchronization circuit and, more particularly, to a digital phase synchronization circuit for synchronizing clock signals and digital input signals. 
     2. The Related Art 
     Multiple integrated circuits often output signals that must be fed to a single integrated circuit. Signal skew can develop between the output signals from a variety of sources, including chip-chip variation and signal path differences. Further, clock skew on an integrated circuit can develop from the same sources. The signal and clock skew has been dealt with by equalizing signal path lengths and manually providing phase adjustment. 
     In addition, high speed systems designed with multiple integrated circuits rely on careful control of signal and clock traces to maintain phase alignment of multiple signals and clocks. Phase lock loops have been used in conjunction with first-in-first-out memories in high frequency applications to provide a clock interface between a clock recovered from the signal and the local clock on the integrated circuit. Such phase lock loops dissipate a lot of power, are only useful for a small number of inputs, for example, four inputs to a chip, and have a slow acquisition time. 
     What is needed is a digital phase synchronization circuit that uses a digitally controlled delay line in conjunction with at least one phase detector to change the delay in a signal path relative to a local clock. Also, there is a need for such a circuit that eliminates signal and clock skew with lower power dissipation and which can be used for a greater number of inputs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An aspect of the present invention provides a synchronization circuit. The synchronization circuit includes a plurality of samplers, the plurality of samplers sampling an input signal with a plurality of respective clock signals and producing a plurality of respective sampled output signals, and at least one phase detector coupled to the plurality of samplers, the at least one phase detector determining whether the plurality of sampled output signals are different and producing at least one control signal, the at least one control signal indicating whether the plurality of sampled output signals are different. The synchronization circuit also includes a delay adjuster coupled to the at least one phase detector, the delay adjuster adjusting a delay of the input signal according to the at least one control signal output by the at least one phase detector. 
     A further aspect of the present invention provides a synchronization circuit. The synchronization circuit includes a first sampler, the first sampler sampling an input signal with a first clock signal and producing a first sampled output signal, a second sampler, the second sampler sampling the input signal with a second clock signal and producing a second sampled output signal, and a third sampler, the third sampler sampling the input signal with a third clock signal and producing a third sampled output signal. The synchronization circuit also includes a first delay unit coupled to the first sampler, the first delay unit delaying the first sampled output signal, a second delay unit coupled to the second sampler, the second delay unit delaying the second sampled output signal, a first phase detector coupled to the first delay unit and the second delay unit, the first phase detector determining whether the first sampled output signal and the second sampled output signal are different and producing a first control signal, the first control signal indicating whether the first sampled output signal and the second sampled output signal are different, and a second phase detector coupled to the second delay unit and the third sampler, the second phase detector determining whether the second sampled output signal and the third sampled output signal are different and producing a second control signal, the second control signal indicating whether the second sampled output signal and the third sampled output signal are different. Further, the synchronization circuit includes a controller coupled to the first phase detector and the second phase detector, the controller generating a delay signal according to the first control signal and the second control signal, and a third delay unit coupled to the controller, the third delay unit adjusting a delay of the input signal according to the delay signal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary and not limiting, in which like numerals refer to like or corresponding parts, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of a phase synchronization circuit of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2   a  shows an exemplary embodiment of an input signal sampled by clock signals of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2   b  shows an exemplary embodiment of an input signal sampled by clock signals of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2   c  shows an exemplary embodiment of an input signal sampled by clock signals of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows an exemplary embodiment of a phase synchronization circuit of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  shows an exemplary embodiment of a phase synchronization circuit of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a phase synchronization circuit  100  of the present invention. A digitally controlled delay line (DCDL)  105  receives a digital input signal  150 . The DCDL  105  may be, for example, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/665,005 and is incorporated herein by reference. The input signal  150  is delayed by the DCDL  105  according to the control signals  160   a ,  160   b ,  160   c ,  160   d  and then output to three samplers  115 ,  120 ,  125 . In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the samplers are flip-flops. The samplers  115 ,  120 ,  125  also receive clock signals clk 0 , clk 1 , clk 2 , respectively. A delayed input signal  210  is sampled using clock signals clk 0 , clk 1 , clk 2 , each clock signal delayed by a predetermined equal amount with respect to the others during a bit interval. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, only one clock signal generates clock signals clk 0 , clk 1 , clk 2  by using inverters to delay each clock signal by a predetermined equal amount with respect to the others during a bit interval. Devices other than inverters can be used to provide the necessary delay to the clock signals and a delay unit other than a DCDL may be used to provide an appropriate amount of delay to the input signal. 
     If the input signal  210  and clock signal clk 1  are aligned, meaning that the sample obtained by sampler  120  is aligned in the middle of input signal  210 , the other two samples obtained by samplers  115 ,  125  should also have the bit value of 1. If the three samples do not have the same bit value of 1, there is a transition either between the samples obtained by samplers  115 ,  120  or the samples obtained by samplers  120 ,  125 . In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the transition is either from bit value 1 to bit value 0 or from bit value 0 to bit value 1. Depending on where the transition is, a delay adjuster increments or decrements the delay of the input signal  210 . In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the delay adjuster includes an up-down counter  110  and the DCDL  105 . Upon the next bit period, the samples may now be aligned provided enough delay was added or subtracted by up-down counter  110  and DCDL  105 . More delay can be added or subtracted on subsequent bit periods so that eventually after a few bits depending on the delay step relative to the period the input signal  150  and clock signals clk 0 , clk 1 , clk 2  are properly aligned. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the samplers  115 ,  120 ,  125  provide output signals equal to the value of the respective input signals at the time of a falling edge of the respective clock signals clk 0 , clk 1 , clk 2 . As a result of the clock signals clk 0 , clk 1 , clk 2  being delayed with respect to each other, the samplers  115 ,  120 ,  125  provide a snap shot of the input signal  210  at different times. In a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the clock signals clk 0 , clk 1 , clk 2  are delayed with respect to each other by a predetermined amount so that the total delay of the clock signals clk 0 , clk 1 , clk 2  is less than the length of time of the bit interval of the input signal  210 . As a result, the samplers  115 ,  120 ,  125  can provide three sample points  220   a ,  220   b ,  220   c  during the input signal  210 , as shown in  FIG. 2   c.    
       FIG. 2   a  illustrates the input signal  210  sampled by clock signals clk 0 , clk 1 , clk 2 . The three arrows or sampling points  220   a ,  220   b ,  220   c  represent the falling edges of the three clock signals clk 0 , clk 1 , clk 2 , respectively. As can be seen in  FIG. 2   a , the output of the three samplers  115 ,  120 ,  125  is 1, 1, 0, respectively, because the input signal  210  only has a value of 1 at the sampling points  220   a  and  220   b . In order for the output of the three samplers  115 ,  120 ,  125  to be 1, 1, 1, respectively, as can be seen in  FIG. 2   c , the delay of the input signal  210  must be increased. 
       FIG. 2   b  depicts an input signal  220 , whereby the output of the three samplers  115 ,  120 ,  125  is 0, 1, 1, respectively, because the input signal  220  only has a value of 1 during the sampling points  220   b  and  220   c . In order for the output of the three samplers  115 ,  120 ,  125  to be 1, 1, 1, respectively, the delay of the input signal  220  must be decreased. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the samplers  115 ,  120 ,  125  are rising edge flip-flops. Accordingly, the samplers  115 ,  120 ,  125  provide output signals equal to the value of the respective input signals at the time of a rising edge of the respective clock signals clk 0 , clk 1 , clk 2 . 
     The input signal  210  sampled by sampler  115  is then output to a delay unit including delay devices  130   a ,  130   b , as can be seen in  FIG. 1 . Further, the input signal  210  sampled by sampler  120  is output to a delay unit including delay devices  135   a ,  135   b . In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the delay devices  130   a ,  130   b ,  135   a ,  135   b  are inverters that each provide a predetermined delay. By using the delay devices  130   a ,  130   b ,  135   a ,  135   b , the value of the input signal  210  sampled with clock signal clk 0  and the value of the input signal  210  sampled with clock signal clk 1  aligned in time with the value of the input signal  210  sampled with clock signal clk 2 . Specifically, the delay provided by delay devices  130   a ,  130   b  is approximately twice the delay of clock signal clk 2  relative to clock signal clk 0 . The delay provided by delay devices  135   a ,  135   b  is approximately equal to the delay of clock signal clk 2  relative to clock signal clk 1 . 
     The delayed signal output by delay device  130   b  and the delayed signal output by delay device  135   b  are then fed to phase detector  140 . Further, the delayed signal output by delay device  135   b  and the sampled signal output by sampler  125  are fed to phase detector  145 . Phase detectors  140 ,  145  determine whether there is any transition and if so, the location of the transition. Depending on where the transition is, delay is either added or subtracted to the input signal  210  so that the three samples all have the bit value of 1. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, phase detectors  140 ,  145  are digital phase detectors which function as exclusive OR logical gates. The output of phase detector  140  has a bit value of 1 if the output by the delay device  130   b  and the output by delay device  135   b  are different. For example, the output by delay device  130   b  has a value of 0 and the output of delay device  135   b  has a value of 1, as shown in  FIG. 2   b . If the outputs by the delay devices  130   b ,  135   b  are the same, as shown in  FIG. 2   a , then the output of phase detector  140  has a bit value of 0. Similarly, the output of phase detector  145  has a bit value of 1 if the output of delay device  135   b  and the output of sampler  125  are different. For example, the output by delay device  135   b  has a bit value of 1 and the output of sampler  125  has a value of 0, as shown in  FIG. 2   a . However, if the outputs of delay device  135   b  and sampler  125  are the same, as shown in  FIG. 2   b , then the output of phase detector  145  has a bit value of 0. Phase detectors  140 ,  145  will both have a bit value of 0 when the outputs by delay devices  130   b ,  135   b  and sampler  125  are the same, as shown in  FIG. 2   c , for example each output has a bit value of 1. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when phase detector  140  has an output with a bit value of 1, the delay of the input signal  210  needs to be reduced. However, when phase detector  145  has an output with a bit value of 1, the delay of input signal  210  needs to be increased. Lastly, when phase detectors  140 ,  145  have outputs with a value of 0, additional or less delay is not needed. 
     The outputs of phase detectors  140 ,  145  are fed into a controller. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the controller is up-down converter  110 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Depending on the value of the output signals of phase detectors  140 ,  145 , up-down counter  110  is either increased, decreased or unchanged. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, if the output of phase detector  140  has a value of 1 and phase detector  145  has a value of 0, a value of up-down counter  110  is decreased. When the value of up-down counter  110  is decreased, the four bit control signal  160   a ,  160   b ,  160   c ,  160   d  output to DCDL  105  is decreased and the delay of the input signal  210  will be reduced. For example, if the value of up-down counter  110  is 1 0 0 0, the value will change to 0 1 1 1. Accordingly, the four bit control signal  160   a ,  160   b ,  160   c ,  160   d  output to DCDL  105  is 0 1 1 1 and DCDL  105  will reduce the delay of the input signal  210  by a predetermined amount. If the output of phase detector  145  has a bit value of 1 and phase detector  140  has a bit value of 0, a value of up-down counter  110  is increased. Further, the four bit control signal  160   a ,  160   b ,  160   c ,  160   d  output to DCDL  105  is increased and DCDL  105  increases the delay of the input signal  210  by a predetermined amount. Once the necessary amount of delay is increased or reduced, the output of phase detectors  140 ,  145  will have a bit value of 0 and clock signal clk 1  will approximately be centered on output signal  155 . Thus, the output signal  155  and clock signals clk 0 , clk 1 , clk 2  will be aligned. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the value of up-down counter  110  is initially set at 1 0 0 0. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the phase synchronization circuit  100  shown in  FIG. 1  does not include sampler  125 , clock signal clk 2  and phase detector  145 . As a result, the circuit  100  is only concerned with whether the outputs by delay devices  130   b ,  135   b  are different or the same. If the outputs by delay devices  130   b ,  135   b  are different, phase detector  140  outputs a signal having a bit value of 1 to up-down counter  110  in order to reduce the delay of input signal  210  via DCDL  105 . In this exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the delay is only reduced until the input signal  210  is aligned with clock signals clk 0 , clk 1 . In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, either inverters  130   a ,  130   b  or inverters  135   a ,  135   b  are not utilized in the phase synchronization circuit  100 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a further exemplary embodiment of a phase synchronization circuit  300  of the present invention. Devices having like numerals refer to like or corresponding parts of  FIG. 1  and are not explained again. The outputs of delay device  130   b  and sampler  125  are fed to phase detector  310 . If the outputs by delay device  130   b  and sampler  125  are different, phase detector  310  outputs a signal having a bit value of 1 to up-down counter  110  in order to reduce the delay of input signal  210  via DCDL  105 . In this exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the delay is only reduced until the input signal  210  is aligned with clock signals clk 0 , clk 1 , clk 2 . When the outputs by delay device  130   b  and sampler  125  are the same, for example, have a bit value of 1, the output from delay device  135   b  will necessary have a value of 1.  FIG. 2   c  illustrates the situation when the outputs by delay device  130   b  and sampler  125  have a value of 1. As can be seen, the output of delay device  135   b  also has a value of 1. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a further exemplary embodiment of a phase synchronization circuit  400  of the present invention. Devices having like numerals refer to like or corresponding parts of  FIG. 1  and are not explained again. The circuit shown in  FIG. 4  includes samplers  410 ,  420 ,  430 , each input with clock signal clk 2 . In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the samplers  410 ,  420 ,  430  are flip-flops. By resampling the output from delay device  130   b , the output from delay device  135   b  and the output from sampler  125  with clock signal clk 2 , the value of the input signal  210  sampled with clock signal clk 0  and the value of the input signal sampled with clock signal clk 1  are aligned in time with the value of the input signal  210  sampled with clock signal clk 2 . In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the circuit  400  includes either samplers  410 ,  420 ,  430  or delay devices  130   a ,  130   b ,  135   a ,  135   b.    
     The embodiments described above are illustrative examples of the present invention and it should not be construed that the present invention is limited to these particular embodiments. Various changes and modifications may be effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Technology Category: 5