Multi-channel line interface unit with on-chip clock management
First Claim
1. A method for clocking a multi-channel Line Interface Unit (LIU) embodied in an integrated circuit and having a plurality of channels, each having a receive path and a transmit path, comprising the steps of:
- receiving an external reference clock signal;
generating a free running on-chip clock synchronized to the reference clock signal;
receiving on at least two of the channels transmit or receive data clocks and associated corresponding transmit and receive data operating at an associated data rate;
processing the transmit and receive data on each of the respective channels with a portion of the processing occurring in the digital domain;
generating from the free running clock a separate channel clock for each of the at least two channels and synchronized to the respective received transmit or receive data clocks and referenced to the free running on-chip clock, such that the received transmit or receive data clocks can be independent of each other and referenced to a single external reference signal; and
utilizing the respective separate channel clock by the digital portion of the step of processing in the respective channel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Multi-channel line interface unit with on-chip clock management. A method for clocking a multi-channel Line Interface Unit (LIU) embodied in an integrated circuit and having a plurality of channels is disclosed. Each channel has a receive path and a transmit path. An reference clock input is provided for receiving an external reference clock signal. A free running on-chip clock is generated that is synchronized to the reference clock signal. On at least two of the channels, transmit or receive data clocks and associated corresponding transmit and receive data operating at an associated data rate are received. Transmit and receive data are processed on each of the respective channels with a portion of the processing occurring in the digital domain. A separate channel clock is generat from the free running clock for each of the at least two channels and synchronized to the respective received transmit or receive data clocks and referenced to the free running on-chip clock, such that the received transmit or receive data clocks can be independent of each other and referenced to a single external reference signal. A controller is operable to utilize the respective separate channel clock by the digital portion of the step of processing in the respective channel.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for clocking a multi-channel Line Interface Unit (LIU) embodied in an integrated circuit and having a plurality of channels, each having a receive path and a transmit path, comprising the steps of:
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receiving an external reference clock signal;
generating a free running on-chip clock synchronized to the reference clock signal;
receiving on at least two of the channels transmit or receive data clocks and associated corresponding transmit and receive data operating at an associated data rate;
processing the transmit and receive data on each of the respective channels with a portion of the processing occurring in the digital domain;
generating from the free running clock a separate channel clock for each of the at least two channels and synchronized to the respective received transmit or receive data clocks and referenced to the free running on-chip clock, such that the received transmit or receive data clocks can be independent of each other and referenced to a single external reference signal; and
utilizing the respective separate channel clock by the digital portion of the step of processing in the respective channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A clock generator for a multi-channel Line Interface Unit (LIU) embodied in an integrated circuit and having a plurality of channels, each having a receive path and a transmit path, comprising:
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a reference clock input for receiving an external reference clock signal;
a reference clock generator for generating a free running on-chip clock synchronized to the external reference clock signal;
each of the channels having transmit and receive paths and at least two of the channels receiving transmit and receive data clocks and associated corresponding transmit and receive data operating at an associated data rate on the associated transmit and receive paths;
a processing section associated with each of the transmit and receive paths for each of the respective channels for processing the transmit and receive data with a portion of the processing occurring in the digital domain;
a channel clock generator for each channel for generating from the free running clock a separate channel clock for each of the at least two channels and synchronized to the respective received transmit or receive data clocks and referenced to the free running on-chip clock, such that the received transmit or receive data clocks can be independent of each other and referenced to a single external reference signal; and
the digital portion of the processing section of each of the channels utilizing the respective separate channel clock processing in the associated digital portion. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification