Tunable delay for very high speed

• US 6,028,462 A
• Filed: 08/22/1997
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kyles, Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): TON, MY TRANG
• Application Number:
  US08/916,819
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 327/269, 327/270, 327/271, 327/272, 327/276, 327/277, 327/278, 327/281, 327/165, 327/99, 375/359, 375/355
• US Class Current: 327/277
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 5/131 Digitally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 5/133 using a chain of active delay devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/0337 Selecting between two or more discretely delayed clocks or selecting between two or more discretely delayed received code signals

Abstract

A circuit and method are shown for a continuously adjustable delay circuit. The present invention utilizes two signal delay paths controlled by a tuning signal wherein each delay path receives a reference signal. The first delay path delays the reference signal in response to the tuning signal in a manner that is complementary to the manner in which the second delay path delays the reference signal in response to the tuning signal. By selecting one of the signal output by the first delay path and the signal output by the second delay path and switching between the two signals at a point when the two signals are separated by a period of the reference signal, a delay of the reference signal can be continuously adjusted.

Claims

1. A continuously adjustable delay circuit, the circuit comprising:

a first variable delay path circuit configured to receive a clock signal and a delay control signal, wherein the first variable delay path is operable to delay the clock signal by a first variable time interval that is inversely related to the delay control signal in order to generate a first delayed clock signal;

a second variable delay path circuit configured to receive the clock signal and the delay control signal, wherein the second variable delay path is operable to delay the clock signal by the first variable time interval that is directly related to the delay control signal in a complementary manner to the delay of the first variable delay path circuit in order to generate a second delayed clock signal; and

a selector circuit configured to receive the first and second delayed clock signals and being operable to select one of the first and second delayed clock signals for output as a data clock signal.

2. The continuously adjustable delay circuit of claim 1, wherein:

the first variable delay path further comprises a first plurality of delay elements, wherein the delay elements of the first plurality of delay elements are coupled in series with one another, and further wherein each one of the delay elements of the first plurality of delay elements is configured to delay the clock signal by a second variable time interval that is inversely related to the delay control signal; and

the second variable delay path further comprises a second plurality of delay elements, wherein the delay elements of the second plurality of delay elements are coupled in series with one another, and further wherein each one of the delay elements of the second plurality of delay elements is configured to delay the clock signal by the second variable time interval that is directly related to the delay control signal.

3. The continuously adjustable delay circuit of claim 1, wherein the selector circuit comprises a first multiplexor, and the adjustable delay circuit further includes:

a path select circuit configured to receive the first and second delayed clock signals and generate a select signal which selects one of the first and second delayed clock signals, and wherein the path select circuit is operable to switch between the first and second delayed clock signals when the first and second delayed clock signals are separated by one bit cycle;

a flip-flop configured to receive a receive data signal and the recovered clock signal, wherein the recovered clock signal clocks the receive data signal into the flip-flop in order to obtain a recovered data signal;

a phase detect circuit configured to receive the receive data signal and the recovered clock signal, wherein the phase detect circuit is operable to generate a slower control signal when the phase of the recovered clock signal leads the phase of the received data signal and generate a faster control signal when the phase of the recovered clock signal lags the phase of the received data signal;

a control signal generator configured to receive the slower and faster control signals and the select signal and generate the delay control signal, the control signal generator being operable to adjust the delay control signal responsive to the slower and faster control signals and the select signal; and

wherein

the first multiplexor is configured to receive the select signal in order to select one of the first and second delayed clock signals for output as a recovered clock signal.

4. The continuously adjustable delay circuit of claim 3, wherein the control signal generator further comprises:

a second multiplexor configured to receive the faster and slower control signals and the select signal, the second multiplexor being operable to select one of the faster and slower control signals responsive to the select signal for output as an up control signal;

a third multiplexor configured to receive the faster and slower control signals and the select signal, the second multiplexor being operable to select another one of the faster and slower control signals responsive to the select signal for output as a down control signal.

5. A method for continuously adjusting a delay of a data clock signal, the method comprising the steps:

delaying a reference clock signal by a first variable time interval that is inversely related to a control signal in order to produce a first delayed clock signal;

delaying the reference clock signal by a second variable time interval that is directly related to the control signal in order to produce a second delayed clock signal;

selecting one of the first and second delayed clock signals for output as a recovered data clock;

comparing a phase of data transitions in a received data signal with a phase of the recovered data clock to determine a phase difference; and

adjusting the control signal responsive to the phase difference.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of selecting one of the first and second delayed clock signals for output as a recovered data clock further comprises:

switching between the first and second delayed clock signals when the first and second delayed clock signals are in phase.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of adjusting the control signal responsive to the phase difference further comprises:

increasing a magnitude of the control signal when the first delayed clock signal is selected as the recovered data clock and the phase of the recovered data clock leads the phase of the received data signal;

decreasing a magnitude of the control signal when the first delayed clock signal is selected as the recovered data clock and the phase of the recovered data clock lags the phase of the received data signal;

increasing a magnitude of the control signal when the second delayed clock signal is selected as the recovered data clock and the phase of the recovered data clock lags the phase of the received data signal; and

decreasing a magnitude of the control signal when the second delayed clock signal is selected as the recovered data clock and the phase of the recovered data clock leads the phase of the received data signal.

8. A continuously adjustable delay-lock loop circuit, the circuit comprising:

a first variable delay path circuit having inputs to receive a clock signal and a delay control signal, for controllably delaying the clock signal by a first variable time interval that is inversely related to the delay control signal, in order to generate a first delayed clock signal, wherein the first variable delay path circuit includes a first series of fixed delay elements coupled together in series with one another for delaying the clock signal;

a second variable delay path circuit having inputs to receive the clock signal and the delay control signal, wherein the second variable delay path is operable to delay the clock signal by a second variable time interval that is directly related to the delay control signal in order to generate a second delayed clock signal wherein, the second variable delay path circuit includes a second series of fixed delay elements coupled together in series with one another for delaying the clock signal; and

the first and second variable delay paths include switches responsive to the delay control signal for selectively bypassing one or more of the fixed delay elements in each of the first and second variable delay paths so as to adjust the first and second time intervals in a complementary manner in response to the delay control signal; and

a path selector for selecting one at a time of the first and second delayed clock signals for output as a recovered clock signal.

9. A continuously adjustable delay circuit according to claim 8 wherein the switches in the delay paths includes a plurality of multiplexors each connected to receive the clock signal for selectively bypassing one or more of the fixed delay elements.

10. A serial data clock recovery circuit for recovering a clock signal and serial data from a received data signal, comprising:

a delay-locked loop circuit for controllably delaying a master clock input signal so as to form the recovered clock signal;

the delay-locked loop circuit including a continuously adjustable delay circuit for adjusting a phase of the recovered clock signal so as to maintain synchrony with the received data signal;

wherein

the continuously adjustable delay circuit includes first and second complementary delay paths, the delay paths configured to delay the master clock input signal in a manner directly responsive to an applied tuning signal, and in a manner inversely responsive to the same tuning signal, respectively, so as to form first and second delayed clock signals, respectively, and further including a path selector circuit for selecting one at a time of the first and second delayed clock signals for output as the recovered clock signal.

11. A serial data clock recovery circuit according to claim 10 further comprising:

a phase detect circuit configured to receive the receive data signal and the recovered clock signal, for generating a slower control signal when the phase of the recovered clock signal leads the phase of the received data signal and for generating a faster control signal when the phase of the recovered clock signal lags the phase of the received data signal; and

a tuning signal generator configured to receive the slower and faster control signals and a select control signal and generate the tuning signal, timing signal generator being operable to adjust the tuning signal responsive to the slower and faster control signals and the select signal so as to increase the tuning signal responsive to the slower control signal while the first delayed clock signal is selected as the recovered clock signal and conversely, decrease the tuning signal responsive to the faster control signal while the second delayed clock signal is selected as the recovered clock signal.

12. A serial data clock recovery circuit according to claim 11 wherein the tuning signal generator includes:

a first multiplexor configured to receive the faster and slower control signals and the select signal, the first multiplexor being operable to select one of the faster and slower control signals responsive to the select signal for output as an UP control signal;

a second multiplexor configured to receive the faster and slower control signals and the select signal, the second multiplexor being operable to select another one of the faster and slower control signals responsive to the select signal for output as a DOWN control signal; and

a tuning voltage generating circuit configured to receive the UP and DOWN control signals, the tuning voltage generating circuit being operable to adjust the tuning signal voltage in a first direction responsive to the UP control signal and adjust the tuning signal voltage in a second direction opposite the first direction responsive to the DOWN control signal, the respective directions of voltage adjustment being selected so that the selected delayed clock signal is synchronized to the received data signal.

13. A serial data clock recovery circuit according to claim 12 wherein the tuning voltage generating circuit comprises a filter having an output connected to the continuously adjustable delay circuit to provide the tuning signal and a charge pump connected to drive the filter responsive to the selected UP and DOWN control signals.

14. A serial data clock recovery circuit according to claim 12 wherein the tuning voltage generating circuit comprises an up-down counter circuit responsive to the UP and DOWN control signals for generating a digital control word as the tuning signal for selecting delays in the first and second delay paths.

15. A serial data clock recovery circuit according to claim 12 wherein the tuning voltage generating circuit comprises a shift register connected to receive the UP and DOWN control signals for generating a digital control word as the tuning signal for selecting delays in the first and second delay paths.

16. A method for recovering a data clock signal from a serial data receive signal, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a master clock signal having a predetermined frequency substantially equal to an expected frequency of the serial data receive signal;

delaying the master clock signal by a first variable time interval so as to form a first delayed clock signal;

delaying the master clock signal by a second variable time interval so as to form a second delayed clock signal;

selecting at a time one of the first and second delayed clock signals for output as a recovered data clock; and

synchronizing the recovered data clock to the serial data receive signal.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the synchronizing step includes comparing a phase of data transitions in the serial data receive signal to a phase of clock edges in the recovered data clock to detect a phase difference;

and wherein said delaying steps respectively include adjusting the first and second variable time intervals responsive to the detected phase difference.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the step of adjusting the first and second variable time intervals responsive to the detected phase difference includes;

increasing a control signal when the first delayed clock signal is selected as the recovered data clock and the phase of the recovered data clock leads the phase of the received data signal;

decreasing the control signal when the first delayed clock signal is selected as the recovered data clock and the phase of the recovered data clock lags the phase of the received data signal;

increasing the control signal when the second delayed clock signal is selected as the recovered data clock and the phase of the recovered data clock lags the phase of the received data signal; and

decreasing the control signal when the second delayed clock signal is selected as the recovered data clock and the phase of the recovered data clock leads the phase of the received data signal.

19. A method according to claim 16 wherein the step of selecting one of the first and second delayed clock signals for output as a recovered data clock further comprises switching between the first and second delayed clock signals only when the first and second delayed clock signals are substantially in phase.

20. A method according to claim 16 wherein the step of selecting one of the first and second delayed clock signals for output as a recovered data clock further comprises switching between the first and second delayed clock signals only when the first and second delayed clock signals are offset by approximately one bit unit interval.

21. A serial data communications system comprising:

one or more serial data communications channels, each channel including a transmitter and a receiver for transmitting and receiving serial data signals, respectively, the receiver including a serial data recovery circuit for recovering a clock signal and serial data from the corresponding received data signal;

the serial data recovery circuit including a delay-locked loop circuit for controllably delaying a master clock input signal so as to maintain the recovered clock signal in synchrony with the received data signal;

the delay-locked loop circuit including first and second complementary delay path circuits each delaying the master clock input signal so as to form first and second delayed clock signals, respectively; and

further including a path selector circuit for selecting one at a time of the first and second delayed clock signals responsive to a select control signal for output as the recovered clock signal.