A storage controller includes a plurality of pipeline stages configured to process data. A system clock signal is received that has a system frequency and at least one performance metric is determined for one or more pipeline stages of the plurality of pipeline stages. A first clock signal is generated having a first frequency for operation of a first pipeline stage of the plurality of pipeline stages. Based at least in part on the at least one determined performance metric, a second clock signal is generated having a second frequency for operation of a second pipeline stage of the plurality of pipeline stages. The second frequency is less than the system frequency and may also differ from the first frequency.

A storage controller includes a plurality of pipeline stages configured to process data. A system clock signal is received that has a system frequency and at least one performance metric is determined for one or more pipeline stages of the plurality of pipeline stages. A first clock signal is generated having a first frequency for operation of a first pipeline stage of the plurality of pipeline stages. Based at least in part on the at least one determined performance metric, a second clock signal is generated having a second frequency for operation of a second pipeline stage of the plurality of pipeline stages. The second frequency is less than the system frequency and may also differ from the first frequency.

A clock signal generation circuit includes: a triangular wave generation circuit configured to generate a triangular wave signal; a pseudo-random number generation circuit configured to generate a pseudo-random number signal; a limiter circuit configured to perform a limitation process of limiting an amount of change per unit time in the pseudo-random number signal and generate the pseudo-random number signal subjected to the limitation process as a limiter signal; a linear arithmetic circuit configured to generate a frequency control signal by performing a linear arithmetic operation on the triangular wave signal and the limiter signal; and an oscillator configured to generate a clock signal having a frequency corresponding to the frequency control signal.

A clock signal generation circuit includes: a triangular wave generation circuit configured to generate a triangular wave signal; a pseudo-random number generation circuit configured to generate a pseudo-random number signal; a limiter circuit configured to perform a limitation process of limiting an amount of change per unit time in the pseudo-random number signal and generate the pseudo-random number signal subjected to the limitation process as a limiter signal; a linear arithmetic circuit configured to generate a frequency control signal by performing a linear arithmetic operation on the triangular wave signal and the limiter signal; and an oscillator configured to generate a clock signal having a frequency corresponding to the frequency control signal.

Systems and methods are provided for a clock generator is configured to generate N clock signals evenly spaced by phase. A clock generator includes a poly phase filter configured to utilize a differential clock signal to generate N intermediate signals, the intermediate signals being spaced approximately 360/N degrees apart in phase. A phase error corrector is configured to receive the intermediate signals and to generate N clock output signals, where a phase error is a measure of a difference in phase between consecutive ones of the clock output signals from 360/N degrees, the phase error corrector being configured to reduce phase error among the clock output signals based on a feedback signal. A phase error detection circuit is configured to receive the clock output signals and to generate the feedback signal based on detected phase errors among the clock output signals.

Systems and methods are provided for a clock generator is configured to generate N clock signals evenly spaced by phase. A clock generator includes a poly phase filter configured to utilize a differential clock signal to generate N intermediate signals, the intermediate signals being spaced approximately 360/N degrees apart in phase. A phase error corrector is configured to receive the intermediate signals and to generate N clock output signals, where a phase error is a measure of a difference in phase between consecutive ones of the clock output signals from 360/N degrees, the phase error corrector being configured to reduce phase error among the clock output signals based on a feedback signal. A phase error detection circuit is configured to receive the clock output signals and to generate the feedback signal based on detected phase errors among the clock output signals.

A circuit and method are provided for setting a phase relationship between a first signal and a second signal having a known frequency relationship to a master signal but having an unknown phase relationship to each other. One or more phase signals is generated based on the master signal, the phase signals having different phases from each other. One of these phase signals is selected based on the phase of the first signal and a target phase delay between the first signal and second signal. The second signal is generated based on the phase and frequency of the selected phase signal.

A circuit and method are provided for setting a phase relationship between a first signal and a second signal having a known frequency relationship to a master signal but having an unknown phase relationship to each other. One or more phase signals is generated based on the master signal, the phase signals having different phases from each other. One of these phase signals is selected based on the phase of the first signal and a target phase delay between the first signal and second signal. The second signal is generated based on the phase and frequency of the selected phase signal.

An embodiment electronic system comprises a first device, a second device and a clock generator circuit. The clock generator circuit is configured to provide a clock signal having a selectable frequency. The first device comprises a first processing circuit having coupled therewith a first Ethernet interface, and the second electronic device comprises a second processing circuit having coupled therewith a second Ethernet interface. At least one of the first device and the second device is configured to determine a frequency of the clock signal as a function of an operating parameter of the first device and/or of the second device and/or as a function of a parameter of the frames exchanged between the first device and the second device, and to act on the clock generator circuit to operate the clock generator circuit at the frequency.

An embodiment electronic system comprises a first device, a second device and a clock generator circuit. The clock generator circuit is configured to provide a clock signal having a selectable frequency. The first device comprises a first processing circuit having coupled therewith a first Ethernet interface, and the second electronic device comprises a second processing circuit having coupled therewith a second Ethernet interface. At least one of the first device and the second device is configured to determine a frequency of the clock signal as a function of an operating parameter of the first device and/or of the second device and/or as a function of a parameter of the frames exchanged between the first device and the second device, and to act on the clock generator circuit to operate the clock generator circuit at the frequency.