Embodiments of this application disclose example phase detection methods, phase detection circuits, and clock recovery apparatuses. One example method includes receiving a first signal and deciding a (2M−1) level of the first signal to obtain a decision result, where the first signal is a (2M−1)-level signal, and M is a positive integer. A response amplitude parameter of a transmission channel can then be obtained. Clock phase information in the first signal can then be extracted based on the first signal, the decision result, and the response amplitude parameter. Output clock phase information can then be determined based on at least three decision results and at least three pieces of clock phase information in at least three symbol periods.

Methods and systems are described for generating early and late votes for a clock recovery system, each early or late vote associated with a detected transitional data pattern in a data stream, generating a first early-late vote measurement reflective of an imbalance between the early and late votes that are generated during a first time interval, generating a second early-late vote measurement reflective of an imbalance between the early and late votes that are generated during a second time interval, comparing the first and the second early-late vote measurements, and outputting a CDR-lock signal at least in part responsive to determining that the first and the second early-late vote measurements are within a predetermined threshold.

A signaling system is disclosed. The signaling system includes a first integrated circuit (IC) chip to receive a data signal and a strobe signal. The first IC includes circuitry to sample the data signal at times indicated by the strobe signal to generate phase error information and circuitry to output the phase error information from the first IC device. The system further includes a signaling link and a second IC chip coupled to the first IC chip via the signaling link to output the data signal and the strobe signal to the first IC chip. The second IC chip includes delay circuitry to generate the strobe signal by delaying an aperiodic timing signal for a first time interval and timing control circuitry to receive the phase error information from the first IC chip and adjust the first time interval in accordance with the phase error information.

Systems and methods are provided for synchronizing a lower-power idle state. The systems and methods perform operations comprising: initializing, by a master physical layer (PHY) controller, a connection over a network with a slave PHY controller; during initialization, synchronizing a low power idle (LPI) timer of the master PHY controller with a LPI timer of the slave PHY controller; establishing an offset between the LPI timer of the master PHY controller and the LPI timer of the slave PHY controller; and after synchronizing the timer of the master PHY controller with the LPI timer of the slave PHY controller, establishing a link between the master PHY controller and the slave PHY controller to enable the master PHY controller and the slave PHY controller to exchange data.

A media system, method, and a computer program product for synchronizing device clocks including a plurality of devices having device clocks, where each device is capable of independently selecting a primary clock device from the plurality of devices to coordinate clock synchronization of the remaining devices, e.g., secondary devices. Each device can utilize the same criteria or set of rules to select the primary clock device from among the plurality of devices after an initial exchange of data during a discovery phase. The selection of the primary clock device can be based on random or arbitrary selection, or based on at least one devices characteristic exchanged within the data obtained during the discovery phase. Once selected, the primary clock device coordinates a clock synchronization sequence with each secondary device until each secondary device clock is synchronized to within a predetermined threshold with the primary clock of the primary clock device.

A reference-less clock and data recovery device includes a CDR circuit, an oscillator circuit, and a processor. The CDR circuit is configured to generate a first clock signal through synchronization according to a data signal having a first frequency in a first time period. The oscillator circuit is configured to output an oscillating clock signal according to the first clock signal. A frequency of the oscillating clock signal is substantially identical to that of the first clock signal. The processor oversamples the data signal having a second frequency in a second time period to generate a simulated preparation signal conforming to the second frequency. The CDR circuit is configured to generate a second clock signal through synchronization according to the simulated preparation signal. Before generating the second clock signal, the CDR circuit is synchronized to the oscillating clock signal to maintain outputting of the first clock signal.

A clock and data recovery circuit includes a phase detector that outputs phase characteristic data based on a digital data signal and an adjustment circuit that adjusts phase characteristic data. The clock and data recovery circuit sets an adjustment value in an adjustment circuit by calculating an adjustment value of phase characteristic data using a monitor circuit while changing a phase of a reference clock signal to be adjusted in a phase interpolation circuit based on offset data output from an offset output circuit in a training period before communication starts.

Methods and systems are described for generating early and late votes for a clock recovery system, each early or late vote associated with a detected transitional data pattern in a data stream, generating a first early-late vote measurement reflective of an imbalance between the early and late votes that are generated during a first time interval, generating a second early-late vote measurement reflective of an imbalance between the early and late votes that are generated during a second time interval, comparing the first and the second early-late vote measurements, and outputting a CDR-lock signal at least in part responsive to determining that the first and the second early-late vote measurements are within a predetermined threshold.

A reference-less dock and data recovery device includes a CDR circuit, an oscillator circuit, and a processor. The CDR circuit is configured to generate a first clock signal through synchronization according to a data signal having a first frequency in a first time period. The oscillator circuit is configured to output an oscillating clock signal according to the first clock signal, A frequency of the oscillating clock signal is substantially identical to that of the first clock signal. The processor oversamples the data signal having a second frequency in a second time period to generate a simulated preparation signal conforming to the second frequency. The CDR circuit is configured to generate a second clock signal through synchronization according to the simulated preparation signal. Before generating the second clock signal, the CDR circuit is synchronized to the oscillating clock signal to maintain outputting of the first clock signal.

Disclosed retimer modules and methods enable equalizer training during link speed negotiation. One illustrative retimer module includes: an analog to digital converter that uses a sampling clock to digitize a receive signal; an equalizer that converts the digitized receive signal into an equalized signal; a decision element that derives a receive symbol stream from the equalized signal; and a clock recovery module that derives the sampling clock based at least in part on an equalization error of the equalized signal, the sampling clock having a frequency with a range including a baud rate of the receive signal at a first supported speed and including a frequency not less than twice the baud rate of the receive signal at a second supported speed.