A clock and data recovery (CDR) system includes a correlator configured to receive data, determine a first value of the received data, and output a second value corresponding to the received data, an accumulator configured to generate an accumulation value by accumulating the second value output from the correlator and output the accumulation value, and a state machine configured to determine whether a repeating pattern is present in the CDR system based on the accumulation value.

Apparatus and methods for clock synchronization and frequency translation are provided herein. Clock synchronization and frequency translation integrated circuits (ICs) generate one or more output clock signals having a controlled timing relationship with respect to one or more reference signals. The teachings herein provide a number of improvements to clock synchronization and frequency translation ICs, including, but not limited to, reduction of system clock error, reduced variation in clock propagation delay, lower latency monitoring of reference signals, precision timing distribution and recovery, extrapolation of timing events for enhanced phase-locked loop (PLL) update rate, fast PLL locking, improved reference signal phase shift detection, enhanced phase offset detection between reference signals, and/or alignment to phase information lost in decimation.

A frequency-locked circuit for a variable frequency topology is configured to trigger a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) controller to lock a frequency of a driving signal outputted by the PWM controller. The frequency-locked circuit includes an AC wave generating circuit and a comparator. The AC wave generating circuit receives and converts the driving signal to generate an AC wave signal. The comparator is electrically connected to the AC wave generating circuit and receives the AC wave signal. The comparator compares the AC wave signal with a reference signal to generate a comparison output signal. In response to determining that the AC wave signal is greater than the reference signal, the comparison output signal triggers the PWM controller to convert the driving signal from one voltage level to another voltage level so as to lock the frequency. The one voltage level is different from the another voltage level.

A frequency-locked circuit for a variable frequency topology is configured to trigger a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) controller to lock a frequency of a driving signal outputted by the PWM controller. The frequency-locked circuit includes an AC wave generating circuit and a comparator. The AC wave generating circuit receives and converts the driving signal to generate an AC wave signal. The comparator is electrically connected to the AC wave generating circuit and receives the AC wave signal. The comparator compares the AC wave signal with a reference signal to generate a comparison output signal. In response to determining that the AC wave signal is greater than the reference signal, the comparison output signal triggers the PWM controller to convert the driving signal from one voltage level to another voltage level so as to lock the frequency. The one voltage level is different from the another voltage level.

An FMCW radar transmission and reception apparatus radiates, via a transmission antenna, a beat frequency signal of a frequency modulation continuous wave (FMCW) and then receives, via a reception antenna, a reflected signal obtained from the radiated frequency modulation continuous wave (FMCW) signal that is reflected by a target and returns, wherein the frequency of a beat signal of a frequency modulation continuous wave (FMCW) radar can be effectively adjusted by configuring a plurality of phase locked loops (PLLs) used in a transmitter and a receiver, and using the same reference oscillation signal for the plurality of PLLs.

An FMCW radar transmission and reception apparatus radiates, via a transmission antenna, a beat frequency signal of a frequency modulation continuous wave (FMCW) and then receives, via a reception antenna, a reflected signal obtained from the radiated frequency modulation continuous wave (FMCW) signal that is reflected by a target and returns, wherein the frequency of a beat signal of a frequency modulation continuous wave (FMCW) radar can be effectively adjusted by configuring a plurality of phase locked loops (PLLs) used in a transmitter and a receiver, and using the same reference oscillation signal for the plurality of PLLs.

A clock circuit constructed in a processor integrated circuit includes a phase lock loop PLL, a clock tree, and a clock grid. The clock tree includes a plurality of clock buffers in a layered structure, The clock tree is configured to receive a first clock signal clk_1 that is output by the phase lock loop PLL, and to output a second clock signal clk_2. A plurality of child node circuits (400) are disposed on some nodes of the clock grid, and are configured to generate a third clock signal clk_3 based on the second clock signal clk_2. The clock grid (330) and the clock tree (320) are distributed on multiple dies in a three-dimensional structure of the processor integrated circuit.

A random number generator includes a ring oscillator, an inversion selecting circuit, and controller. The ring oscillator includes an inverter chain having at least one inverter and generates an output signal. The inversion selecting circuit controlling a phase inverter configured to invert a signal of the inverter chain. The controller is configured to operate the inversion selecting circuit to provide an output of the first phase inverter to the inverter chain during a first operation mode to measure a frequency of the ring oscillator and operate the inversion selecting circuit to not provide the output of the phase inverter during a second operation mode for generating a random number.

Systems and methods are provided for a cascade phase locked loop. A first phase locked loop receives a reference clock signal having a first frequency and generates a high frequency clock signal that is phase aligned with the reference clock signal. A first divider divides the high frequency clock signal to generate a middle frequency clock signal, and a second divider divides the middle frequency clock signal to generate a low frequency reference clock signal. A second phase locked loop receives the low frequency reference clock signal and generates an output signal, compares the output signal to the low frequency reference clock signal to generate a frequency increasing (UP) signal that indicates a phase difference between the output signal and the low frequency reference clock signal. A delay locked loop receives the middle frequency clock signal and the frequency increasing (UP) signal and delays the middle frequency clock signal based on the frequency increasing (UP) signal to generate the realignment clock signal. The second phase lock loop receives the realignment clock signal and adjusts the phase difference between the output signal and the low frequency reference clock signal based on the realignment clock signal.

A method is provided for enhancing the detection of the start time of a reference oscillator (4) of a super-regenerative receiver (1), which includes the reference oscillator, a bias current generator (7), an oscillation detector (6), and an impedance matching unit (3). Following the supply of the bias current (i_vco) after receiving the activation control signal (Sosc), an oscillation detection is performed by the oscillation detector (6), and once oscillation is detected, an additional amplification current (iboost) dependent on the envelope of the detected oscillation, of an amplification current generation circuit is supplied to the reference oscillator (4) in addition to the bias current to amplify the oscillation signal to be above a critical oscillation start threshold so as to precisely define the start time of the oscillator, and enable the oscillation detector (6) to order the stoppage of oscillation of the reference oscillator (4).