Clock alignment circuitry may include phase detection circuitry and programmable delay circuitry to facilitate aligning a data signal with a particular state of a clock signal. For example, phase detection circuitry may be disposed at a location of interest to monitor the relative timing of the clock signal and the data signal. Based on the monitored states, the programmable delay circuitry may determine the delay to be applied to the data signal (e.g., prior to propagating through logic operations and transmission to the location of interest) such that the data signal later arrives at the location of interest at a suitable time. Effectively, a programmable delay is added to the delay encountered by the data signal during processing and transmission to the location of interest such that the total delay results in the data signal arriving at the location of interest while the clock signal is in the desired state.

Clock alignment circuitry may include phase detection circuitry and programmable delay circuitry to facilitate aligning a data signal with a particular state of a clock signal. For example, phase detection circuitry may be disposed at a location of interest to monitor the relative timing of the clock signal and the data signal. Based on the monitored states, the programmable delay circuitry may determine the delay to be applied to the data signal (e.g., prior to propagating through logic operations and transmission to the location of interest) such that the data signal later arrives at the location of interest at a suitable time. Effectively, a programmable delay is added to the delay encountered by the data signal during processing and transmission to the location of interest such that the total delay results in the data signal arriving at the location of interest while the clock signal is in the desired state.

A PWM signal generator circuit includes a multiphase clock generator that generates a number n of phase-shifted clock phases having the same clock period and being phase shifted by a time corresponding to a fraction 1/n of the clock period. The PWM signal generator circuit determines for each switch-on duration first and second integer numbers, and for each switch-off duration third and fourth integer numbers. The first integer number is indicative of the integer number of clock periods of the switch-on duration and the second integer number is indicative of the integer number of the additional fractions 1/n of the clock period of the switch-on duration. The third integer number is indicative of the integer number of clock periods of the switch-off duration, and the fourth integer number is indicative of the integer number of the additional fractions 1/n of the clock period of the switch-off duration.

A PWM signal generator circuit includes a multiphase clock generator that generates a number n of phase-shifted clock phases having the same clock period and being phase shifted by a time corresponding to a fraction 1/n of the clock period. The PWM signal generator circuit determines for each switch-on duration first and second integer numbers, and for each switch-off duration third and fourth integer numbers. The first integer number is indicative of the integer number of clock periods of the switch-on duration and the second integer number is indicative of the integer number of the additional fractions 1/n of the clock period of the switch-on duration. The third integer number is indicative of the integer number of clock periods of the switch-off duration, and the fourth integer number is indicative of the integer number of the additional fractions 1/n of the clock period of the switch-off duration.

A differential voltage-to-time converter (VTC) architecture and method of providing VTC signals are disclosed. The VTC includes a ramp generator that generates a ramp voltage, capacitors having a bottom plate coupled with the ramp generator to receive the ramp voltage, and inverters having inputs coupled to top plates of the capacitors to provide signals based on a sampled signal. A threshold voltage or supply voltage of the inverters tracks a minimum input signal voltage.

A method and a corresponding device for providing a delay value of a communication electronic unit. A digital input signal is delayed by a delay element. The input and the output signals of the delay element are sampled and the sampled signals are compared. A mismatch counter is incremented when the amplitudes of the sampled signals are not equal and a signal transition counter N is incremented when the input signal transitions. The provided delay value is proportional to the mismatch counting value, proportional to the length of the sampling intervals and inversely proportional to the signal transition counting value.

A system includes a mixer of a phase interpolator. The mixer includes a dynamic load whose output signal is coupled to a subsequent stage of the phase interpolator. The dynamic load is configured to provide an alternating current (AC) signal to the subsequent stage of the phase interpolator as input clock signals. The mixer further includes a static load whose output signal is coupled to the subsequent stage of the phase interpolator in parallel with the respective output signal line of the dynamic load. The static load configured to provide a direct current (DC) signal to the phase interpolator temporarily in replacement of the respective AC signals to prevent output signals of the subsequent stage of the phase interpolator from being unpredictable.

A system includes a mixer of a phase interpolator. The mixer includes a dynamic load whose output signal is coupled to a subsequent stage of the phase interpolator. The dynamic load is configured to provide an alternating current (AC) signal to the subsequent stage of the phase interpolator as input clock signals. The mixer further includes a static load whose output signal is coupled to the subsequent stage of the phase interpolator in parallel with the respective output signal line of the dynamic load. The static load configured to provide a direct current (DC) signal to the phase interpolator temporarily in replacement of the respective AC signals to prevent output signals of the subsequent stage of the phase interpolator from being unpredictable.

A jitter generator may include a duty cycle code generator that generates a duty cycle control signal and an input buffer that outputs a signal based on its duty cycle. The input buffer may be coupled to the duty cycle code generator and to a source of a clock signal. After receiving the clock signal, the input buffer outputs the clock signal having jitter relative to the clock signal received from the source. The jitter may be added at least in part by components of the input buffer offsetting different transitions of the clock signal according to the duty cycle. Jitter may be added when the duty cycle changes in response to changes in the duty cycle control signal, such as in response to number generator circuitry of the duty cycle code generator update its output number, in response to a mode change received from a controller, or the like.

A receiver includes a differential signal generator receiving a single-ended signal, and generating differential signals having a positive signal and a negative signal based on the single-ended signal, a reference signal, and a pair of compensation signals, a pair of charging circuits charging first and second nodes to a power level in a logic low period of a clock signal, a pair of discharging circuits discharging the first and second nodes according to a level of the positive signal and a level of the negative signal, respectively, in a logic high period of the clock signal, a comparator comparing signal levels of the first and second nodes and outputting an offset detection signal of the differential signals, and an offset compensator outputting the reference signal and the pair of compensation signals, each adjusted based on the offset detection signal, to the differential signal generator.