An method of determining a symbol according to a phase difference between input signals input in order of time may include calculating a first phase difference between a phase of a first previous signal received prior to a target signal and a phase of a second previous signal received prior to the first previous signal; calculating a second phase difference between a phase of the target signal and the phase of the second previous signal; calculating target likelihoods based on the first phase difference and the second phase difference; and determining an expected phase difference between the target signal and the first previous signal or an expected symbol for the target signal, based on the target likelihoods.

A counter readout circuit includes a plurality of counter registers and an output data computing unit. The plurality of counter registers, each includes a counter which counts per clock signal cycle. The output data computing unit includes a computing unit which adds, for output, the counter value of a counter register to the total clock count from a first timing to a second timing. The counter register is selected from the plurality of counter registers. The first timing is common to all of the plurality of counter registers. The second timing is a timing of selection of the selected counter register.

A method and apparatus for controlling a frequency range of a self-resonant frequency (SRF) of a high speed divider implemented in current mode logic (CML) D triggers by controlling a field effect transistor (FET) load resistor bias voltage to FETs operating in linear regions in load resistors in the CML D triggers. Tail currents of the CML D triggers are controlled to track inversely to a resistor value.

A frequency detector is used for detecting a frequency difference of a signal to be tested from a first time point to a second time point. The frequency detector includes: an alternating current coupled capacitor configured to receive the signal to be tested; a rectifying circuit electrically connected to the alternating current coupled capacitor; an analog-to-digital converter electrically connected to the rectifying circuit; a control unit electrically connected to the analog-to-digital converter; and a counter electrically connected to the rectifying circuit and the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to calculate the frequency difference of the signal to be tested from the first time point to the second time point according to outputs of the analog-to-digital converter and outputs of the counter.

A method includes a) counting whole periods of a signal during a first period of a reference signal, b) repeating step a) for each period of the reference signal until a first duration is equal to a first quantity of periods of the reference signal, and c) determining a first average of the whole periods. The method also includes repeating at least one of steps a) to c) and at each repetition shifting a start of the counting of step a) by at least one period of the reference signal, and in steps b) and c) accounting for whole periods of the signal already counted during the at least one preceding group of steps a) and b). The method includes determining a second average of the first averages, and determining the frequency of the signal from the second average and the frequency of the reference signal.

A frequency detector is used for detecting a frequency difference of a signal to be tested from a first time point to a second time point. The frequency detector includes: an alternating current coupled capacitor configured to receive the signal to be tested; a rectifying circuit electrically connected to the alternating current coupled capacitor; an analog-to-digital converter electrically connected to the rectifying circuit; a control unit electrically connected to the analog-to-digital converter; and a counter electrically connected to the rectifying circuit and the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to calculate the frequency difference of the signal to be tested from the first time point to the second time point according to outputs of the analog-to-digital converter and outputs of the counter.

A counter readout circuit includes a plurality of counter registers and an output data computing unit. The plurality of counter registers, each includes a counter which counts per clock signal cycle. The output data computing unit includes a computing unit which adds, for output, the counter value of a counter register to the total clock count from a first timing to a second timing. The counter register is selected from the plurality of counter registers. The first timing is common to all of the plurality of counter registers. The second timing is a timing of selection of the selected counter register.

A method includes a) counting whole periods of a signal during a first period of a reference signal, b) repeating step a) for each period of the reference signal until a first duration is equal to a first quantity of periods of the reference signal, and c) determining a first average of the whole periods. The method also includes repeating at least one of steps a) to c) and at each repetition shifting a start of the counting of step a) by at least one period of the reference signal, and in steps b) and c) accounting for whole periods of the signal already counted during the at least one preceding group of steps a) and b). The method includes determining a second average of the first averages, and determining the frequency of the signal from the second average and the frequency of the reference signal.

An method of determining a symbol according to a phase difference between input signals input in order of time may include calculating a first phase difference between a phase of a first previous signal received prior to a target signal and a phase of a second previous signal received prior to the first previous signal; calculating a second phase difference between a phase of the target signal and the phase of the second previous signal; calculating target likelihoods based on the first phase difference and the second phase difference; and determining an expected phase difference between the target signal and the first previous signal or an expected symbol for the target signal, based on the target likelihoods.

Clock monitors for circuits having a plurality of oscillators. The clock monitors produce an error indication when one oscillator is determined to be outside of a desired operating range or beyond a defined threshold with respect to a second oscillator. The clock monitors include a synchronizer configured to receive a clock signal from a first oscillator of the plurality of oscillators and synchronize the received clock signal with a second oscillator and to produce a synchronized clock signal. The clock monitors can include a counter configured to produce a count value based on synchronized clock signal. The clock monitors include comparison circuitry configured to receive the count value and produce an error indication when the count value is outside a predetermined range. The clock monitors may be used to ensure correct clock operation for different transition scenarios, e.g., turning on or off a certain clock or power domain.