Methods and apparatus for generating phase-shifted clock signals from a reference clock, connecting the phase-shifted clock signals to a counter module so that the phase-shifted clock signals change values in counters in the counter module, and combining the values in the counters to generate an output signal corresponding to an amount of time. One or more events can be detected at a time corresponding to the output signal. In embodiments, pulses can be transmitted and received at a measure time to evaluate connected devices.

Methods and apparatus for generating phase-shifted clock signals from a reference clock, connecting the phase-shifted clock signals to a counter module so that the phase-shifted clock signals change values in counters in the counter module, and combining the values in the counters to generate an output signal corresponding to an amount of time. One or more events can be detected at a time corresponding to the output signal. In embodiments, pulses can be transmitted and received at a measure time to evaluate connected devices.

A circuit device includes a phase comparator that performs phase comparison between an input signal based on an oscillation signal and a reference signal, a processor that performs a signal process on frequency control data based on a result of the phase comparison, and an oscillation signal generation circuit that generates the oscillation signal having an oscillation frequency which is set on the basis of frequency control data having undergone the signal process. The phase comparator includes a counter that performs a count operation by using the input signal, and performs the phase comparison by comparing a count value in the counter inn (where n is an integer of 2 or more) cycles of the reference signal with an expected value of the count value in integers.

A circuit device includes a phase comparator that performs phase comparison between an input signal based on an oscillation signal and a reference signal, a processor that performs a signal process on frequency control data based on a result of the phase comparison, and an oscillation signal generation circuit that generates the oscillation signal having an oscillation frequency which is set on the basis of frequency control data having undergone the signal process. The phase comparator includes a counter that performs a count operation by using the input signal, and performs the phase comparison by comparing a count value in the counter inn (where n is an integer of 2 or more) cycles of the reference signal with an expected value of the count value in integers.

The present invention is related to a clock generating device for generating an internal clock signal having a frequency correlated with a clock frequency of an external oscillator when the clock frequency of the external oscillator is not specified in advance. A clock generating device 105 comprises a memory 134 and a PLL circuit 120. The memory 134 is configured to store information about a frequency of an external clock signal generated by an external oscillator 200 at a predetermined timing. The PLL circuit 120 generates a second clock signal correlated with a first clock signal based on the information stored in the memory 134.

The present invention is related to a clock generating device for generating an internal clock signal having a frequency correlated with a clock frequency of an external oscillator when the clock frequency of the external oscillator is not specified in advance. A clock generating device 105 comprises a memory 134 and a PLL circuit 120. The memory 134 is configured to store information about a frequency of an external clock signal generated by an external oscillator 200 at a predetermined timing. The PLL circuit 120 generates a second clock signal correlated with a first clock signal based on the information stored in the memory 134.

Methods and digital circuits providing frequency correction to frequency synthesizers are disclosed. An FLL digital circuit is provided that is configured to handle a reference frequency that is dynamic and ranges over a multi-decade range of frequencies. The FLL circuit includes a digital frequency iteration engine that allows for detection of disappearance of a reference frequency. When the digital frequency iteration engine detects that the reference frequency signal is not available, the oscillator generated frequency is not corrected, and the last value of the oscillator generated frequency is held until the reference frequency signal becomes available again. This FLL circuit is also preceded by a low-pass filter which is dynamically tuned to the frequency to which the FLL locks, eliminating harmonic components in the original signal which might otherwise cause errors in frequency estimation.

An adaptive voltage converter adapted to compensate for the exponential sensitivities of sub-threshold and near-threshold circuits. The converter can change its power/performance characteristics between different energy modes. The converter may comprise two or more voltage converters/regulators. A multiplexing circuit selects between the outputs of the several converters/regulators depending on the state of a control signal generated by a control facility. The converter is specially adapted to change the output of each converter/regulator based on a number of variables, including, for example, process corner, temperature and input voltage.

An adaptive voltage converter adapted to compensate for the exponential sensitivities of sub-threshold and near-threshold circuits. The converter can change its power/performance characteristics between different energy modes. The converter may comprise two or more voltage converters/regulators. A multiplexing circuit selects between the outputs of the several converters/regulators depending on the state of a control signal generated by a control facility. The converter is specially adapted to change the output of each converter/regulator based on a number of variables, including, for example, process corner, temperature and input voltage.

A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) in a frequency synthesizer generates an output signal having a target frequency by being coarse tuned in accordance with a channel code derived through a binary tree search. Thereafter, the output signal of the VCO may be further tuned using a phase lock loop (PLL) circuit. Each stage of the binary tree search includes a comparison step that determines a channel code bit, and another step that confirms that the channel code converges to a final channel code within an established stage range value.