Phase Detection Method and Phase Detector

A phase detector comprising:

• a sampler circuit configured to obtain several samples of an input signal at different points in time, said different points in time comprising an earliest point and latest point, said sampler circuit having an input terminal configured to receive said input signal and a clock terminal configured to receive a clock for defining said points in time;
• output circuitry configured to output a phase control signal obtained from said several samples such that said phase control signal may be zero, positive or negative, said output circuitry being electrically connected to said sampler circuit for receiving said samples and having a phase control terminal for outputting said phase control signal;
• classifying circuitry configured to detect transitions and classify a slope of a transition into one out of two categories if a transition in the input signal between said earliest and latest point is detected, the two categories being a falling slope and a rising slope;
• said output circuitry comprising:
• a rising phase detector configured to output a zero phase control signal if a falling slope is detected and a non-zero phase control signal if a rising slope is detected and the rising slope is at least one of early or late with respect to said clock;
• or
• a falling phase detector configured to output a zero phase control signal if a rising slope is detected;
• and a non-zero phase control signal if a rising slope is detected and the rising slope is at least one of early or late with respect to said clock.