Communication unit, integrated circuit and method for clock distribution and synchronization

An integrated circuit for a master device in a master-slave arrangement, wherein the integrated circuit is characterized by a modulator circuit configured to:

• receive a system clock signal and a frame start signal;
• embed the frame start signal into the system clock signal to produce a modulated embedded master-slave clock signal;
• and
• transmit the modulated embedded master-slave clock signal to at least one slave device to synchronise the system clock signal and the frame start signal between the at least one master device and at least one slave device.

A method for clock distribution and synchronization in a communication unit having at least one master device and at least one slave device configured in a master-slave arrangement and configured to process at least one of:

• transmit signals, and receive signals, wherein the method comprises, at a master device:
• receiving a system clock signal and a frame start signal;
• embedding the frame start signal into the system clock signal to produce a modulated embedded master-slave clock signal;
• and
• transmitting the modulated embedded master-slave clock signal to at least one slave device to synchronise the system clock signal and the frame start signal between the at least one master device and at least one slave device.