Encoding a clock signal and a data signal into a single signal for distribution in a signal forwarding device

A method, comprising:

• receiving one or more DS-3 signals in a signal forwarding device;
• obtaining a plurality of digital signal pairs from each of the one or more DS-3 signals, each of the plurality of digital signal pairs including a data signal and a clock signal;
• encoding the data signal in each digital signal pair into a respective pulse train having a pulse frequency substantially equal to the frequency of the clock signal in the digital signal pair;
• transmitting each pulse train via a backplane of the signal forwarding device to one or more receiving modules coupled to the backplane;
• receiving each pulse train in at least one of the one or more receiving modules;
• and
• decoding each pulse train into a respective digital signal pair, and
• wherein decoding each pulse train includes:
• generating a clock signal having a frequency substantially equal to the frequency of the pulse train;
• and
• generating a data signal which, during each period of the generated clock signal, is at either a first voltage potential or a second voltage potential based on the duration of a respective one of the pulses in the pulse train.

An apparatus, comprising:

• encoding logic to encode a first plurality of digital signal pairs into respective pulse trains, each digital signal pair including a clock signal and a data signal, and wherein the encoding logic includes:
• a cycle detector to generate a detect signal in response to each cycle of the clock signal;
• and
• edge placement logic coupled to the cycle detector to initiate a pulse in response to each detect signal and to terminate the pulse after either a first time or a second time based on a sample of the data signal;
• signal conductors coupled to the encoding logic;
• and
• one or more receiving modules coupled to receive the pulse trains from the encoding logic via the signal conductors, the receiving modules including decoding logic to decode the pulse trains into a second plurality of digital signal pairs that are representative of the first plurality of digital signal pairs.