Method and apparatus for variable bit rate clock recovery

A method for re covering a clock signal from an input signal having a variable bit rate, said method comprising the steps of:

• estimating a minimum time interval between transitions in the input signal;
• generating a first plurality of pulses corresponding respectively to transitions in the input signal;
• adjusting duration of each of the first plurality of pulses based on the estimated minimum time interval and inputting into a narrow-band filter the adjusted first plurality of pulses;
• determining a center frequency of the narrow-band filter based on the estimated minimum time interval;
• and
• extracting in the narrow-band filter the clock signal from the adjusted first plurality of pulses.

An apparatus for recovering a clock signal from an input signal having a variable bit rate, said apparatus comprising:

• a rate detector for estimating a minimum time interval between transitions in the input signal;
• a transition detector for generating a first plurality of pulses corresponding respectively to transitions in the input signal;
• a narrow-band filter for extracting the clock signal from an adjusted first plurality of pulses;
• and
• a rate selector for adjusting, based on the estimated minimum time interval, duration of each of the first plurality of pulses and a center frequency of the narrow-band filter that receives the adjusted first plurality of pulses.

An apparatus for recovering a clock signal from an input signal having a variable bit rate, said apparatus comprising:

• a rate detector for estimating a minimum time interval between transitions in the input signal;
• a rate selector connected to the rate detector;
• a transition detector connected to the rate selector;
• and
• a narrow-band filter connected to the transitions detector and the rate selector, such that the rate selector adjusts, based on the estimated minimum time interval, duration of each of a plurality of pulses generated by the transition detector and a center frequency of the narrow-band filter for extracting the clock signal from the input signal.