US 7,734,002 B2Granted

Phase difference detector having concurrent fine and coarse capabilities

AssigneeIntegrated Device Technology, Inc.

InventorLi Yi

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Abstract

A phase difference detector having concurrent fine and coarse capabilities synchronizes operations of coarse and fine phase detectors. In one embodiment, clusters of fine timing markers are generated by delay stages of a delay locked loop. The K'th one of every cluster of J fine timing markers is designated as a coarse marker. A first timer determines which of J fine markers in a first cluster is closest to a rising edge of a reference signal. A second timer determines which of J fine markers in a second cluster is closest to a rising edge of a follower signal. A third timer determines how many coarse markers separate the rising edges of the reference and follower signals. Temporal displacement values obtained from the determinations of the first though third timers are combined to produce a phase displacement measurement signal of broad range and high precision across its operating range.

Claims42

Dependent claims

A chronometer for measuring respective chronological displacements between first edges of a first switched signal and corresponding second edges of a second switched signal, the chronometer comprising:

(a) a timing marks receiver that receives a common set of chronologically spaced-apart timing markers including a set of spaced-apart coarse timing markers and including, for each coarse timing marker, a cluster of plural spaced-apart fine timing markers, where each cluster can align temporally in accordance with a predefined orientation relative to its respective coarse marker, and where at least some of the fine timing markers are temporally interposed between the coarse timing markers;
(b) a coarse locations determiner, operatively coupled to the timing marks receiver, for designating a first of the coarse timing markers as corresponding to a given first edge of the first switched signal, for designating a second of the coarse timing markers as corresponding to a given second edge of the second switched signal;
and for generating therefrom a coarse displacement signal that coarsely represents a chronological displacement present between the given first and second edges of the respective first and second switched signals;
(c) a first fine location determiner, operatively coupled to the timing marks receiver, for identifying a first of the fine timing markers in the cluster of the designated first coarse timing marker as a fine marker that temporally lies at or immediately adjacent to the given first edge;
and
(d) a second fine location determiner, operatively coupled to the timing marks receiver, for identifying a second of the fine timing markers in the cluster of the designated second coarse timing marker as one that temporally lies at or immediately adjacent to the given second edge.

3 more elements

A method of measuring respective chronological displacements between first edges of a first switched signal and corresponding second edges of a second switched signal, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a set of chronologically spaced-apart timing signals including a set of spaced-apart coarse timing markers and for each coarse timing marker, a cluster of spaced-apart fine timing markers, where each cluster can align temporally in accordance with a predefined orientation relative to its respective coarse marker, and where upon alignment at least some of the fine timing markers are temporally interposed between the coarse timing markers;
(b) first designating a first of the coarse timing markers as corresponding to a given first edge of the first switched signal;
(c) second designating a second of the coarse timing markers as corresponding to a given second edge of the second switched signal;
(d) in response to said first and second designating steps, (b) and (c), generating a coarse displacement signal that coarsely represents a chronological displacement present between the given first and second edges of the respective first and second switched signals;
(e) first identifying a first of the fine timing markers in the cluster of the designated first coarse timing marker as a fine marker that temporally lies at or immediately adjacent to the given first edge;
and
(f) second identifying a second of the fine timing markers in the cluster of the designated second coarse timing marker as one that temporally lies at or immediately adjacent to the given second edge.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/599,895Filed 14 Nov 2006
Published: US 2008/0112526 A115 May 2008
Granted: 8 Jun 2010
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

H03D 13/004
In which both oscillations are converted by logic means into pulses which are applied to filtering or integrating means: the logic means…
H03L 7/07
Using a reference signal applied to a frequency- or phase-locked loop: using several loops, e.g. for redundant clock signal generation
H03L 7/085
Details of the phase-locked loop: concerning mainly the frequency- or phase-detection arrangement including the filtering or amplification of its…
H03L 7/087
Concerning mainly the frequency- or phase-detection arrangement including the filtering or amplification of its output signal: using at least two…