Error protection method, TDC module, CTDC module, all-digital phase-locked loop, and calibration method thereof

Abstract

An error protection method for a time-to-digital converter (TDC) decoder of an all-digital phase-locked loop (ADPLL) includes: retrieving a digital code received by the TDC decoder; retrieving a cycle code received by the TDC decoder; performing an exclusive-or operation on a first predetermined bit of the digital code and a second predetermined bit of the cycle code for generating an error protection code; and using the error protection code to fix errors within the cycle code by adding the error protection code into the cycle code and shifting the cycle code by a third predetermined number of bits.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.