# US 8,786,346 B2 · Phase interpolator and method of phase interpolation with reduced phase error

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- Number: US 8,786,346 B2
- Document ID: US8786346B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/767,494
- Filed: 2013-02-14
- Published: 2013-08-15
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2012-02-15
- Assignees: MegaChips Corporation
- Applicants: MegaChips Corporation
- Inventors: Nobuhiro Yanagisawa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8786346B2

## CPC

- H04L 7/0025: {interpolation of clock signal}
- H03K 5/1252: Suppression or limitation of noise or interference (specially adapted for transmission systems H04B15/00, H04L25/08)
- H03K 2005/00286: {Phase shifter, i.e. the delay between the output and input pulse is dependent on the frequency, and such that a phase difference is obtained independent of the frequency}
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M)

## Abstract

An exemplary phase interpolator includes a first to a fourth differential pair. Each of the differential pairs includes a first and a second transistor and a stabilizing capacitor connected between a source coupled node and a reference voltage. The phase interpolator also includes a plurality of current sources and a group of switches to switch connections between the source coupled nodes of the differential pairs and the current sources so that (i) a first operating current is supplied to a first selected one of the first and second differential pairs and (ii) a second operating current is supplied to a second selected one of the third and fourth differential pairs. Drains of the first transistors in the differential pairs are commonly connected and drains of the second transistors in the differential pairs are commonly connected to form a first and a second output node so that a differential output signal is output.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A phase interpolator, comprising:
a first, a second, a third, and a fourth differential pair each including a first and a second transistor having sources coupled with each other to form a source coupled node, each of the differential pairs further including a stabilizing capacitor connected between the source coupled node and a reference voltage;
a plurality of current sources; and
a group of switches having a plurality of connection patterns to switch connections between the source coupled nodes of the differential pairs and the plurality of current sources so that (i) a first operating current is supplied to the source coupled node of a first selected one of the first and second differential pairs and (ii) a second operating current is supplied to the source coupled node of a second selected one of the third and fourth differential pairs, wherein:
gates of the first and second transistors in the first differential pair receive a first input signal having a first phase and a second input signal having a second phase opposite to the first phase, respectively;
gates of the first and second transistors in the second differential pair receive the second input signal and the first input signal, respectively;
gates of the first and second transistors in the third differential pair receive a third input signal having a third phase between the first and second phases and a fourth input signal having a fourth phase opposite to the third phase, respectively;
gates of the first and second transistors in the fourth differential pair receive the fourth input signal and the third input signal, respectively; and
drains of the first transistors in the differential pairs are commonly connected to a first load resistor to form a first output node and drains of the second transistors in the differential pairs are commonly connected to a second load resistor to form a second output node so that a differential output signal is output from the first and second output nodes.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The phase interpolator according to claim 1, wherein:
a parasitic capacitance connected to the source coupled node of each of the differential pairs varies up to a maximum capacitance value depending on the connection patterns of the group of switches; and
the stabilizing capacitor in each of the differential pairs has a capacitance equal to or larger than the maximum capacitance value of the parasitic capacitance connected to the source coupled node of the same differential pair.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The phase interpolator according to claim 1, wherein:
a parasitic capacitance connected to the source coupled node of each of the differential pairs varies up to a maximum capacitance value depending on the connection patterns of the group of switches; and
the stabilizing capacitor in each of the differential pairs has a capacitance equal to or larger than twice the maximum capacitance value of the parasitic capacitance connected to the source coupled node of the same differential pair.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The phase interpolator according to claim 1, wherein:
a parasitic capacitance connected to the source coupled node of each of the differential pairs varies up to a maximum capacitance value depending on the connection patterns of the group of switches; and
the stabilizing capacitor in each of the differential pairs has a capacitance equal to or larger than five times the maximum capacitance value of the parasitic capacitance connected to the source coupled node of the same differential pair.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The phase interpolator according to claim 1, wherein:
a parasitic capacitance connected to the source coupled node of each of the differential pairs varies up to a maximum capacitance value depending on the connection patterns of the group of switches; and
the stabilizing capacitor of each of the differential pairs has a capacitance that reduces an amplitude of voltage fluctuation at the source coupled node of the same differential pair to which the parasitic capacitance having the maximum capacitance value is connected to ½ or less compared with a case that the stabilizing capacitor is not connected.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The phase interpolator according to claim 1, wherein:
a parasitic capacitance connected to the source coupled node of each of the differential pairs varies up to a maximum capacitance value depending on the connection patterns of the group of switches; and
the stabilizing capacitor of each of the differential pairs has a capacitance that reduces an amplitude of voltage fluctuation at the source coupled node of the same differential pair to which the parasitic capacitance having the maximum capacitance value is connected to ⅕ or less compared with the case that the stabilizing capacitor is not connected.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The phase interpolator according to claim 1, wherein:
a parasitic capacitance connected to the source coupled node of each of the differential pairs varies up to a maximum capacitance value depending on the connection patterns of the group of switches; and
the stabilizing capacitor of each of the differential pairs has a capacitance that reduces an amplitude of voltage fluctuation at the source coupled node of the same differential pair to which the parasitic capacitance having the maximum capacitance value is connected to 1/10 or less compared with the case that the stabilizing capacitor is not connected.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The phase interpolator according to claim 1, wherein the group of switches includes first switches that select the first and second selected ones of the differential pairs and second switches that connect each of the plurality of current sources to supply one of the first and second operating currents.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The phase interpolator according to claim 8, wherein:
the first and second operating current vary up to a first and a second maximum operating current, respectively, depending on the connection patterns of the group of switches; and
the stabilizing capacitor of each of the differential pairs has a capacitance that reduces an amplitude of voltage fluctuation at the source coupled node of the same differential pair to which corresponding one of the first and second maximum operating currents is supplied to ½ or less compared with the case that the stabilizing capacitor is not connected.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The phase interpolator according to claim 8, wherein:
the first and second operating current vary up to a first and a second maximum operating current, respectively, depending on the connection patterns of the group of switches; and
the stabilizing capacitor of each of the differential pairs has a capacitance that reduces an amplitude of voltage fluctuation at the source coupled node of the same differential pair to which corresponding one of the first and second maximum operating currents is supplied to ⅕ or less compared with the case that the stabilizing capacitor is not connected.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The phase interpolator according to claim 8, wherein:
the first and second operating current vary up to a first and a second maximum operating current, respectively, depending on the connection patterns of the group of switches; and
the stabilizing capacitor of each of the differential pairs has a capacitance that reduces an amplitude of voltage fluctuation at the source coupled node of the same differential pair to which corresponding one of the first and second maximum operating currents is supplied to 1/10 or less compared with the case that the stabilizing capacitor is not connected.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The phase interpolator according to claim 1, wherein the stabilizing capacitors in the first and second differential pairs have a first same capacitance and the stabilizing capacitors in the third and fourth differential pairs have a second same capacitance.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The phase interpolator according to claim 12, wherein:
a parasitic capacitance connected to the source coupled node of each of the differential pairs varies up to a maximum capacitance value depending on the connection patterns of the group of switches; and
the stabilizing capacitor in each of the differential pairs has a capacitance equal to or larger than the maximum capacitance value of the parasitic capacitance connected to the source coupled node of the same differential pair.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The phase interpolator according to claim 12, wherein:
a parasitic capacitance connected to the source coupled node of each of the differential pairs varies up to a maximum capacitance value depending on the connection patterns of the group of switches; and
the stabilizing capacitor in each of the differential pairs has a capacitance equal to or larger than twice the maximum capacitance value of the parasitic capacitance connected to the source coupled node of the same differential pair.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The phase interpolator according to claim 12, wherein:
a parasitic capacitance connected to the source coupled node of each of the differential pairs varies up to a maximum capacitance value depending on the connection patterns of the group of switches; and
the stabilizing capacitor in each of the differential pairs has a capacitance equal to or larger than five times the maximum capacitance value of the parasitic capacitance connected to the source coupled node of the same differential pair.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The phase interpolator according to claim 12, wherein:
a parasitic capacitance connected to the source coupled node of each of the differential pairs varies up to a maximum capacitance value depending on the connection patterns of the group of switches; and
the stabilizing capacitor of each of the differential pairs has a capacitance that reduces an amplitude of voltage fluctuation at the source coupled node of the same differential pair to which the parasitic capacitance having the maximum capacitance value is connected to ½ or less compared with a case that the stabilizing capacitor is not connected.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The phase interpolator according to claim 12, wherein:
a parasitic capacitance connected to the source coupled node of each of the differential pairs varies up to a maximum capacitance value depending on the connection patterns of the group of switches; and
the stabilizing capacitor of each of the differential pairs has a capacitance that reduces an amplitude of voltage fluctuation at the source coupled node of the same differential pair to which the parasitic capacitance having the maximum capacitance value is connected to ⅕ or less compared with a case that the stabilizing capacitor is not connected.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The phase interpolator according to claim 12, wherein:
a parasitic capacitance connected to the source coupled node of each of the differential pairs varies up to a maximum capacitance value depending on the connection patterns of the group of switches; and
the stabilizing capacitor of each of the differential pairs has a capacitance that reduces an amplitude of voltage fluctuation at the source coupled node of the same differential pair to which the parasitic capacitance having the maximum capacitance value is connected to 1/10 or less compared with a case that the stabilizing capacitor is not connected.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The phase interpolator according to claim 12, wherein the group of switches includes first switches that select the first and second selected ones of the differential pairs and second switches that connect each of the plurality of current source to supply one of the first and second operating currents.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The phase interpolator according to claim 19, wherein:
the first and second operating current vary up to a first and a second maximum operating current, respectively, depending on the connection patterns of the group of switches; and
the stabilizing capacitor of each of the differential pairs has a capacitance that reduces an amplitude of voltage fluctuation at the source coupled node of the same differential pair to which corresponding one of the first and second maximum operating currents is supplied to ½ or less compared with the case that the stabilizing capacitor is not connected.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The phase interpolator according to claim 19, wherein:
the first and second operating current vary up to a first and a second maximum operating current, respectively, depending on the connection patterns of the group of switches; and
the stabilizing capacitor of each of the differential pairs has a capacitance that reduces an amplitude of voltage fluctuation at the source coupled node of the same differential pair to which corresponding one of the first and second maximum operating currents is supplied to ⅕ or less compared with the case that the stabilizing capacitor is not connected.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The phase interpolator according to claim 19, wherein:
the first and second operating current vary up to a first and a second maximum operating current, respectively, depending on the connection patterns of the group of switches; and
the stabilizing capacitor of each of the differential pairs has a capacitance that reduces an amplitude of voltage fluctuation at the source coupled node of the same differential pair to which corresponding one of the first and second maximum operating currents is supplied to 1/10 or less compared with the case that the stabilizing capacitor is not connected.

### Claim 23

A method of phase interpolation comprising:
providing a first, a second, a third, and a fourth differential pair each including a first and a second transistor having sources coupled with each other to form a source coupled node;
providing a plurality of current sources;
supplying a first operating current to the source coupled node of a first selected one of the first and second differential pairs and a second operating current to the source coupled node of a second selected one of the third and fourth differential pairs by switching connection between the source coupled nodes of the differential pairs and the plurality of current sources;
inputting a first input signal having a first phase and a second input signal having a second phase opposite to the first phase to gates of the first and second transistors, respectively, in the first differential pair;
inputting the second input signal and the first input signal to gates of the first and second transistors, respectively, in the second differential pair;
inputting a third input signal having a third phase between the first and second phases and a fourth input signal having a fourth phase opposite to the third phase to gates of the first and second transistors, respectively, in the third differential pair;
inputting the fourth input signal and the third input signal to gates of the first and second transistors, respectively, in the fourth differential pair;
outputting a differential output signal from a first and a second output node, which are formed by commonly connecting drains of the first transistors in the differential pairs to a first load resistor and by commonly connecting drains of the second transistors in the differential pairs to a second load resistor, respectively; and
reducing an amplitude of voltage fluctuation at the source coupled node of each of the differential pairs by connecting a stabilizing capacitor between the source coupled nodes of each of the differential pairs and a reference voltage.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method according to claim 23, wherein:
the supplying includes varying a parasitic capacitance connected to the source coupled node of each of the differential pairs up to a maximum capacitance value; and
the reducing includes reducing the amplitude of voltage fluctuation at the source coupled node of each of the differential pairs to which the parasitic capacitance having the maximum capacitance value is connected to ½ or less compared with a case that the stabilizing capacitor is not connected.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The method according to claim 23, wherein:
the supplying includes varying a parasitic capacitance connected to the source coupled node of each of the differential pairs up to a maximum capacitance value; and
the reducing includes reducing the amplitude of voltage fluctuation at the source coupled node of each of the differential pairs to which the parasitic capacitance having the maximum capacitance value is connected to ⅕ or less compared with a case that the stabilizing capacitor is not connected.

### Claim 26 (depends on 23)

The method according to claim 23, wherein:
the supplying includes varying a parasitic capacitance connected to the source coupled node of each of the differential pairs up to a maximum capacitance value; and
the reducing includes reducing the amplitude of voltage fluctuation at the source coupled node of each of the differential pairs to which the parasitic capacitance having the maximum capacitance value is connected to 1/10 or less compared with a case that the stabilizing capacitor is not connected.

### Claim 27 (depends on 23)

The method according to claim 23, wherein:
the supplying includes varying the first and second operating currents up to a first and a second maximum operating current, respectively, depending on the connection patterns of the group of switches; and
the reducing includes reducing the amplitude of voltage fluctuation at the source coupled node of each of the differential pairs to which corresponding one of the first and second maximum operating currents is supplied to ½ or less compared with the case that the stabilizing capacitor is not connected.

### Claim 28 (depends on 23)

The method according to claim 23, wherein:
the supplying includes varying the first and second operating currents up to a first and a second maximum operating current, respectively, depending on the connection patterns of the group of switches; and
the reducing includes reducing the amplitude of voltage fluctuation at the source coupled node of each of the differential pairs to which corresponding one of the first and second maximum operating current is supplied to ⅕ or less compared with the case that the stabilizing capacitor is not connected.

### Claim 29 (depends on 23)

The method according to claim 23, wherein:
the supplying includes varying the first and second operating currents up to a first and a second maximum operating current, respectively, depending on the connection patterns of the group of switches; and
the reducing includes reducing the amplitude of voltage fluctuation at the source coupled node of each of the differential pairs to which corresponding one of the first and second maximum operating current is supplied to 1/10 or less compared with the case that the stabilizing capacitor is not connected.