Microchip Technology Inc.

Zarlink Semiconductor Limited

Youcef Fouzar

Kristopher Kshonze

Waleed El-halwagy

William Roberts

Faizal Warsalee

Simon John Skierszkan

Hazem Abdel-Maguid

Ranjit Singh

An example apparatus includes a phase detector, a digital discriminator, and a logic circuit. A status signal of the phase detector is at least partially based on a phase relationship between a reference clock and a feedback clock, the feedback clock generated by a clock tracking circuit to track the reference clock. The digital discriminator may sample the status signal of the phase detector. The logic circuit may determine a locked status of the clock tracking circuit at least partially based on samples of the status signal of the phase detector.

Determining a locked status of a clock tracking circuit

One or more examples relate to triggering a single error detector on rising and falling edges of clock signals, and generating an error signal therefrom. A method may include receiving a first clock signal and a second clock signal. The method may include generating, via a single error detector being triggered at least partially responsive to like respective edges of the first clock signal and the second clock signal, an error signal that represents a phase difference between the first clock signal and the second clock signal.

Triggering an error detector on rising and falling edges of clock signals, and generating an error signal therefrom

One or more examples relate to a method. The method includes: receiving up/down error signals indicative of duty cycle mismatch between a reference clock signal and a changed feedback clock signal that represents an output clock signal generated by a clock tracking circuit to track the reference clock signal; setting a duty cycle of a changed feedback clock signal to reduce duty cycle mismatch indicated by the up/down error signals; and providing the changed feedback clock having set duty cycle.

Reducing duty cycle mismatch of clock signals for clock tracking circuits

One or more examples relate to a method. The method may include: comparing a first value and a second value, the first value representing a duty cycle of a reference clock and the second value representing a duty cycle of an output clock generated by a clock tracking circuit to track the reference clock; setting a duty cycle of a changed clock to reduce duty cycle mismatch between the reference clock and the output clock indicated by the comparing; and providing the changed clock having set duty cycle in lieu of the one of the reference clock or the output clock.

Reducing duty cycle mismatch of clocks for clock tracking circuits

A voltage controlled oscillator generates an output signal whose frequency varies as a first function of a control voltage applied to a control terminal. The voltage controlled oscillator has a wide range of frequency of operation. A gain adjust circuit adjusts the gain of the voltage controlled oscillator such that the first function varies as a second function of the gain. In a preferred embodiment the gain adjust circuit includes a variable impedance that may be external or integrated onto a common chip with the oscillator core.

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Youcef Fouzar