Network transceiver with clock sharing between dies

Abstract

A multi-lane integrated circuit transceiver device includes first and second integrated circuit dies having respective first and second pluralities of transmit block/receive block pairs. Each respective transmit block and each respective receive block in the first plurality of block pairs on the first die and the second plurality of block pairs on the second die includes respective digital clock generation circuitry. The device further includes digital clock distribution circuitry to distribute a digital clock signal output by one respective receive block, in one of the first and second pluralities of block pairs, to the transmit blocks in both of the pluralities of block pairs, for use as a baseline clock by the respective digital clock generation circuitry in each of the transmit blocks in both of the pluralities of block pairs. Where each plurality includes N block pairs, the two dies together form a single 2N-lane device.