Reducing the time to switch between the redundant clock signals applied to a phase lock loop

Abstract

A circuit for reducing a time to switch between the redundant clock signals applied to a phase lock loop. The circuit includes a phase frequency detector of the phase lock loop that detects a shift in the phase of a reference clock signal relative to the phase of a feedback clock signal. The circuit further includes a coarse tuning mechanism configured to delay the feedback clock signal until the feedback clock signal is aligned with a backup reference clock signal. Furthermore, the circuit includes a fine tuning mechanism configured to align the edge of the feedback clock signal with the edge of the backup reference clock signal, such as by utilizing a series of delay elements to delay the backup reference clock signal at different points in time and selecting the appropriate delayed backup reference clock signal whose edge is aligned with the edge of the feedback clock signal.