High-speed bit synchronizer with multi-stage control structure

Abstract

A high-speed bit synchronizer comprising a phase comparator for detecting a phase relationship between a center of an eye pattern of input NRZ data and a rising transition of a clock pulse from a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) whenever the input NRZ data makes a transition, a frequency comparator for detecting a frequency relationship between a multiple of a period of the clock pulse from the VCO and a multiple of a period of an external reference clock pulse whenever the external reference clock pulse makes a rising or falling transition, phase and frequency comparator gain limiters for limiting gains of the phase and frequency comparators, respectively, a frequency synchronous signal detector for generating frequency synchronous and asynchronous signals in response to an output of the frequency comparator, a phase difference output controller for controlling the transfer of an output of the phase comparator gain limiter in response to an output of the frequency synchronous signal detector, a low pass filter (integrator) for outputting a voltage of a low frequency component to the VCO in response to an output of the phase difference output controller and an output of the frequency comparator gain limiter, and a frequency-divider for frequency-dividing the clock pulse from the VCO at a desired ratio.