System for managing signals in different clock domains and a programmable digital filter

Abstract

A synchronizer circuit manages signals in different clock domains by generating clock pulses synchronized with a system clock. The clock pulses are generated at a rate proportional to the frequency of a clock operating in a first clock domain. Digital circuitry is then driven at the frequency of the first clock and in the time domain of the system clock. A hand-shaking protocol prevents the synchronizer circuit from going into a metastable condition when passing clock or data signals into different time domains. A programmable digital filter includes multiple sampling stages that sample an input signal. A detection circuit has inputs coupled to the outputs of the multiple sampling stages and changes the logic state of an output signal when no glitches are detected in the samples of the input signal. A control circuit selectively varies a time period used by the filter for sampling the input signal.