FIELD

The present application generally relates to phase calibration techniques, and more particularly to efficient phase calibration methods and systems for serial interfaces.

BACKGROUND

Transferring data over high-speed serial interfaces rely on clock signals to be calibrated with the data that is being sent over the interface. Uncalibrated clock signals may sometimes result in receiving unreliable, error prone data. Therefore, techniques for efficiently calibrating clock signals are desired.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment, a phase calibration method is described. The method may include: receiving a serial clock signal; receiving a serial data signal; sweeping a plurality of phase codes applicable to the serial clock signal to shift a phase of the serial clock signal; identifying a first phase code out of the plurality of phase codes, wherein the first phase code causes zero plus a first threshold number of bits extracted from the serial data signal to be a particular value; identifying a second phase code out of the plurality of phase codes, wherein the second phase code causes all minus a second threshold number of bits extracted from the serial data signal to be the particular value; identifying a third phase code out of the plurality of phase codes, wherein the third phase code causes all minus a third threshold number of bits extracted from the serial data signal to be the particular value; identifying a fourth phase code out of the plurality of phase codes, wherein the fourth phase code causes zero plus a fourth threshold number of bits extracted from the serial data signal to be the particular value; determining an average phase code based on the first phase code, the second phase code, the third phase code, and the fourth phase code; and applying the average phase code to a phase interpolator to shift the phase of the serial clock signal.

The serial data signal may include a training pattern that is the same as the serial clock signal, and each of the first, second, third, and fourth threshold number of bits may correspond to about 0% to about 5% of total bits extracted.

The particular value may include ones or zeros, wherein the ones may include bits that are extracted from the serial data signal at points that are earlier than intended, and wherein the zeros may include bits that are extracted from the serial data signal at points that are later than intended.

The sweeping the plurality of phase codes may include sweeping three unit intervals of the serial data.

The applying the average phase code to the phase interpolator to shift the phase of the serial clock signal may include shifting the serial clock signal such that an edge of the serial clock signal is aligned with middle of data eye of the serial data signal.

The extracted bits from the serial data signal may include a first bit corresponding to a rising edge of the serial clock signal and a second bit corresponding to a falling edge of the serial clock signal.

The method may further include: sweeping a first window of phase codes to identify an updated first phase code and an updated second phase code, wherein the first window begins at the first phase code minus a constant and ends at the second phase code plus the constant; sweeping a second windows of phase codes to identify an updated third phase code and an updated fourth phase code, wherein the second windows begins at the third phase code minus the constant and ends at the fourth phase code plus the constant; determining an updated average phase code based on the updated first phase code, the updated second phase code, the updated third phase code, and the updated fourth phase code; and applying the updated average phase code to the phase interpolator to further shift the serial clock signal.

The constant may be a predetermined value that is programmable.

The updated first phase code may be different from the updated second phase code, and the updated third phase code is different from the updated fourth phase code.

According to another embodiment a system is described. The system may include: a memory storing computer-executable instructions; and a processor configured to execute the instructions and causes the system to perform operations comprising: receiving a serial clock signal; receiving a serial data signal; sweeping a plurality of phase codes applicable to the serial clock signal to shift a phase of the serial clock signal; identifying a first phase code out of the plurality of phase codes, wherein the first phase code causes zero plus a first threshold number of bits extracted from the serial data signal to be a particular value; identifying a second phase code out of the plurality of phase codes, wherein the second phase code causes all minus a second threshold number of bits extracted from the serial data signal to be the particular value; identifying a third phase code out of the plurality of phase codes, wherein the third phase code causes all minus a third threshold number of bits extracted from the serial data signal to be the particular value; identifying a fourth phase code out of the plurality of phase codes, wherein the fourth phase code causes zero plus a first threshold number of bits extracted from the serial data signal to be the particular value; determining an average phase code based on the first phase code, the second phase code, the third phase code, and the fourth phase code; and applying the average phase code to a phase interpolator to shift the phase of the serial clock signal.

The system of may include further instructions that causes the system to perform operations including: sweeping a first window of phase codes to identify an updated first phase code and an updated second phase code, wherein the first window begins at the first phase code minus a constant and ends at the second phase code plus the constant; sweeping a second windows of phase codes to identify an updated third phase code and an updated fourth phase code, wherein the second windows begins at the third phase code minus the constant and ends at the fourth phase code plus the constant; determining an updated average phase code based on the updated first phase code, the updated second phase code, the updated third phase code, and the updated fourth phase code; and applying the updated average phase code to the phase interpolator to further shift the serial clock signal.

According to another embodiment, a phase calibration method may be described. The method may include: receiving a serial clock signal; receiving a serial data signal; sweeping a first window of phase codes, applicable to the serial clock signal to shift a phase of the serial clock signal, to identify an updated first phase code and an updated second phase code, wherein the first window begins at a predetermined first phase code minus a constant and ends at a predetermined second phase code plus the constant; identifying the updated first phase code, wherein the updated first phase code causes zero plus a first threshold number of bits extracted from the serial data signal to be a particular value; identifying the updated second phase code, wherein the updated second phase code causes all minus a second threshold number of bits extracted from the serial data signal to be the particular value; sweeping a second window of phase codes, applicable to the serial clock signal to shift the phase of the serial clock signal, to identify an updated third phase code and an updated fourth phase code, wherein the second window begins at a predetermined third phase code minus the constant and ends at a predetermined fourth phase code plus the constant; identifying the updated third phase code, wherein the updated third phase code causes all minus a third threshold number of bits extracted from the serial data signal to be the particular value; identifying the updated fourth phase code, wherein the updated fourth phase code causes zero plus a fourth threshold number of bits extracted from the serial data signal to be the particular value; determining an average phase code based on the updated first phase code, the updated second phase code, the updated third phase code, and the updated fourth phase code; and applying the average phase code to a phase interpolator to shift the phase of the serial clock signal.

The scope of the invention is defined by the claims, which are incorporated into this section by reference. A more complete understanding of embodiments of the invention will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantages thereof, by a consideration of the following detailed description of one or more embodiments. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings that will first be described briefly.

