Phase adjusting circuit for minimized irregularities at phase steps

1. A phase adjusting circuit ( 12 ) for the generation of a clock output signal (CLK out ) with a phase intermediate the phases of first and second input signals of equal frequency with a fixed phase shift between said first and second signals, said circuit having

an interpolator unit ( 30 ) which determines the phase of the clock signal relative to either one of the first input signal and the second input signal, the interpolator unit being controlled externally by a control signal (PH fine ) to execute a phase step when the phase of the clock output signal is to be shifted,

wherein the phase adjusting circuit ( 12 ) comprises a synchronization unit ( 40 ) which synchronizes the phase step with the clock output signal, wherein the synchronization unit ( 40 ) comprises a command input ( 42 ) for receiving a phase step command, a detector for detecting when the phase of the clock output signal is within a phase window (Δφ) in which a phase step can be executed without adding phase jitter to the clock output signal, and a latch ( 50 ) for forwarding the phase step command to the interpolator when the phase of the clock output signal is within said phase window.

2. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the phase window is one quarter of the output clock signal period.

3. A phase adjusting circuit ( 12 ) for the generation of a clock output signal (CLK out ) with a phase intermediate the phases of first and second input signals of equal frequency with a fixed phase shift between said first and second signals, said circuit having

an interpolator unit ( 30 ) which determines the phase of the clock signal relative to either one of the first input signal and the second input signal, the interpolator unit being controlled externally by a control signal (PH fine ) to execute a phase step when the phase of the clock output signal is to be shifted,

wherein the phase adjusting circuit ( 12 ) comprises a synchronization unit ( 40 ) which synchronizes the phase step with the clock output signal, wherein the synchronization unit ( 40 ) comprises a command input ( 42 ) for receiving a phase step command, a detector for detecting when the phase of the clock output signal is within a phase window (Δφ) in which a phase step can be executed without adding phase jitter to the clock output signal, and a latch ( 50 ) for forwarding the phase step command to the interpolator when the phase of the clock output signal is within said phase window, and

wherein said interpolator comprises:

a set of current sources (S 1 , . . . S 32 ), each of which being coupled to at least one of a first set of phase switches (PS 1 a - 1 , PS 1 b - 1 ;. . . PS 1 a - 32 , PS 1 - b 32 ) controlled by said first input signal, and one of a second set of phase switches (PS 2 a - 1 , PS 2 b - 1 ; . . . PS 2 a - 32 , PS 2 - b 32 ) controlled by said second input signal;

a charging circuit (L 1 , L 2 ) in which a charging voltage of a capacitor (C 1 , C 2 ) which defines said clock output signal (CLK out ) is varied by switching said current sources (S, . . . S 32 ) on or off in accordance with the closing or opening of the phase switches (PS 1 a - 1 . . . PS 1 a - 32 ; PS 1 b - 1 . . . PS 1 - b 32 ; PS 2 a - 1 . . . PS 2 a - 32 ; PS 2 b - 1 . . . PS 2 - b 32 );

a set of current switches (TR 1 a, TR 1 b , . . . TR 32 a, TR 32 b ) coupled to said current sources (S 1 , . . . S 32 ) for selectively connecting each of said current sources to either said first or second set of phase switches (PS 1 a - 1 . . . PS 1 a - 32 ; PS 1 b - 1 . . . PS 1 - b 32 ; PS 2 a - 1 . . . PS 2 a - 32 ; PS 2 b - 1 . . . PS 2 - b 32 ) for determining the phase of the clock output signal relative to either one of the first and second input signals by the number of current sources connected to either said first or second set of phase switches (PS 1 a - 1 . . . PS 1 a - 32 ; PS 1 b - 1 . . . PS 1 - b 32 ; PS 2 a - 1 . . . PS 2 a - 32 ; PS 2 b - 1 . . . PS 2 - b 32 ); each of said current switches (TR 1 a, TR 1 b , . . . TR 32 a, TR 32 b ) being coupled to a control circuit (CC 1 , . . . CC 32 ) for controlling the current switches in accordance with an external control signal (PH fine ) and for executing a phase step by changing the number of current sources (S 1 , . . . S 32 ) connected to either said first or second set of phase switches (PS 1 a - 1 . . . PS 1 a - 32 ; PS 1 b - 1 . . . PS 1 - b 32 ; PS 2 a - 1 . . . PS 2 a - 32 ; PS 2 b - 1 . . . PS 2 - b 32 );

and wherein said detector comprises a converter ( 60 ) for converting the clock output signal (CLK out ) into a trigger signal (TRIG) for synchronization of the phase step with the clock output signal; and

said synchronization unit ( 140 ) comprising a set of double Flip-Flops ( 50 ) coupled to said control units, each of said double Flip-Flops having a data input ( 54 ) which is loaded with said phase step command from said external control signal (PH fine ), a trigger input ( 52 ) triggered by said trigger signal from the detector and an output ( 56 ) connected to the control circuit (CC 1 , . . . CC 32 ) to forward the phase step command.

4. The circuit of claim 3 wherein said detector comprises a delay line ( 58 ; 158 ) for delaying said trigger signal (TRIG) to compensate for signal propagation time within the interpolator ( 30 ; 130 ) and/or the synchronization unit ( 40 ; 140 ).

5. A phase adjusting circuit ( 12 ) for the generation of a clock output signal (CLK out ) with a phase intermediate the phases of first and second input signals of equal frequency with a fixed phase shift between said first and second signals, said circuit having

an interpolator unit ( 30 ) which determines the phase of the clock signal relative to either one of the first input signal and the second input signal, the interpolator unit being controlled externally by a control signal (PH fine ) to execute a phase step when the phase of the clock output signal is to be shifted,

wherein the phase adjusting circuit ( 12 ) comprises a synchronization unit ( 40 ) which synchronizes the phase step with the clock output signal, wherein the synchronization unit ( 40 ) comprises a command input ( 42 ) for receiving a phase step command, a detector for detecting when the phase of the clock output signal is within a phase window (Δφ) in which a phase step can be executed without adding phase jitter to the clock output signal, and a latch ( 50 ) for forwarding the phase step command to the interpolator when the phase of the clock output signal is within said phase window, and

wherein said interpolator comprises:

a set of current sources (S 1 , . . . S 32 ), each of which being coupled to at least one of a first set of phase switches (PS 1 a - 1 , PS 1 b - 1 ; . . . PS 1 a - 32 , PS 1 - b 32 ) controlled by said first input signal, and one of a second set of phase switches (PS 2 a - 1 , PS 2 b - 1 ; . . . PS 2 a - 32 , PS 2 - b 32 ) controlled by said second input signal;

a charging circuit (L 1 , L 2 ) in which a charging voltage of a capacitor (C 1 , C 2 ) which defines said clock output signal (CLK out ) is varied by switching said current sources (S, . . . S 32 ) on or off in accordance with the closing or opening of the phase switches (PS 1 a - 1 . . . PS 1 a - 32 ; PS 1 b - 1 . . . PS 1 - b 32 ; PS 2 a - 1 . . . PS 2 a - 32 ; PS 2 b - 1 . . . PS 2 - b 32 );

a set of current switches (TR 1 a, TR 1 b, . . . TR 32 a, TR 32 b ) coupled to said current sources (S 1 , . . . S 32 ) for selectively connecting each of said current sources to either said first or second set of phase switches (PS 1 a - 1 . . . PS 1 a - 32 ; PS 1 b - 1 . . . PS 1 - b 32 ; PS 2 a - 1 . . . PS 2 a - 32 ; PS 2 b - 1 . . . PS 2 - b 32 ) for determining the phase of the clock output signal relative to either one of the first and second input signals by the number of current sources connected to either said first or second set of phase switches (PS 1 a - 1 . . . PS 1 a - 32 ; PS 1 b - 1 . . . PS 1 - b 32 ; PS 2 a - 1 . . . PS 2 a - 32 ; PS 2 b - 1 . . . PS 2 - b 32 );

each of said current switches (TR 1 a, TR 1 b , . . . TR 32 a, TR 32 b ) being coupled to a control circuit (CC 1 , . . . CC 32 ) for controlling the current switches in accordance with an external control signal (PH fine ) and for executing a phase step by changing the number of current sources (S 1 , . . . S 32 ) connected to either said first or second set of phase switches (PS 1 a - 1 . . . PS 1 a - 32 ; PS 1 b - 1 . . . PS 1 - b 32 ; PS 2 a - 1 . . . PS 2 a - 32 ; PS 2 b - 1 . . . PS 2 - b 32 ); p 1 and wherein said detector comprises a monoflop ( 170 ) for converting an edge of the clock output signal (CLK out ) into a trigger signal (TRIG) for synchronization of the phase step with the clock output signal; and

said latch being implemented by a D-Flip-Flop ( 180 ) in each of said control units (CC 1 , . . . CC 32 ), said D-Flip-Flop having a data input ( 182 ), which is loaded with said phase step command in said external control signal (PH fine ), a trigger input ( 184 ) which is triggered by said trigger signal from the detector, and a differential output ( 186 , 188 ) for controlling the assigned current switch (TR 1 a, TR 1 b , . . . TR 32 a, TR 32 b ).

6. The circuit of claim 5 wherein said detector comprises a delay line ( 58 ; 158 ) for delaying said trigger signal (TRIG) to compensate for signal propagation time within the interpolator ( 30 ; 130 ) and/or the synchronization unit ( 40 ; 140 ).