Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur

(An Institute of National Importance)

CLOCK RECOVERY CIRCUITS

IN HIGH FREQUENCY
(22ECT253)
 CONTENTS
01 HISTORY

02 CLOCK DATA RECOVERY

03 TIMING EXTRACTION

04 TIMING RECOVERY ALGORITHMS

05 CLOCK RECOVERY TECHNIQUES

06 CLOCK DATA RECOVERY (CDR) CIRCUITS

07 ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF CDR CIRCUITS

08 NOISE IN CDR CIRCUITS

09 FUTURE TRENDS

10 APPLICATION
HISTORY OF CLOCK RECOVERY CIRCUITS
Analog Origins: Clock recovery circuits initially relied on analog methods like phase-locked
loops (PLLs) and voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) for extracting clock signals.
Digital Shift: With digital communication systems, there was a transition to digital clock recovery
techniques, offering improved accuracy and flexibility.
Phase-Locked Loops (PLLs): PLLs became fundamental, providing stable clock signals for
various communication standards like Ethernet and SONET/SDH.
Jitter Attenuation: Advanced techniques for jitter attenuation emerged to ensure reliable clock
recovery in high-speed communication systems.
Integration with SerDes: Clock recovery functionality integrated into Serializer/Deserializer
(SerDes) ICs simplified system design and improved performance in high-speed interfaces.
Adaptation to Standards: Clock recovery circuits evolved to support emerging standards like
Gigabit Ethernet, PCI Express, and HDMI, addressing new challenges in data rates and timing.
Optical Communication: Clock recovery circuits played a crucial role in synchronizing data
transmission in optical communication systems, supporting standards like SONET/SDH and
DWDM.
Recent Trends: Recent advancements focus on DSP algorithms, machine learning, and adaptive
filtering to enhance performance while reducing power consumption and increasing integration.
CLOCK DATA RECOVERY
(CDR)
Clock Data Recovery (CDR) is a vital function in
serial communication interfaces, ensuring accurate
data transmission by recovering the clock signal
from the incoming data stream.

Importance: CDR is crucial for maintaining

synchronization between the transmitter and
receiver, mitigating timing errors, and preserving
data integrity.

Challenges: Clock recovery faces various challenges

such as jitter, phase noise, and frequency offset,
which can degrade performance and reliability.
CLOCK RECOVERY TECHNIQUES

Phase-Locked Loop (PLL): Compares the phase of the

received signal with a local oscillator, adjusting it to match
the phase of the incoming data.
Delay-Locked Loop (DLL): Delays the incoming signal until it
aligns with a local clock, adjusting the delay based on the
phase difference.
Digital Phase-Locked Loop (DPLL): Performs clock recovery
entirely in the digital domain, using digital signal processing
techniques.
Blind Clock Recovery: Extracts clock information from the
received data without relying on separate clock signals.
Adaptive Equalization: It can also aid in extracting timing
information by aligning the received signal with the
transmitted symbols.
TIMING EXTRACTION
The received digital signal needs to be sampled at precise instants. This requires a clock signal at
the receiver in synchronism with the clock signal at the transmitter (symbol or bit synchro-
nization), delayed by the channel response.

Three general methods of synchronization exist:

1. Derivation from a primary or a secondary standard (e.g., transmitter and receiver slaved to a
master timing source).
2. Transmitting a separate synchronizing signal (pilot clock).
3. Self-synchronization, where the timing information is extracted from the received signal itself.

Because of its high cost, the first method is suitable for large volumes of data and high-speed
communication systems. The second method, in which part of the channel capacity is used to transmit
timing information, is suitable when the available capacity is large in comparison to the data rate and
when additional transmission power can be spared.
In designing the loop filter for a Phase-Locked Loop (PLL), several
considerations and parameters come into play to achieve optimal
performance:

1)Loop Bandwidth: This determines how quickly the PLL responds to changes in the input signal frequency. A
higher loop bandwidth provides faster locking but may introduce more phase noise. It's a trade-off between
locking speed and noise performance.

2)Loop Damping Factor (ζ): It controls the stability and transient response of the PLL. A higher damping
factor improves stability but may slow down the PLL's response.

3)Phase Margin: This is related to stability and is typically specified as the phase difference between the
actual loop phase response and -180 degrees at the loop crossover frequency. A higher phase margin
ensures stability against variations in loop gain and phase shift.

4)Filter Type: The type of filter (e.g., passive RC, active RC, or digital) affects the loop's noise performance,
bandwidth, and stability. Active filters offer better performance but may be more complex and power-
hungry.

5)Noise Performance: The loop filter should suppress noise from the reference signal, VCO, and
other sources. This is crucial for applications sensitive to phase noise, such as communication
systems.
TIMING EXTRACTION
Signal Sampling: The incoming data stream is periodically sampled using a clock signal, capturing
the signal's value at specific time intervals.
Clock Recovery: A clock recovery circuit processes the sampled data to extract timing information.
This circuit generates a stable clock signal synchronized with the incoming data, ensuring precise
timing alignment for accurate data recovery.
Phase Detection: Techniques such as phase comparison are employed to measure the phase
difference between the recovered clock signal and the incoming data stream. Adjustments are
made to align the phases for optimal synchronization.
Error Correction: Various error correction techniques are applied to the recovered clock signal to
mitigate noise, jitter, and other disturbances. These techniques enhance the accuracy and reliability
of timing extraction, especially in noisy communication environments.
TIMING RECOVERY ALGORITHMS
Timing recovery refers to the process of accurately determining the symbol timing in a received
digital signal. This is crucial because symbols must be sampled at the right instant to avoid
intersymbol interference.

Early-Late Gate Algorithm: This algorithm compares the incoming signal with two delayed versions
of itself: one early and one late. By measuring the difference between these signals, the algorithm
adjusts the sampling clock to align with the center of the symbol.
Gardner Algorithm: This algorithm is an enhanced version of the early-late gate method. It uses a
decision-directed approach, where decisions made on the received symbols are used to adjust the
sampling instant.
Mueller and Muller Algorithm: Also known as the "M&M Timing Recovery," this algorithm employs a
phase-locked loop (PLL) to adjust the sampling time based on a combination of the early and late
samples.
Maximum Likelihood Timing Recovery: This method estimates the symbol timing by maximizing
the likelihood of observing the received symbols given the timing offset. It is based on the principles
of maximum likelihood estimation.
 Adaptive clock recovery algorithms
Adaptive clock recovery algorithm are crucial in digital communication systems for synchronizing the
receiver's clock with the transmitter's clock, especially in scenarios where there might be phase or frequency
offsets, or when the clocks drift over time. These algorithms continuously adjust the receiver's sampling clock
to align with the timing of incoming data.
FIR and IIR Filters for Timing Recovery:
FIR/IIR Filters: Finite Impulse Response (FIR) and Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) filters are used in timing
recovery algorithms to filter and process received signals to extract timing information accurately.

These algorithms typically involve a feedback loop that compares the phase or timing of the
received signal with the local clock, and then adjusts the clock accordingly to minimize the phase or
timing error. Adaptive algorithms can adapt to changes in the channel conditions or the
characteristics of the transmitted signal, ensuring robust synchronization in varying environments.

Digital Signal Processing algorithms for extracting timing information and

synchronizing clocks in digital communication systems are diverse and
depend heavily on the specific requirements of the system, the characteristics
of the channel, and the modulation scheme used.
CLOCK RECOVERY TECHNIQUES
IN OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS
Importance: Critical for coherent detection and phase
modulation techniques where precise timing is essential for
reliable data transmission.
Challenges: High-speed data transmission introduces
timing uncertainties. Phase noise and signal distortions
affect clock recovery accuracy.
Coherent Detection:
Principle: Utilizes both amplitude and phase information of
the optical signal.
Clock Recovery: Extracts the carrier frequency and phase
from the received signal.
Methods: Digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms for
phase estimation and frequency recovery are employed.
Advantages: Offers high sensitivity and spectral efficiency.
Enables advanced modulation formats like quadrature AM
Phase Modulation:
Principle : Encodes data in the phase of the optical carrier signal.
Clock Recovery: Synchronizes the receiver's local oscillator with the phase-modulated signal.
Techniques: Phase-locked loop (PLL) is commonly used for phase tracking and carrier
recovery.
Advantages: Efficient use of spectrum and robustness against noise and dispersion.
 Clock recovery in wireless communication systems
Clock recovery in wireless communication systems poses several challenges due to the dynamic nature of the
wireless channel, including fading, interference, and varying signal strengths. Clock recovery is crucial for accurate
symbol timing synchronization, which is essential for reliable data detection and decoding.

Fading: Fading causes variations in signal amplitude and phase, leading to timing errors. Techniques such as
Maximum Likelihood Sequence Estimation (MLSE) and pilot symbol-assisted methods can mitigate the effects of
fading by exploiting known symbols or training sequences for synchronization.

Interference: Spread spectrum techniques like Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) and Frequency
Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) can help mitigate interference effects by spreading the signal energy across a
wider bandwidth, making it more resilient to narrowband interference.

Multipath Propagation: In wireless channels, signals may arrive at the receiver through multiple paths due to
reflections and diffractions. This can cause intersymbol interference (ISI) and timing jitter. Equalization techniques
such as Maximum Likelihood Sequence Estimation (MLSE) and adaptive filters can be employed to mitigate
multipath effects and improve clock recovery.
CLOCK DATA RECOVERY (CDR)
CIRCUITS
Clock Data Recovery (CDR) circuits are critical
components in high-speed digital
communication systems, especially in serial data
transmission.

These circuits are designed to extract the timing

information, or clock signal, from the incoming
serial data stream. In digital communication
systems, data is transmitted serially, meaning bits
are sent one after the other over a single
communication channel.

Accurately recovering the clock signal from this

stream of data is crucial for proper decoding at the
receiving end.
 Input Data Stream: The incoming serial data stream is typically encoded with transitions representing the digital data. This
1
stream may have a higher frequency than the desired clock frequency.

Signal Amplification and Filtering: Before entering the main phase detector, the incoming data signal can be amplified
2 and filtered to enhance its strength and reduce noise. This pre-processing stage can improve the overall performance of
the lock-in circuit.

Clock Divider: The incoming data stream is fed into a clock divider circuit that divides the frequency by two. This division by
3
two generates a half-frequency clock signal. This clock signal operates at half the rate of the incoming data stream.

Phase Detector: The half-frequency clock signal and the incoming data stream are then fed into a phase detector. The
4
phase detector compares the phase of the incoming data transitions with the phase of the half-frequency clock transitions

Loop Filter: The phase error detected by the phase detector is filtered using a loop filter. The loop filter smooths out
5 variations in the phase error signal and generates a control voltage proportional to the phase difference between the
data transitions and the clock transitions.

Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO): The control voltage from the loop filter adjusts the frequency of a voltage-controlled
6 oscillator (VCO). The VCO generates the recovered clock signal whose frequency is adjusted to match the frequency and
phase of the incoming data transitions.
 ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES
OF CDR CIRCUITS

1. Improved signal integrity by accurately 1. Complexity in design and implementation,

recovering clock signals from noisy data leading to higher development costs.
streams. 2. Potential for high power consumption,
2. Reduction of jitter, ensuring more reliable especially with analog components.
data transmission. 3. Introduction of latency, which may not be
3. Flexibility to adapt to varying data rates and suitable for real-time applications.
transmission conditions. 4. Sensitivity to certain types of noise and
4. Compatibility with different communication interference, affecting performance.
standards and protocols. 5. Initial lock time required for synchronization,
5. Some circuits incorporate error correction impacting system startup time.
techniques, enhancing reliability.
 Clock recovery in multi-channel systems

Global Clock Distribution: One approach is to have a central clock generator that distributes a single
clock signal to all channels within the system. This method simplifies synchronization as all channels
are synchronized to the same reference clock. However, it may introduce latency and jitter due to the
propagation delay in the distribution network.

Network Time Protocol (NTP): For systems with network connectivity, NTP can be used to synchronize
clocks across different devices. NTP employs a hierarchical architecture with primary servers distributing
time to secondary servers and clients. By synchronizing all devices to a common time reference, NTP
ensures coordination across multi-channel systems connected over a network.

Synchronization Protocols: Some communication protocols incorporate built-in mechanisms for

clock synchronization. For example, in synchronous communication protocols like SyncE (Synchronous
Ethernet) and IEEE 1588 (Precision Time Protocol), devices exchange timing information to synchronize their
clocks. These protocols are specifically designed for applications requiring tight synchronization, such as
telecommunications and industrial automation.

In summary, clock recovery in multi-channel systems requires a combination of techniques such as PLLs,
timestamping, interpolation, synchronization protocols, and adaptive algorithms to ensure accurate
synchronization and coordination across channels. The choice of technique depends on factors such as
system architecture, channel characteristics, and synchronization requirements
ROLL OF NOISE IN CDR CIRCUITS IN
HIGH-SPEED COMMUNICATION
Jitter:
Noise-induced jitter refers to the variation in the timing of signal transitions caused by random
fluctuations in the signal.
Jitter impacts the accuracy of clock recovery by introducing uncertainty in the timing of signal
transitions.
High levels of jitter can lead to timing errors, resulting in data misinterpretation and reduced
system performance.
Interference:
Noise interference can originate from external sources, such as electromagnetic interference
(EMI), which can corrupt the integrity of the received signal.
Crosstalk from neighboring channels or adjacent transmission lines can also introduce
additional noise into the signal path.
This noise interference can obscure the data signal, making it challenging for the clock
recovery circuit to distinguish between valid data transitions and noise-induced fluctuations.

Phase Noise:
Phase noise refers to random fluctuations in the phase of the clock signal, typically originating
from imperfections in the clock generation circuitry or timing components.
phase variations can degrade the quality of the recovered clock signal, leading to timing
inaccuracies and instability.
Phase noise adversely affects the ability of the clock recovery circuit to maintain precise
synchronization with the incoming data stream, especially in high-speed communication
systems where stringent timing requirements must be met.
TECHNIQUES TO MITIGATE NOISE
Jitter Attenuation:
Integrating jitter attenuation circuits or phase-locked loops (PLLs) with low-pass filtering
capabilities can help reduce the impact of jitter-induced noise on the recovered clock signal,
resulting in more stable and accurate clock synchronization.
Signal Equalization:
Employing signal equalization techniques, such as pre-emphasis and equalization filters, can
compensate for signal distortions caused by channel impairments, thereby reducing the
impact of noise on the recovered clock signal.
Noise Filtering:
Implementing noise filtering techniques, such as passive and active filtering circuits, can
attenuate unwanted noise components present in the signal path.
Bandpass filters can be used to isolate the desired frequency band containing the clock signal,
while rejecting noise at other frequencies.
Selecting low-noise components, such as low-jitter oscillators and low-noise amplifiers, helps
minimize the introduction of noise in the circuitry, ensuring a cleaner and more stable clock
signal.
CLOCK DATA RECOVERY (CDR)
CIRCUITS
Future trends:
Supporting higher data rates to keep pace with increasing bandwidth demands.
Prioritizing low power consumption for energy-efficient operation.
Integrating CDR functionality with SerDes ICs for compact and efficient designs.
Adapting to emerging communication standards such as 5G and beyond.
Utilizing advanced signal processing techniques to improve performance in challenging
environments.
Enhancing robustness against impairments like noise and interference for more reliable data
transmission.
Integrating CDR circuits into optical communication systems to support high-speed fiber optic
links.
Evolving to meet the evolving requirements of next-generation communication technologies.
APPLICATIONS
High-speed serial data communication (USB, PCI Express, SATA)
Ethernet networks (Gigabit Ethernet, 10 Gigabit Ethernet)
Wireless communication (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 5G, LTE) OTN Equipment
Fiber optic communication
Digital broadcasting (DVB, ATSC, ISDB)
Storage area networks (SANs)
Test and measurement equipment like oscilloscope
Optical transport networks (OTN)
Ethernet

PCI EXPRESS SATA

Thank you!
- by Batch EC-1