The SYSREF Windowing block is used to first detect the position of SYSREF relative to the input clock (CLK± or SE_CLK) rising edge and then to select a desired SYSREF sampling instance, which is a delayed version of the input clock, to maximize setup and hold timing margins. In many cases a single SYSREF sampling position (SYSREF_SEL) is sufficient to meet timing for all systems (device-to-device variation) and conditions (temperature and voltage variations). However, this feature can also be used by the system to expand the timing window by tracking the movement of SYSREF as operating conditions change or to remove system-to-system variation at production test by finding a unique optimal value at nominal conditions for each system.

This section describes proper usage of the SYSREF Windowing block. First, apply the device clock and SYSREF to the device. The location of SYSREF relative to the device clock cycle is determined and stored in the SYSREF_POS field. Each bit of SYSREF_POS represents a potential SYSREF sampling position. If a bit in SYSREF_POS is set to 1, then the corresponding SYSREF sampling position has a potential setup or hold violation. Upon determining the valid SYSREF sampling positions (the positions of SYSREF_POS that are set to 0) the desired sampling position can be chosen by setting SYSREF_SEL to the value corresponding to that SYSREF_POS position. In general, the middle sampling position between two setup and hold instances is chosen. Ideally, SYSREF_POS and SYSREF_SEL are performed at the nominal operating conditions of the system (temperature and supply voltage) to provide maximum margin for operating condition variations. This process can be performed at final test and the optimal SYSREF_SEL setting can be stored for use at every system power up. Further, SYSREF_POS can be used to characterize the skew between CLK± and SYSREF± over operating conditions for a system by sweeping the system temperature and supply voltages. For systems that have large variations in CLK± to SYSREF± skew, this characterization can be used to track the optimal SYSREF sampling position as system operating conditions change. In general, a single value can be found that meets timing over all conditions for well-matched systems, such as those where CLK± and SYSREF± come from a single clocking device.

The step size between each SYSREF_POS sampling position can be adjusted using SYSREF_ZOOM. When SYSREF_ZOOM is set to 0, the delay steps are coarser. When SYSREF_ZOOM is set to 1, the delay steps are finer. See the Recommended Operating Conditions table for delay step sizes when SYSREF_ZOOM is enabled and disabled. In general, SYSREF_ZOOM is recommended to always be used (SYSREF_ZOOM = 1) unless a transition region (defined by 1's in SYSREF_POS) is not observed, which can be the case for low clock rates. Bits 0 and 23 of SYSREF_POS are always be set to 1 because there is insufficient information to determine if these settings are close to a timing violation, although the actual valid window can extend beyond these sampling positions. The value programmed into SYSREF_SEL is the decimal number representing the desired bit location in SYSREF_POS. Table 6-7 lists some example SYSREF_POS readings and the optimal SYSREF_SEL settings. Although 24 sampling positions are provided by the SYSREF_POS status register, SYSREF_SEL only allows selection of the first 16 sampling positions, corresponding to SYSREF_POS bits 0 to 15. The additional SYSREF_POS status bits are intended only to provide additional knowledge of the SYSREF valid window. In general, lower values of SYSREF_SEL are selected because of delay variation over supply voltage, however in the fourth example a value of 15 provides additional margin and can be selected instead.