Selfsynchronous

Selfsynchronous refers to a property of certain sequences or systems where the output is generated based on a combination of the current input and past inputs, and importantly, the generation process is self-clocking. This means that a separate clock signal is not required to synchronize the output. The timing information is embedded within the data stream itself.

In the context of data transmission, selfsynchronous systems are often employed to recover the clock from the received data. This is achieved through specific encoding techniques that ensure sufficient transitions in the data stream, allowing a receiver to reliably extract the timing information. Without these transitions, it would be difficult for the receiver to determine the boundaries of the individual data bits.

A key advantage of selfsynchronous systems is their robustness against clock drift. Because the receiver derives its clock from the incoming data, it naturally adapts to any minor variations in the transmitter's clock. This makes them suitable for applications where precise clock synchronization between the sender and receiver is challenging to maintain. Examples can be found in some serial communication protocols and digital recording systems. The term implies that the system can synchronize itself without external timing references.