A calibration circuit for calibrating the input data path of a digital
circuit is disclosed. A simple string of a repeating data pattern such
as, e.g., "1100," is sent on the data path. The digital circuit captures
the data using a clock signal, examines the data signal for the
predetermined pattern and adjusts a delay applied to the data signal
until the predetermined pattern is recognized. Then the delay is further
adjusted until the predetermined pattern is no longer recognized
indicating that an edge of the eye of the data is near a clocking edge of
the clocking signal. The delay applied to the data signal is then further
adjusted by a predetermined amount to position the clock edge near the
center of the data eye.