Sampling phase lock loop (PLL) with low power clock buffer

A sampling phase locked loop (PLL) circuit includes a pull-up/down buffer configured to convert an oscillator reference clock into a square wave sampling control signal input to a sampling phase detector. The buffer circuit is configured to reduce power by controlling the switching of the pull-up and pull-down transistors (and thereby the transitions of the sampling control signal) so that the transistors are not on at the same time.