Battery-Free Real-Time Clock via NTP Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of batteries for powering real-time clocks in computing apparatuses is costly, has a limited lifetime, and poses environmental disposal challenges, while also occupying valuable space, and existing solutions lack efficient alternatives for maintaining time and date without a backup power source.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a computing apparatus where the primary power source powers the real-time clock, utilizing network time protocol (NTP) logic and persistent memory to retrieve and store coordinated universal time (UTC) from a network, eliminating the need for a backup battery by using the primary power source for RTC operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a battery is used to power the real-time clock, then the time and date can be maintained without primary power, but the cost increases, lifetime is limited, environmental disposal becomes problematic, and board area is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the battery component from the real-time clock system. The RTC is redesigned to operate without a backup battery by using the primary power source and implementing power management techniques that allow the RTC to maintain time and date information without requiring a separate battery power source.
Solution Approach 2:
The primary power source is made to serve multiple functions: it powers both the main computing apparatus and the real-time clock. By eliminating the dedicated battery for the RTC, the system achieves multi-functionality where a single power source performs multiple roles, reducing overall system complexity and component count.
2Reliability
If a battery is used to power the real-time clock, then the real-time clock can operate independently, but the board area occupied increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery component is extracted and removed from the system. The RTC is redesigned to function without this extracted component by leveraging the primary power source and implementing efficient power management that allows continuous operation without a dedicated battery, thereby freeing up board area.
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply for the RTC is merged with the primary power source of the computing apparatus. Instead of having separate power sources (primary power + battery), the system combines these into a single power architecture where the primary power source directly supplies the RTC, eliminating the need for additional battery components and associated board space.
3Reliability
If a battery is used to power the real-time clock, then time and date can be maintained, but cost and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The battery, which contains toxic materials requiring special disposal, is extracted and removed from the system. The RTC is redesigned to operate without this harmful component by using the primary power source, thereby eliminating the source of toxic material disposal problems and reducing environmental impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of battery disposal into a benefit by completely eliminating the battery from the system. By redesigning the RTC to operate without a battery and using the primary power source instead, the system transforms what would have been a harmful waste stream into a beneficial reduction of toxic material disposal requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes embodiments of apparatuses and methods related to a computing apparatus with a real time clock (RTC) coupled to a bus, where the RTC does not have a backup power source to maintain time and date of the RTC. The computing apparatus may have firmware coupled to the bus, and the firmware may contain boot logic with network time protocol (NTP) logic. The computing apparatus may have persistent memory coupled to the bus with configuration parameters. The computing apparatus may have a controller coupled to the bus, where the controller is to retrieve the configuration parameters from the persistent memory and processes the boot logic with the NTP logic using the configuration parameters to transmit an NTP request over the bus and receives a coordinated universal time (UTC) over the bus and stores the UTC in the RTC.