Clock Correction Translation Block Prevents Timing Error Accumulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In synchronous data systems, existing clock correction techniques, such as feed-forward methods, face challenges in preventing error accumulation due to rounding or truncation when converting between native clock quanta and standardized units, particularly in software-defined radios where clock rates are not platform-specific.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of source and consumer clock correction translation functional blocks, including prescalers, dividers, and accumulators, ensures that clock correction data is communicated using standardized units, avoiding rounding and truncation errors by scaling and accumulating residual remainders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If feed-forward clock correction technique is used to communicate time differences between clocked entities, then waveform portability and platform independence are achieved through standardized units, but rounding and truncation errors accumulate over time due to conversion between natural quanta and standardized units
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary standardized time unit (STU) that mediates between different platform-specific natural quanta. The conversion process uses a rational number N/M to translate between natural quanta and STUs, allowing waveform portability while managing precision through controlled conversion points rather than direct platform-specific interactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the time parameter representation from platform-specific natural quanta to a standardized time unit using a rational scaling factor N/M. This parameter transformation enables universal waveform communication while the accumulation mechanism preserves precision by carrying forward remainder values through the conversion process.
2Ease of operation
If clock correction values are converted between different quanta systems (natural quanta to standardized units), then universal communication format is achieved, but rounding and truncation errors occur during conversion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuous accumulation of correction values rather than periodic clearing or rounding. The accumulator continuously sums converted correction values in standardized units, maintaining an ongoing running total that preserves precision across multiple conversion operations without interruption or loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary scaling of clock correction values by the rational number N/M before conversion to standardized units. This pre-scaling operation prepares the values for accurate conversion by establishing the proper proportional relationship between natural quanta and standardized units in advance of the actual conversion and accumulation process.
3Device complexity
If feed-forward clock correction is applied without feedback, then system complexity is reduced, but error accumulation cannot be undone or corrected over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service correction mechanism where the accumulation of standardized unit values automatically compensates for rounding errors. The system serves itself by continuously accumulating correction values without external feedback, allowing the mathematical accumulation process to naturally correct precision losses through the rational N/M scaling relationship.
Data Source
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AI summary
Apparatus (100) for communicating clock correction data between two or more clocked entities (102, 104) using a standardized clock correction unit or quanta. A source-native pre-scaler (302) can convert source-native clock correction values to scaled source-native clock correction values. The pre-scaler can perform this conversion by multiplying each source-native clock correction value by a factor N1. A source-native divider (308) can divide an adjusted source-native clock correction value by a value M1 to produce a standard quotient and a standard remainder. The standard quotient defines a standard clock correction value. Further, a source-native accumulator 306 can accumulate a sum comprised of the scaled source-native clock corrections and the standard remainder produced from the source-native divider. The sum can define the adjusted source-native clock correction value.