Clock Divider Synchronization for Independent Component Frequency Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electronic systems with multiple docked components, adjusting the root clock signal to enhance power flexibility is challenging due to differing divider settings and output options among components, which can affect other components' clock dividers.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a clock generator, components with independent divider settings, and sync circuitry that synchronizes adjustments to the root clock signal and component clock signals, ensuring updates occur together at alignment positions, allowing each component to independently adjust its divider settings while maintaining synchronized output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the root clock signal is adjusted to enhance power flexibility, then power flexibility is improved, but clock synchronization among multiple components with different divider settings deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sync circuitry pre-calculates and determines alignment positions before clock signal adjustments are made. By predicting when divider outputs will align in the future, the system can prepare synchronization actions in advance, ensuring that power flexibility adjustments don't compromise clock synchronization among components with different divider settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The sync circuitry continuously monitors the actual clock signals from multiple dividers and uses this feedback to verify whether alignment positions are achieved. This feedback mechanism ensures that when the root clock signal is adjusted for power flexibility, the system can detect and maintain proper synchronization among all components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different component clock dividers have different divider settings, then component independence is improved, but system-wide clock coordination deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sync circuitry acts as an intermediary between the root clock generator and multiple independent component dividers. It receives information from all dividers about their settings and outputs, calculates alignment positions, and coordinates adjustments without requiring direct complex interactions between all component pairs. This mediator approach maintains component independence while simplifying system-wide coordination.
3Productivity
If the root clock signal is changed by one component, then that component's performance is improved, but other components' clock dividers are affected
Solution Approach 1:
Before a component changes the root clock signal to improve its performance, the sync circuitry calculates the resulting alignment positions and prepares compensatory adjustments for other components. This preliminary anti-action prevents the harmful effect of clock instability on other components by pre-planning how to maintain synchronization despite the root clock change.
Data Source
AI summary
A device includes a clock generator configured to generate a root clock signal based on an input clock signal and a clock generator divider integer setting. The device also includes a first component coupled to the clock generator and configured to generate a first component clock signal based on the root clock signal and a first component divider integer setting. The device also includes a second component coupled to the clock generator and configured to generate a second component clock signal based on the root clock signal and a second component divider integer setting. The device also includes sync circuitry coupled to each of the clock generator, the first component, and the second component, wherein the sync circuitry is configured to perform synchronized adjustments to the root clock signal, the first component clock signal, and the second component clock signal.