Clock Phase Monitor Circuit for Fast, High-Resolution Error Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clock quality characterization techniques trade off speed of detection with resolution of error detection, failing to provide accurate and fast evaluation of clock signal quality, particularly in detecting phase and frequency errors without dead time and with varying temperature stability.
Innovation Solution
A clock generator apparatus and method utilizing a time-to-digital converter, phase monitor circuit, and filters to generate timestamp and clock period information, detecting phase errors based on threshold differences and mean period signals, with adaptive control to adjust filter settings for improved time and frequency resolution, enabling continuous and accurate error detection without dead time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional clock quality characterization techniques are used, then detection resolution is improved, but detection speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the error detection process into multiple parallel paths: a fast detection path that provides quick error detection with lower resolution, and a precise detection path that provides high-resolution error measurement. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously achieve both fast detection speed and high detection resolution by routing different types of detection requests through appropriate paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to the detection system by implementing adaptive sampling rates. The system can dynamically switch between high sampling rates for fast detection and low sampling rates for precise measurement, adding a time-based dimension to resolve the contradiction between speed and resolution.
2Measurement precision
If conventional clock quality characterization techniques are used, then detection accuracy is improved, but dead time is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous error detection by eliminating dead time between measurement cycles. The detection system continuously monitors clock signals without interruption, maintaining constant surveillance of error conditions. This continuous operation ensures that no error events are missed while maintaining high detection accuracy through persistent monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary error detection and filtering before final error determination. By pre-processing the error signals and identifying obvious errors in advance, the system can quickly handle clear-cut cases without requiring lengthy analysis, thereby reducing dead time while maintaining accuracy for complex error patterns.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional error detection methods are used, then temperature stability is improved, but detection resolution for phase and frequency errors deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces temperature compensation as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between temperature variations and error detection accuracy. By measuring temperature and applying compensation algorithms, the system isolates the detection process from temperature-induced drifts, thereby maintaining high detection resolution for phase and frequency errors even under varying temperature conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for providing a clock signal based on a received clock signal includes a time-to-digital converter configured to generate timestamp information based on the received clock signal. The apparatus includes a first filter configured to generate clock period information based on the timestamp information. The apparatus includes a phase monitor circuit. The phase monitor circuit includes a second filter configured to provide a mean period signal of the received clock signal based on the clock period information. The phase monitor includes a phase error detection circuit configured to generate a phase error indicator based on a threshold difference value and a difference between the clock period information and expected clock period information. The expected clock period information is based on the mean period signal.