CPU Halt During Clock Frequency Tuning to Reduce Chipset Jitter

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing clock frequency adjustment methods can introduce excessive jitter in the chipset, leading to potential system shutdowns when increasing or decreasing clock signal frequencies, as the chipset may fail to track the changes smoothly, resulting in malfunction and unexpected shutdowns.

Innovation Solution

The CPU is halted during clock frequency adjustments by the clock generator, allowing the microcontroller and timers to manage the transition to a new frequency without immediate CPU command interference, ensuring stable frequency adjustments and preventing system shutdowns.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the clock frequency is adjusted while the CPU is running, then the system can maintain continuous operation, but excessive jitter is introduced in the chipset leading to system shutdowns

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem stabilityVSAvoidjitter in chipset

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The CPU is halted before clock frequency adjustment begins, preparing the system in advance to avoid jitter during frequency transition. This preliminary action ensures the chipset can track frequency changes smoothly without CPU interference, preventing system shutdowns while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the CPU is halted during clock frequency adjustment, then jitter is reduced and system stability is maintained, but CPU operation is interrupted temporarily

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem stabilityVSAvoidCPU operation continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The CPU operation is temporarily suspended only during the brief clock frequency adjustment period, allowing the frequency transition to complete quickly. The CPU then resumes operation at the new frequency, minimizing the interruption while ensuring system stability during the critical adjustment window.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Data Source

PatentUS7661007B2Methods and systems for adjusting clock frequency

Publication Date: 2010.02.09 VIA TECH INC

AI summary

A method for adjusting clock frequency is disclosed. The method includes halting a central processing unit (CPU) while tuning a clock frequency, thereby enabling multiple clock signals with the tuned clock frequency to be generated.