Debug Circuit Timing for Isolating Multi-Mode Clock Errors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-mode circuits, such as Track and Hold circuits, experience errors like hold mode settling and imperfect acquisition due to high clock speeds, making it difficult to diagnose the source of output errors in multi-mode circuits, especially in high-bandwidth systems like data-routers and super-computers.
Innovation Solution
A debug circuit that generates debug signals based on the input clock signal, using flip-flops to provide lower-frequency clock signals out of phase, allowing for selective mode operation longer or shorter than other modes, enabling identification of error-causing modes by increasing clock frequency until errors occur.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If clock speed is increased to improve productivity, then processing speed improves, but hold mode settling errors and imperfect acquisition errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The debug circuit performs preliminary actions by extending the duration of specific modes (hold mode or track mode) before normal operation to allow adequate settling time. This preliminary extension ensures that the circuit reaches stable state before measurement, preventing errors while maintaining high clock speeds during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit dynamically adjusts mode durations based on debugging needs. During debugging, certain modes are extended beyond their normal duration to allow proper settling, while during normal operation, the circuit returns to its original high-speed timing. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between speed and accuracy.
2Productivity
If clock speed is increased to improve productivity, then processing speed improves, but acquisition time becomes insufficient leading to imperfect acquisition
Solution Approach 1:
The debug circuit extends the track mode duration as a preliminary action before conversion, allowing the track and hold circuit sufficient time to acquire and stabilize the input signal. This preliminary extension ensures complete acquisition before the actual high-speed conversion process begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit dynamically modifies the track mode duration during debugging to ensure adequate acquisition time, while maintaining high-speed operation during normal function. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to overcome the fixed timing constraints that cause imperfect acquisition at high clock speeds.
3Measurement precision
If debug circuit extends mode duration to improve measurement precision, then error identification improves, but productivity during debugging decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The debug circuit uses periodic extension of specific modes at controlled intervals during the debugging process. Rather than continuously extending modes, it periodically applies the extended duration to specific modes to check for errors, allowing efficient systematic debugging while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit changes the duration parameter of specific modes during debugging to extend them beyond normal operation. This parameter change allows adequate time for settling and acquisition to occur, enabling accurate error detection while the systematic approach maintains debugging efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A debug circuit for a multi-mode circuit driven by a clock signal, with an input for a clock signal, and a debug signal generator arranged to generate for each of a subset of the modes of the multi-mode circuit a corresponding debug signal based on a clock signal provided at the input. The frequency of debug signals is dependent on the frequency of a clock signal provided at the input, and each debug signal selects its respective mode for a length of time longer than that of each other mode of the multi-mode circuit, or each debug signal selects its respective mode for a length of time shorter than that of each other mode of the multi-mode circuit.