Clock Delay Comparison Circuit for Fast Low-Power Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for synchronizing devices, such as in wireless media systems, require continuous power consumption and time for clock stabilization, leading to inefficiencies due to clock drift caused by environmental factors and differing clock rates.
Innovation Solution
A circuit and method that estimate time differences between signals using delayed versions of a signal, allowing for temporal matching and adjustment without continuous monitoring, utilizing a delay unit, comparison unit, and difference estimator to synchronize clocks efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If continuous software monitoring is used to synchronize device clocks, then clock synchronization accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from continuous software monitoring to periodic hardware-based time difference measurements. The circuit periodically measures time differences between clock signals using delay lines and comparison logic, allowing the processor to remain in low-power states between measurements while maintaining synchronization accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces software-based monitoring with a hardware circuit implementation. The time difference measurement circuit uses delay units, comparison logic, and estimators to automatically measure clock drift and generate correction signals, eliminating the need for continuous processor intervention and reducing power consumption.
2Measurement precision
If continuous software monitoring is used to synchronize device clocks, then clock synchronization accuracy is improved, but time for clock stabilization increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary time difference measurements using the delay line circuit to determine clock drift before making corrections. By pre-calculating the time offset using hardware comparison logic, the system can quickly stabilize clocks without requiring prolonged software monitoring and adjustment periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The hardware circuit provides immediate time difference measurements and generates correction signals faster than software can process and respond. The delay lines and comparison logic operate in real-time hardware, eliminating software processing delays and enabling rapid clock stabilization.
3Use of energy by moving object
If hardware circuit with delay lines is used for time difference measurement, then power consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The time difference measurement function is segmented into distinct hardware components: delay lines for time shifting, comparison units for signal matching, and estimators for calculating time offsets. This modular segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while working together to reduce overall power consumption through hardware efficiency.
4Measurement precision
If phase locked loop is used for clock synchronization, then clock synchronization accuracy is improved, but time for clock stabilization increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary time difference measurements using the delay line circuit to determine clock drift before making corrections. By pre-calculating the time offset using hardware comparison logic, the system can quickly stabilize clocks without requiring prolonged software monitoring and adjustment periods.
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit for estimating a time difference between a first signal and a second signal, the circuit comprising: a first signal line for receiving the first signal; a delay unit configured to receive the second signal and delay the second signal so as to provide a plurality of delayed versions of the second signal, each delayed version being delayed by a different amount of delay to the other delayed versions; a comparison unit configured to compare each of the delayed versions of the second signal with the first signal so as to identify which of the delayed versions of the second signal is the closest temporally matching signal to the first signal; and a difference estimator configured to estimate the time difference between the first and second signals in dependence on the identified delayed version.