Dual-Clock Timing Circuit for Precision Calibration With Low Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Timing circuits using low-precision clock sources face inaccuracies due to temperature and voltage changes, and aging, leading to precision issues in clock frequency, which existing methods struggle to address effectively.
Innovation Solution
A timing circuit comprising a low-precision clock source, a high-precision clock source, and a cycle conversion circuit that counts pulses of both signals to obtain a conversion cycle, allowing for more accurate timing without adjusting the low-precision clock source's frequency, and intermittently activating the high-precision clock source to reduce power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a low-precision clock source is used, then cost, size, and power consumption are reduced, but timing precision deteriorates due to temperature and voltage changes
Solution Approach 1:
The high-precision clock source operates intermittently rather than continuously. The timing circuit switches between low-precision and high-precision clock sources periodically, using the high-precision source only when needed to calibrate and update timing parameters, thereby reducing its power consumption while maintaining timing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
A parameter storage unit acts as an intermediary between the two clock sources. It stores timing parameters calibrated by the high-precision clock source and provides them to the timing circuit when the low-precision clock source is active, allowing the system to maintain high timing precision without continuously operating the high-precision clock source.
2Measurement precision
If a low-precision clock source is used, then cost and size are reduced, but timing accuracy deteriorates over time due to aging
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration using the high-precision clock source to establish accurate timing parameters before switching to the low-precision clock source. By pre-calibrating the timing parameters when the high-precision clock is available, the system compensates for the low-precision clock's inherent inaccuracies and aging effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The timing circuit continuously monitors timing deviations and uses the high-precision clock source periodically to detect and correct drift in the low-precision clock source. This feedback mechanism adjusts timing parameters to compensate for aging and environmental changes, maintaining long-term reliability.
3Measurement precision
If the frequency of the low-precision clock source is adjusted to improve timing accuracy, then timing precision improves, but the system becomes reliant on the consistency and precision of the clock generator which is uncertain
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on the low-precision clock source's inherent frequency accuracy, the system creates a copied reference from the high-precision clock source by storing calibrated timing parameters. This copied reference serves as a virtual high-precision clock that can be used without the physical constraints of continuous high-precision clock operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A timing circuit can include: a low-precision clock source configured to generate a low-precision clock signal; a high-precision clock source configured to intermittently generate a high-precision clock signal; and a cycle conversion circuit configured to count the pulses of the high-precision clock signal and the low-precision clock signal during a same period, and to obtain a conversion cycle according to count results and a rated cycle of the high-precision clock signal.