Flexible Trigger Circuit for Low-Interrupt Module Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for controlling actuators and sensors in embedded systems rely on complex timer architectures, leading to high interrupt loads on the CPU due to the need for reloading time values, which restricts flexibility and efficiency, especially when non-adjacent modules need to trigger each other.
Innovation Solution
A flexible trigger mechanism that allows simultaneous control of hardware units using time, CPU access, or other output modules, enabling non-adjacent modules to trigger each other, switch states, or reload parameter sets, and can be reprogrammed during runtime, with a Time Base Unit providing independent channels for generating time bases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex timer architectures are used to control actuators and sensors, then precise timing control can be achieved, but CPU interrupt load increases due to frequent reloading of time values
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger mechanism is designed to be self-sufficient by automatically generating trigger signals based on stored time values without requiring CPU intervention for reloading. The mechanism includes a time base unit that autonomously counts clock cycles and compares against stored values to generate triggers, freeing the CPU from frequent interrupt handling while maintaining precise timing control
2Ease of operation
If adjacent cells or chains of cells are used for triggering, then sequential control can be implemented, but flexibility is reduced when non-adjacent modules need to trigger each other
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger mechanism is designed as a universal system where any output module can trigger any other module regardless of adjacency. The mechanism includes a configurable trigger source selection that allows any module to be designated as a trigger source for any target module, enabling both sequential control of adjacent cells and flexible triggering of non-adjacent modules through the same unified architecture
3Measurement precision
If time-based triggering is used, then temporal control can be achieved, but the system becomes rigid when reprogramming during runtime is required
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger mechanism is designed to be dynamically reconfigurable during runtime. The system includes writable trigger source registers and trigger target registers that can be programmed at any time to change the triggering behavior. This allows the system to switch between different triggering modes (time-based, event-based, module-based) and reassign trigger relationships without hardware changes, maintaining temporal precision while enabling flexible runtime adaptation
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method and a circuit arrangement (10) for actuating a number of modules. The method is carried out by means of the circuit arrangement (10) which implements a flexible trigger mechanism.