Floating-Point Timer Circuit for Wide-Range Waveform Timing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Fixed point counters become unwieldy and inefficient when dealing with a large number of count values, requiring excessive data storage and consuming more power due to the need for a large number of bits to represent varying precision and range, whereas floating point counters automatically adjust precision based on the size of the number, offering a more efficient solution.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of floating point timers and counters that use a combination of mantissa and exponent values to programmably generate and analyze waveforms, reducing the number of bits required to represent timing events and allowing for efficient generation and analysis of waveforms with varying pulse durations, thereby minimizing power consumption and circuit complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fixed point counters are used to represent a large number of count values, then the precision and range of count values can be maintained, but the data storage requirements and power consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the numerical representation format from fixed point to floating point, allowing the system to maintain precision for both small and large count values simultaneously. The floating point format uses a mantissa and exponent structure that dynamically adjusts precision based on the magnitude of the number, eliminating the need for excessive storage bits required by fixed point formats to cover the same range.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed point counters are used to handle a large number of count values, then all count values can be represented, but the circuit complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the counting mechanism from fixed point arithmetic to floating point arithmetic, where numbers are represented as mantissa-exponent pairs. This parameter change allows the circuit to handle a wide range of count values using fewer bits overall, reducing the complexity of the counting circuitry while maintaining the ability to represent both small and large values effectively.
3Quantity of substance
If floating point counters are used to reduce data storage requirements, then the power consumption and circuit complexity decrease, but the implementation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the floating point counter into distinct functional components: a mantissa counter for storing the significant digits, an exponent counter for storing the scale factor, and associated control logic for managing overflow and underflow conditions. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall implementation by breaking down the complex floating point operation into manageable parts.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to floating point timers and counters that are used in a variety of contexts. In some implementations, a floating point counter can be used to generate a wave form made up of a series of pulses with different pulse lengths. An array of these floating point counters can be used to implement a pool of delays. In other implementations, an array of floating point counters can be used to analyze waveforms on a number of different communication channels. Analysis of such waveforms may be useful in automotive applications, such as in wheel speed measurement for example, as well as other applications.