FPGA Time Synchronization for Multi-OS Protection Relays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protection relay devices with multiple operating systems face challenges in achieving high accuracy time synchronization, which affects their ability to correctly distinguish between normal and faulty operations in power systems.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) to obtain and maintain absolute time, with multiple operating systems obtaining this time from the FPGA for synchronization, supported by external clock sources like PTP and IRIG-B, and transmitting a 1PPS signal to daughter boards for precise timestamping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple operating systems are used in protection relay device, then system functionality and real-time performance are improved, but time synchronization accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an FPGA as an intermediary time server between multiple operating systems. The FPGA receives time from external sources (PTP, IRIG-B) and provides synchronized time to Linux and VxWorks systems through a standardized interface, eliminating direct time synchronization conflicts between OSs and ensuring microsecond-level precision across all systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the time synchronization function into independent modules: external time source interface, FPGA time server, and OS-specific time clients. This modular architecture allows each component to be optimized independently, with the FPGA handling the complex synchronization logic while OSs focus on their specific real-time requirements.
2Productivity
If multiple operating systems are used in protection relay device, then processing capability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The FPGA acts as a centralized time management intermediary that abstracts the complexity of multi-OS time synchronization. It provides a unified time interface to different OSs, eliminating the need for complex inter-OS time coordination mechanisms and simplifying the overall system architecture despite multiple operating systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The FPGA time server provides universal time synchronization services to multiple different operating systems (Linux, VxWorks, etc.) through a standardized interface. This multi-functional approach allows the same hardware component to serve diverse OS requirements without requiring separate synchronization mechanisms for each OS.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for time synchronization between multiple operating systems is provided, the system includes a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) configured to obtain and maintain absolute time; and multiple operating systems (OS) that obtain the absolute time from the FPGA and perform time synchronization based on the obtained absolute time. According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the system can solve the high accuracy time synchronization problem in a protection relay device with multiple operating systems.