Phase Time Synchronization Using Temporal Labeling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for phase time synchronization between measurement devices without a shared clock signal are costly and limited in noise reduction, as they rely on hardware feedback mechanisms like phase-locked loops, which mix noise from both clocks.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that use temporal labeling of samples and subsequent calculations to correct sampling frequency, assigning time tags to measurement signals from each device, allowing for phase synchronization using a common time reference across devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If phase-locked loop hardware feedback is used for time synchronization, then synchronization reliability is improved, but device cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical hardware feedback system (phase-locked loop circuitry) with a software-based time stamping and post-processing correction system. Each measurement device independently records time stamps based on its own clock, and synchronization is achieved through computational correction of time differences in the post-processing stage, eliminating complex hardware feedback mechanisms while maintaining synchronization reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces time stamps as an intermediary element that mediates between independent device clocks and the synchronization objective. These time stamps serve as intermediate data that can be processed computationally to determine and correct time differences, replacing the direct hardware feedback path with an information-based intermediary layer
2Measurement precision
If phase-locked loop hardware feedback is used for time synchronization, then synchronization precision is improved, but noise performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the time measurement function from the noisy hardware feedback loop and separates it into independent time stamping operations at each device. By removing the hardware feedback path that mixes noise from multiple clocks, the system achieves precise time difference measurement through computational methods without the noise dispersion inherent in analog feedback systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the noisy mechanical feedback system with a digital time stamping and computational correction system. The time differences are determined through software-based analysis of time stamps rather than through noisy analog feedback, achieving high precision without the noise mixing problem of hardware phase-locked loops
3Device complexity
If common clock signal is used for sampling, then phase synchronization is simplified, but device adaptability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the synchronization function into independent time stamping operations at each device, allowing each device to operate with its own clock independently. The segmentation enables devices to be geographically distributed and use different clocks while still achieving synchronization through post-processing of the segmented time stamp data
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the synchronization parameter from a physical clock signal (requiring common hardware) to a data-based time stamp parameter that can be processed computationally. This parameter change allows independent devices with different clocks to achieve synchronization through software-based time difference correction
Data Source
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AI summary
According to the invention, the time synchronization of the phase between measurement devices that do not share a single clock for the respective sampling of the signals thereof is carried out by the time tagging of signal samples in time blocks followed by an adjustment of the phase values of components of interest of the signals in the grouped time blocks, such that said values refer to time references which are common between the measuring devices. The tagging is carried out using a synchronization signal that is available for the measuring devices, and that is completed by means of counting values provided by a counter operated by a reference clock for each measurement device.