Real-Time Clock Frequency Correction for Aging Drift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing real-time clock devices suffer from reduced frequency accuracy due to aging, leading to time lag and difficulty in maintaining highly accurate time without frequent updates.
Innovation Solution
A real-time clock device with an input terminal for a reference pulse signal, an oscillation circuit, and a processing circuit that performs frequency correction of the oscillation clock signal based on time lag and interval, and time correction of the internal time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If theoretical regulation is performed periodically on the upper counter, then time resolution is improved, but frequency accuracy deteriorates over time due to aging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the lower counter continuously monitors the actual clock signal period and compares it with the expected period. Based on this feedback, the upper counter performs distributed theoretical regulation to compensate for frequency drift caused by aging, thereby maintaining both high time resolution and frequency accuracy over extended periods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the time measurement function into two segmented counters: a lower counter that operates at high frequency for precise time resolution and an upper counter that performs periodic theoretical regulation for frequency accuracy. This segmentation allows each counter to specialize in one aspect while working together to solve the overall contradiction
2Productivity
If clocking is performed continuously based on oscillation clock signal, then time generation is maintained, but time lag accumulates due to frequency inaccuracy from aging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary frequency correction by having the lower counter continuously measure the actual clock period and predict frequency drift before it causes significant time lag. The upper counter then applies distributed theoretical regulation in advance to prevent time lag accumulation, allowing continuous time generation to maintain high accuracy without frequent manual updates
Data Source
AI summary
A real-time clock device includes an input terminal to which a reference pulse signal of a time is input, an oscillation circuit that outputs an oscillation clock signal, a clock count circuit that generates information on an internal time based on the oscillation clock signal, and a processing circuit that performs, in a case in which it is determined that a time lag occurs at the internal time when the reference pulse signal is input, frequency correction of the oscillation clock signal based on a time lag amount and a time interval of the time lag, and time correction of the internal time.