Signal Synchronization in Multi-Channel Electronic Circuits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for achieving synchronous output and processing of signals across multiple channels in electronic circuits are hindered by latency differences, requiring manual latency measurements and compensation, which is complex and often not fully effective due to jitter, especially when connecting different hardware components in simulation environments.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves grouping channels, querying their latency, determining the maximum latency, and storing latency offsets to automatically adjust signal flow, allowing the simulation environment to synchronize signals across channels, eliminating the need for manual latency measurements and compensating for jitter through intermediate storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual latency measurements and compensation methods are used to achieve synchronous signal output across multiple channels, then signal synchronization can be achieved, but the system complexity and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines channel latencies and calculates compensation values without manual intervention. The control unit autonomously queries latency values from a data source, determines the maximum latency, calculates offset values for each channel, and stores these in memory for automatic application during signal output, eliminating the need for manual latency measurements and compensation setup
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-determines and stores latency compensation values in memory before actual signal output operations. By querying latencies from a data source and calculating offset values in advance, the system prepares all necessary synchronization parameters beforehand, allowing rapid automatic compensation during runtime without real-time manual adjustment
2Reliability
If manual latency compensation is implemented, then some synchronization can be achieved, but jitter from different hardware components prevents complete synchronization
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses latency values obtained from a data source as feedback to automatically adjust signal timing. By continuously referencing stored latency information and applying calculated offset values, the system compensates for jitter and latency variations from different hardware components, achieving precise synchronization despite component variations
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts signal output timing parameters based on determined latency values. By changing the output time parameter for each channel according to its specific latency characteristics and the calculated offset values, the system compensates for hardware variations and achieves precise synchronous output across all channels
3Ease of operation
If automatic latency determination is implemented, then synchronization complexity is reduced, but additional processing time is required to query and calculate latency offsets
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs latency determination and offset calculation operations in advance, storing the results in memory for reuse. By querying latency values from a data source and calculating compensation offsets before actual signal output operations, the system minimizes runtime processing time while maintaining automatic operation
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit autonomously executes the entire latency determination and compensation process without manual intervention. The system automatically queries latencies, calculates offsets, stores values in memory, and applies compensation during signal output, reducing operational complexity while managing processing time through automation
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for the time-synchronized output of signals and/or time-synchronized processing of acquired signals on multiple input and/or output channels of an electronic circuit, comprising the following steps: a. Grouping a number of channels, in particular a subset of all channels of the circuit, into a logical group; b. Querying the channel latency of each channel belonging to the group from a data source; c. Determining the highest channel latency from all queried channel latencies and at least temporarily storing the highest channel latency as the group latency; d. For each channel belonging to the group: determining the temporal difference between the group latency and the queried channel latency of the respective channel and storing the determined difference as the channel-associated latency offset in a memory, in particular a memory of the circuit.Influence on the signal path via a respective channel depending at least on its respective stored latency offset.