Spread Clock Timing Compensation for Accurate Duration Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for clock signal spectrum spreading, such as those used to reduce electromagnetic emissions, face challenges in accurately measuring and compensating for the shift in clock signal transitions, leading to precision issues due to processing lags and phase differences.
Innovation Solution
A method and circuit for counting service duration and determining actual duration of a clock signal with spectrum spreading, using a periodic variation algorithm to establish a relation between service and actual durations, and compensating for shifts by updating dynamic biases based on pulse rankings and comparison of errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If spectrum spreading is applied to reduce clock frequency spectral line amplitude, then electromagnetic emissions are reduced, but measurement precision of time duration deteriorates due to the shift between service duration and actual duration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the difference between service duration and actual duration, then using this information to update dynamic bias values that compensate for the timing shift. The system measures the timing error caused by spectrum spreading and feeds this back to adjust the time measurement compensation in real-time, thereby maintaining measurement precision while preserving the electromagnetic emission reduction benefits of spectrum spreading
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of time measurement by introducing dynamic bias values that are periodically updated based on the measured timing shift. Instead of using fixed time measurement, the system adjusts the time measurement parameter dynamically to account for the spectrum spreading-induced shift, thereby maintaining accuracy despite the frequency modulation
2Object-affected harmful factors
If periodic variation algorithm is used for spectrum spreading, then clock frequency spectral line amplitude is reduced, but device complexity increases due to the need for counting circuits and compensation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by designing counting circuits that simultaneously perform multiple tasks: counting clock transitions, measuring service duration, determining actual duration, and generating compensation signals. This universal approach reduces device complexity by consolidating multiple functions into integrated circuits rather than requiring separate components for each function
Solution Approach 2:
The compensation circuit operates autonomously by automatically measuring the timing shift and updating its own bias values without external intervention. The system serves itself by internally generating and applying compensation based on its own measurements, thereby reducing the need for additional control circuitry and simplifying the overall device architecture
Data Source
AI summary
A method for counting a service duration of time measurement on a clock signal including periodic transitions and for determining an actual duration (tmr) of measurement as a function of the service duration, the signal having undergone spectrum spreading according to a periodic variation algorithm causing a frequency modulation of the clock transitions of the signal and creating a difference between actual duration (tmr) and service duration. There are counted during successive time increments at least service times for starting (t_d_s) and stopping (t_a_s) and, on the basis of these times, there are determined actual times for starting and for stopping (t_d, t_a) serving for the calculation of the actual duration of measurement (tmr) as a function of the parameters of the variation algorithm. A method of continuous compensation of the error between actual and service durations is also disclosed.