Time Base Pulse Inhibition for Precise Frequency Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing time bases with frequency adjustment circuits face challenges in achieving high resolution and small maximum instantaneous error, particularly during short accuracy tests, where the signal is disturbed and precision is compromised due to the inhibition of timing pulses in a short inhibition period.
Innovation Solution
A time base design that calculates a first real number based on the difference between the determined timing frequency and the reference frequency, with a division coefficient, and accumulates a fractional part across inhibition periods to determine the integer number of pulses to inhibit, allowing for precise adjustment of clock signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If timing pulses are inhibited in the first division stages for frequency adjustment, then resolution is improved, but maximum instantaneous error increases during short accuracy tests
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the frequency adjustment function into two independent parts: an integer adjustment component (N inh ) that inhibits timing pulses in the first division stage, and a fractional adjustment component (n frac ) that acts on a second division stage. This segmentation allows each component to optimize different aspects of frequency control without interfering with each other's performance characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a second division stage as an intermediary element between the oscillator and the final clock signal output. This intermediate stage receives the inhibited signal from the first stage and applies fractional pulse inhibition, thereby mediating between the coarse integer adjustment and the fine fractional adjustment to achieve both high resolution and low instantaneous error.
2Loss of time
If inhibition period is shortened for faster adjustment, then response time is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment capabilities where the inhibition periods can have different durations (first inhibition period for integer adjustment, second inhibition period for fractional adjustment). This dynamic structure allows the system to adapt the measurement and adjustment timing to different operational requirements, maintaining precision even when response time constraints exist.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the frequency adjustment from a single-dimensional approach (single inhibition period) to a two-dimensional approach by introducing fractional parts with separate inhibition periods. This dimensional extension allows independent optimization of response time and measurement precision along different adjustment axes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables high resolution and small maximum instantaneous error by decoupling resolution from the inhibition period, utilizing the size of the fractional part registers to maintain precision and accuracy of clock signals.
Implementation Method 1
oscillator (4) formed by a quartz resonator (6) associated with an electronic circuit (8) supplying a digital periodic signal (S p)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The time base includes an oscillator generating a periodic signal, a frequency divider circuit formed by a division chain defining several division stages and a circuit for adjusting the divided frequency by inhibiting, in each inhibition period of a plurality of successive inhibition periods, an integer number of clocking pulses at the input of a given stage of the division chain. The time base is arranged to produce, in each inhibition period, a first real number corresponding to the real number of clocking pulses that must be removed to be precise and the adjustment circuit is arranged to calculate, in each inhibition period, a second real number equal to the addition of the first real number and the fractional part of the second real number obtained in the preceding inhibition period, the integer part of this second real number defining the number of clocking pulses to be inhibited in each inhibition period.