Tx-Rx Clock Synchronization for Reflective Optoelectronic Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optoelectronic systems for portable devices face challenges in accurately synchronizing transmitter-side and receiver-side control electronics, leading to noise and imprecise measurements due to phase differences, especially at high frequencies, which conventional methods like conductive or optical coupling struggle to address effectively.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a phase-locked loop with an oversampled clock signal and a delay-locked loop, coupled with a programmable frequency divider and voltage-controlled delay blocks, allows for precise synchronization of clock signals across the optoelectronic system, enabling the generation of arbitrary waveforms and precise delay calibration to maintain synchronization despite thermal and environmental changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional conductive or optical coupling methods are used to synchronize transmitter and receiver control electronics, then the system structure is simpler, but phase difference errors increase at high frequencies leading to noise and imprecise measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a phase-locked loop (PLL) as an intermediary synchronization mechanism that receives a reference clock signal and generates synchronized clock signals for both transmitter and receiver control electronics. This mediator ensures phase coherence at high frequencies without requiring direct conductive coupling, thereby maintaining measurement precision while managing system complexity through a dedicated synchronization subsystem
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional conductive coupling methods with an electronic phase-locked loop-based synchronization system. This substitution enables precise phase control at high frequencies where conductive methods fail, using electronic signal processing rather than direct electrical connection, thus improving measurement precision while introducing a more sophisticated but controllable synchronization architecture
2Productivity
If the clock signal frequency is increased to improve sampling rate and measurement speed, then productivity improves, but phase difference errors and noise increase due to synchronization difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a phase-locked loop with feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor and adjust the phase relationship between transmitter and receiver clock signals. This feedback control enables the system to operate at high sampling rates while automatically correcting phase deviations, thus maintaining both high productivity through increased sampling rate and measurement precision through active phase error compensation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic phase adjustment capabilities within the synchronization system, allowing the clock signals to adapt their phase relationships in real-time based on operational conditions. This dynamic behavior enables the system to maintain synchronization accuracy across varying frequencies, supporting high sampling rates without sacrificing measurement precision
3Measurement precision
If phase difference monitoring is implemented to improve measurement accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but phase errors contribute to noise in the measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of phase differences by using a phase-locked loop to actively measure and correct phase errors. Instead of allowing phase differences to manifest as noise, the system uses feedback control to detect and compensate for them, transforming what would be a source of measurement error into an opportunity for active correction and improved measurement accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
An optoelectronic system includes a transmit side and a receive side. The transmit side and the receive side each include an oversampled phase locked loop configured to receive a decimated system clock signal. Each phase-locked loop is configured to output a high frequency sampling clock signal that, in the case of the transmit side, may be leveraged to generate an arbitrary current waveform that, in turn, can be delayed by a delay-locked loop before being applied to a current-controlled light emitting element. The receive side can generate a clock signal at the same high frequency as the transmit side and can be configured to trigger a reset of the transmit side so that the high frequency clock signals between the transmit and receive sides are synchronized.