Clock supervision unit

US8909971B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• NXP B.V. · NL

Inventors

• Manfred Zinke · Aachen, DE
• Peter Fuhrmann · Dormagen, DE
• Markus Baumeister · Aachen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 20, 2008
• Grant date: Dec 9, 2014
• Expiry date: Dec 30, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H03K5/19
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention relates to a clock supervision unit (100) and an electronic system clocked by at least one clock (c*) and using the clock supervision unit (100). The clock supervision unit (100) analyzes the at least one clock (c*) based on a monitor clock (m*) provided together with the at least one clock (c*) or separately to the clock supervision unit (100). The clock supervision unit (100) at least comprises an activity unit (210), a deviation unit (220) and an auxiliary clock generator (240). The auxiliary clock generator (240) outputs an auxiliary clock (a*). The activity unit (210) detects the presence of the monitor clock (m*) based on the auxiliary clock (a*) and the presence of the auxiliary clock (a*) based on the monitor clock (m*). The deviation unit (220) detects clock faults in the monitor clock (m*) based on the auxiliary clock (a*). With the clock supervision unit (100) according to the present invention, the at least one clock (c*) can be supervised in more detail and it is possible to react on different clock faults in the at least one clock c* with different error handling procedures, e.g. by initiating a shutdown of the devices controlled by the electroni…