17986612. Frequency Monitoring Circuitry with Voltage Conversion simplified abstract (Apple Inc.)

Frequency Monitoring Circuitry with Voltage Conversion

Organization Name

Apple Inc.

Inventor(s)

Arunvenkatesh Alagappan of Cupertino CA (US)

Soheil Golara of San Jose CA (US)

Seyedeh Sedigheh Hashemi of Los Altos CA (US)

Frequency Monitoring Circuitry with Voltage Conversion - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 17986612 titled 'Frequency Monitoring Circuitry with Voltage Conversion

Simplified Explanation

The abstract describes an integrated circuit with frequency monitoring circuitry, including a voltage-based frequency monitoring circuit and a coarse frequency monitoring circuit.

• The voltage-based frequency monitoring circuit generates an output voltage based on the input clock frequency compared to a reference frequency.
• The coarse frequency monitoring circuit includes a reference counter and an input clock counter to compute the input clock frequency.

Potential Applications

This technology could be used in various electronic devices that require precise clock signal monitoring, such as communication systems, data processing units, and timing-sensitive applications.

Problems Solved

This technology solves the problem of accurately monitoring input clock frequencies within different frequency ranges, providing real-time feedback for system optimization and performance enhancement.

Benefits

The integrated circuit with frequency monitoring circuitry offers improved accuracy in monitoring input clock frequencies, enabling better synchronization and control in electronic systems. It also enhances overall system reliability and efficiency.

Potential Commercial Applications

The technology could be applied in industries such as telecommunications, aerospace, automotive, and consumer electronics for applications requiring precise frequency monitoring and control.

Possible Prior Art

Prior art in the field of integrated circuits and frequency monitoring may include similar patents or publications related to clock signal monitoring circuits, frequency counters, and voltage-based frequency monitoring techniques.

What is the manufacturing cost of implementing this technology in mass production?

Implementing this technology in mass production would involve costs related to design, fabrication, testing, and quality control of the integrated circuits. The specific manufacturing cost would depend on factors such as the complexity of the circuit design, the scale of production, and the choice of materials and components.

How does this technology compare to existing frequency monitoring solutions in terms of accuracy and efficiency?

This technology offers improved accuracy and efficiency compared to existing frequency monitoring solutions by combining voltage-based and coarse frequency monitoring techniques. The integrated circuit provides real-time feedback on input clock frequencies within different frequency ranges, enhancing overall system performance and reliability.

Original Abstract Submitted

An integrated circuit can include frequency monitoring circuitry. The frequency monitoring circuitry may include a voltage based frequency monitoring circuit for monitoring an input clock signal having an input clock frequency within a first set of frequencies and a coarse frequency monitoring circuit for monitoring an input clock signal having an input clock frequency within a second set of frequencies different than the first set of frequencies. The voltage based frequency monitoring circuit can be configured to generate an output voltage having a first value when the input clock frequency is greater than a reference frequency and having a second value when the input clock frequency is less than the reference frequency. The coarse frequency monitoring circuit can include a reference counter and an input clock counter that generates a count value used to compute the input clock frequency.