Precise temperature and timebase ppm error estimation using multiple timebases

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9456431-B2
Application number	US-201414319769-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2014
Priority date	Dec 13, 2010
Publication date	Sep 27, 2016
Grant date	Sep 27, 2016

Abstract

Methods and systems for precise temperature and timebase PPM error estimation using multiple timebases may comprise in an electronic device comprising a plurality of timebases and measuring a temperature corresponding to the timebases. Frequencies of the timebases at the measured temperature may be compared to determine differential error functions for the timebases. A fine reading of the temperature corresponding to the timebases may be generated based, at least in part, on the measured temperature and the determined differential error functions for the timebases. The timebases may be calibrated utilizing the generated fine reading of the temperature. The timebases may comprise different order temperature dependencies. Models of temperature dependencies of each of the timebases based may be updated, at least in part, on the fine reading of the temperature. A global navigation satellite system (GNSS) clock signal may be periodically utilized to improve the accuracy of the calibration of the timebases.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for calibrating electronic clock signals, the method comprising:
in an electronic device comprising a plurality of timebases:
measuring a temperature corresponding to said plurality of timebases;
comparing frequencies of said plurality of timebases at said measured temperature to determine differential error functions for said plurality of said timebases;
generating a fine reading of said temperature corresponding to said plurality of timebases based, at least in part, on said measured temperature and said determined differential error functions for said plurality of timebases; and
calibrating said plurality of timebases utilizing said generated fine reading of said temperature corresponding to said plurality of timebases.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of timebases comprise different order temperature dependencies.

3. The method according to claim 1 , comprising updating models of temperature dependencies of each of said plurality of timebases based, at least in part, on said fine reading of said temperature corresponding to said plurality of timebases.

4. The method according to claim 1 , comprising periodically utilizing a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) clock signal to improve the accuracy of said calibration of said plurality of timebases.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein said GNSS clock signal comprises one or more of: a GPS clock signal, GLONASS clock signal, and/or a Galileo clock signal.

6. The method according to claim 3 , comprising successively increasing the accuracy of said models of temperature dependencies for each of said plurality of timebases through one or more of: averaging, voting, and/or Kalman filtering.

7. The method according to claim 1 , comprising calibrating said plurality of timebases utilizing an embedded system in an integrated circuit.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein one or more of said plurality of timebases is generated on said integrated circuit.

9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein one or more of said plurality of timebases is coupled into said integrated circuit.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein one or more of said plurality of timebases is generated by a crystal oscillator.

11. A system for wireless communication, the system comprising:
one or more circuits for use in an electronic device comprising a plurality of timebases, said one or more circuits being operable to:
measure a temperature corresponding to said plurality of timebases;
compare frequencies of said plurality of timebases at said measured temperature to determine differential error functions for said plurality of said timebases;
generate a fine reading of said temperature corresponding to said plurality of timebases based, at least in part, on said measured temperature and said determined differential error functions for said plurality of timebases;
calibrate said plurality of timebases utilizing said generated fine reading of said temperature corresponding to said plurality of timebases.

12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said plurality of timebases comprise different order temperature dependencies.

13. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said one or more circuits is operable to update models of temperature dependencies of each of said plurality of timebases based, at least in part, on said fine reading of said temperature corresponding to said plurality of timebases.

14. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said one or more circuits is operable to periodically utilize a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) clock signal to improve the accuracy of said calibration of said plurality of timebases.

15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein said GNSS clock signal comprises one or more of: a GPS clock signal, GLONASS clock signal, and/or a Galileo clock signal.

16. The system according to claim 13 , wherein said one or more circuits is operable to successively increase the accuracy of said models of temperature dependencies for each of said plurality of timebases through one or more of: averaging, voting, and/or Kalman filtering.

17. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said one or more circuits is operable to calibrate said plurality of timebases utilizing an embedded system in an integrated circuit.

18. The system according to claim 17 , wherein one or more of said plurality of timebases is generated on said integrated circuit.

19. The system according to claim 17 , wherein one or more of said plurality of timebases is coupled into said integrated circuit.

20. A system for electronic clock signals, the system comprising:
an integrated circuit that utilizes a plurality of timebases, said integrated circuit being operable to:
measure a temperature corresponding to said plurality of timebases;
compare frequencies of said plurality of timebases at said measured temperature to determine differential error functions for said plurality of said timebases;
generate a fine reading of said temperature corresponding to said plurality of timebases based, at least in part, on said measured temperature and said determined differential error functions for said plurality of timebases; and
calibrate said plurality of timebases utilizing said generated fine reading of said temperature corresponding to said plurality of timebases.

Assignees

• Maxlinear Inc

Inventors

• Ling Curtis
• Tan Xing
• Kim Hyungjin

Classifications

• G01S19/14

  specially adapted for specific applications · CPC title

• H03L1/02

  against variations of temperature only · CPC title

• H04W56/001 Primary

  Synchronization between nodes · CPC title

• G01S19/235

  Calibration of receiver components · CPC title

• G06F1/12

  Synchronisation of different clock signals {provided by a plurality of clock generators} · CPC title