6313586 © Jeffery Banke | Dreamstime.com
66a034cba00230256d4b8574 Timingpromo Jefferybanke Dreamstime Xxl 6313586

TechXchange: Oscillations, Timing, and Synchronization

July 23, 2024
Find out about all things timing related from oscillators and synchronization to clock trees

Whether is analog or digital, synchronous or asynchronous, engineers have to contend with time and synchronization issues. This TechXchange examines many, but not all, of the technologies and methodologies related to timing and synchronization. This includes things like oscillators and other time-related technologies like time sensitive networking (TSN).

Back to Table of Contents


The Importance of Timing

 

Heart Meter think Large
In this forecast article, Piyush Sevalia, EVP Marketing at SiTime, explores three significant trends impacting the timing market in 2021 and beyond.
Clockworks
One could make the argument that humanity’s knowledge and use of time is the aspect of our lives that make us different from animals.
Alix Paultre
The author (wearing a Speedmaster) at the Prague astronomical clock, a medieval astronomical clock attached to the Old Town Hall in the capital of the Czech Republic.
Time is not only fundamental to reality, it's also fundamental to society. The fact that time is a commodity today only underscores its importance.
What Do Clocks, Carriers, Local Oscillators, and FM Have in Common?
Sponsored by: Texas Instruments. A phase-locked loop, of course. A PLL frequency synthesizer plays a key role in delivering the precision and accuracy demanded by many applications...

Back to Table of Contents


Timing and Networks

Timing is critical to network operation and more robust timing and synchronization can be useful as well. Timing protocols like IEEE 1588 and time sensitive networking (TSN) are required for many applications.  

Dreamstime_Sdecoret_171692578
Data Center Dreamstime Sdecoret 171692578
The new Epoch family of MEMS-based timing devices developed by SiTime is designed for the AI age.
Capture
An important aspect of cloud communications and IoT data transfer is the timing. Clock timing and data transmission are inextricably linked, and without synchronization nothing...
Dreamstime
tsn_txc_promo_dreamstime
Synchronization of clocks across the network is becoming standardized. Check out the TSN-specific articles in this TechXchange.
Image
Four key decisions must be made when trying to overcome issues that arise when incorporating IEEE 1588 clients into wireless-communications and industrial applications.
Dreamstime_-Newlight-_8501782
Clock Dreamstime Newlight 8501782
The PCIe Precision Time Measurement protocol enhances time synchronization within distributed systems. This article outlines what’s required for its proper implementation.

Back to Table of Contents


Chips and Clock Trees

Integrated circuits often require and implement various timing functions. Large devices like FPGAs incorporate multiple clocks and distribute these signals throughout the chip. These articles take a look at structures like clock trees used in FPGAs and large integrated circuits.  

Dreamstime_Whpics_208363940
Clock Dreamstime Whpics 208363940
Here’s a basic guide for considering the timing solution that’s optimal for the technologies and applications being developed today.
Dreamstime_Narong-Rotjanaporn_97303675
Board Dreamstime Narong Rotjanaporn 97303675
A fundamental look into the clock tree helps engineers gain a better understanding of the timing requirements and associated jitter budgets when designing timing systems.
Promo 1
This two-part series explains timing factors and solutions for reducing power while maintaining precision in low-power systems, as required for measurement and monitoring applications...
Analog Devices
Promo 1
Part 1 of this series discussed timing considerations for sigma-delta ADCs. Part 2 gets into the timing factors and solutions for reducing power while maintaining precision in...

Back to Table of Contents


Oscillators, Clocks and Resonators

Oscillators are one of the basic timing devices. 

Dreamstime_Whpics_208363940
Clock Dreamstime Whpics 208363940
Here’s a basic guide for considering the timing solution that’s optimal for the technologies and applications being developed today.
Image
A summary of the history of integrated circuits for clocking digital devices, following the trend toward the use of MEMS structures for resonators, with broad a description of...
3060484 © Michael Flippo | Dreamstime.com
Stopwatch Dreamstime L 3060484
Precision frequency control and timing are essential to all modern electronics technology.
Piyush
Silicon-based timing solutions can offer performance advantages over quartz oscillators. We spoke to Piyush Sevilla, EVP of Marketing at SiTime, about their efforts in the timing...
Si Time Piyush Sevalia
Technology pressure occurs along every front, from materials to software, Advances from wide-bandgap semiconductors, to multiprocessor SoCs, to advanced AI machine-learning solutions...
Reuters
Military Video Promo
SiTime's 32.768-kHz Super-TCXO enables the design of ultra-rugged devices, addressing critical market needs beyond military and aerospace.

Back to Table of Contents


Synchronization and Timing Basics

Synchronization logic and circuits provide a way to coordinate the operation of different parts of a system. One of the challenges engineers need to deal with is jitter. 

Tony 101
In any system that uses voltage transitions to represent timing information, jitter is an unfortunate part of the equation. In essence, jitter is the deviation of timing edges...
SiTime_Promo
Most Electronic Devices Have a Pulse. You Want to Avoid Skipped Beats.
SiTime
Precision timing is critical to all connected embedded systems, from the board level to the network to the cloud, as all those involved must be synchronized.
Dreamstime_-Newlight-_8501782
Clock Dreamstime Newlight 8501782
The PCIe Precision Time Measurement protocol enhances time synchronization within distributed systems. This article outlines what’s required for its proper implementation.

Back to Table of Contents


555 Timers

The NE555 timer is one of the most popular integrated circuits. Have you used a 555 timer in the past. Take our 555 time poll and let us know. 

Dreamstime_67138536
Even in the age of MCUs, the NE555 remains useful decades after its inception.
Stefan506, Wikimedia, and 15491910 © Alexey Stiop | Dreamstime.com
555 timers may be over 50 years old, but they’re still driving the latest electronics to hit the market and will continue in the next-gen devices on the horizon. Read about the...
Image
A memorial to Hans Camenzind, who invented the 555 IC and other devices, written by his son, Peter.
Here’s a way to apply modern techniques to archaic ways on April 1st.
1216cterakof5promo.jpg
When it comes to the venerable 555 timer, Paul Rako agrees with Bob Pease—avoid using it if your application demands any kind of precision.
Electrical Engineer Scanrail Dreamstime L 1536 X864 Flat
The venerable 555-type timer makes an effective driver for power MOSFETs, but you have to understand the drive situation when selecting the correct variation of the basic timer...
Image
Choosing between two widely available, multisourced ICs for the core of an inductorless dc-dc converter—the NE555 timer and the LM386 audio amplifier—requires a look at their ...

Back to Table of Contents


Phase-Locked Loops

Phase-locked loops (PPL) track the phase of an input signal generating an output signal that is in phase relative to the input. They are often used for clock synchronization.  

Image
Long-term reliability, noise immunity and component availability are key criteria in selecting the right clocking solution to optimize the performance of your next FPGA design...
Dreamstime_Alexey-Filatov_75968986
Weist Mw Promo
This three-part series discusses how phase noise in general is modeled and simulated, and how RF component phase noise propagates through a PLL to determine its output phase noise...
Dreamstime_Lightpoet_110416218
Weist Pt2 Mw Promo
In Part 2, we design a hypothetical PLL frequency synthesizer as an example to be used for analysis.
Dreamstime_Ryzhov-Sergey_208799823
Phase Noise Pt3 Mw Promo
Wrapping up the series, in Part 3 we analyze the example hypothetical synthesizer to demonstrate the concepts and methods presented so far.

Sponsored Recommendations

Comments

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Electronic Design, create an account today!