Method and device for clock calibration

• US 20060122799A1
• Filed: 12/02/2004
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fortune Semiconductor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fortune Semiconductor Corporation
• Inventors: Chen, Yi-Chang, Liao, Ying-Chien, Lai, Shih-Jung, Yuan, Kuo-Yuan
• Granted Patent: US 7,200,507 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/89
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 35/04 of instruments for measuring time integral of power or current
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 3/00 Producing timing pulses driving circuits for stepping motors G04C3/14; producing preselected time intervals for use as timing standards G04F5/00; pulse technique in general H03K; control, synchronisation, or stabilisation of generators in general H03L
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/14 Time supervision arrangements, e.g. real time clock

Abstract

A method and a device for calibrating an interior clock generator installed inside a power monitoring unit of a rechargeable battery. The device includes an input pin for inputting an external clock signal from an exterior clock generator installed outside the power monitoring unit. A calibration timer control circuit is connected to the input pin. A register is connected to the calibration timer control circuit for outputting a start signal to activate the calibration timer control circuit. A counter and a timer are controlled by the calibration timer control circuit to be activated simultaneously therewith to count the outside clock signal and an internal clock signal generated from the interior clock generator, respectively. Such that the timer stops counting while the counter stops counting, a first count of the timer is compared to a second count of the counter to calibrate the interior clock generator.

Claims

1. A method for calibrating an interior clock generator installed inside a power monitoring unit of a rechargeable battery, the method comprising:

providing an external clock signal from an exterior clock generator installed outside the power monitoring unit;

setting a register to output a starting signal;

activating a calibration timer control circuit by the starting signal;

activating a counter to count the outside clock signal, and a timer to count a internal clock signal generating from the interior clock generator simultaneously;

stop counting the counter and the timer when a predetermined number of counting is achieved; and

comparing a first count of the timer to the second count of the counter so as to calibrate the interior clock generator.

2. The method in claim 1, wherein the first clock signal is inputted through an inputting terminal of the system management bus (SMBUS SCL) of the power monitoring unit.

3. The method in claim 1, wherein a bit of the register is set as one to output the starting signal.

4. A device for calibrating an interior clock generator installed inside a power monitoring unit of a rechargeable battery, the device comprising:

an input pin of the power monitoring unit for inputting an external clock signal from an exterior clock generator installed outside the power monitoring unit;

a calibration timer control circuit installed inside the power monitoring unit and connected to the input pin;

a register installed inside the power monitoring unit and connected to the calibration timer control circuit, for outputting a start signal to activate the calibration timer control circuit;

a counter installed inside the power monitoring unit and controlled by the calibration timer control circuit to be activated simultaneously therewith to count the outside clock signal; and

a timer installed inside the power monitoring unit and controlled by the calibration timer control circuit to be activated simultaneously therewith to count an internal clock signal generated from the interior clock generator,

whereby the timer stops counting while the counter stops counting, and a first count of the timer is compared to a second count of the counter to calibrate the interior clock generator.