Explain use cases for clock synchronizers

Q: Explain use cases for clock synchronizers

This question evaluates understanding of clock domain crossing and digital system design competencies, focusing on metastability, synchronization techniques (such as flip-flop synchronizers, edge detection, asynchronous FIFOs, and request/acknowledge handshakes) and the trade-offs among reliability, latency, throughput, and area.

Q: How do I approach Software Engineering Fundamentals interview questions?

Software Engineering Fundamentals questions require understanding of core concepts and practice. PracHub provides solutions with explanations to help you master software engineering fundamentals interviews.

Question

Assume you are designing a digital system with multiple clock domains. The clocks have different frequencies and unknown phase relationships.

You can choose among several clock-domain crossing (CDC) techniques:

2-stage flip-flop synchronizer (for a single bit)
Edge-detect synchronizer
Asynchronous FIFO
Request/acknowledge handshake

Explain:

What problem clock synchronizers are solving (e.g., metastability, missing pulses).
When you would choose each of the above techniques.
The main trade-offs of each option in terms of reliability, latency, throughput, and area.

Give concrete examples, such as crossing a single control signal vs. transferring a multi-bit data bus between domains with different average data rates.

Explain use cases for clock synchronizers

Solution

Comments (0)

Explain use cases for clock synchronizers

Overview

Solution

Comments (0)