8. Clock recovery system (CRS)

8.1 Introduction

The clock recovery system (CRS) is an advanced digital controller acting on the internal fine-granularity trimmable RC oscillator HSI48. The CRS provides powerful means for oscillator output frequency evaluation, based on comparison with a selectable synchronization signal. It is capable of doing automatic adjustment of oscillator trimming based on the measured frequency error value, while keeping the possibility of a manual trimming.

The CRS is ideally suited to provide a precise clock to the USB peripheral. In such case, the synchronization signal can be derived from the start-of-frame (SOF) packet signalization on the USB bus, which is sent by a USB host at 1 ms intervals.

The synchronization signal can also be derived from the LSE oscillator output or it can be generated by user software.

8.2 CRS main features

• • Selectable synchronization source with programmable prescaler and polarity:
  • – External pin
  • – LSE oscillator output
  • – USB SOF packet reception
• • Possibility to generate synchronization pulses by software
• • Automatic oscillator trimming capability with no need of CPU action
• • Manual control option for faster start-up convergence
• • 16-bit frequency error counter with automatic error value capture and reload
• • Programmable limit for automatic frequency error value evaluation and status reporting
• • Maskable interrupts/events:
  • – Expected synchronization (ESYNC)
  • – Synchronization OK (SYNCOK)
  • – Synchronization warning (SYNCWARN)
  • – Synchronization or trimming error (ERR)

8.3 CRS implementation

Table 43. CRS features

8.4 CRS functional description

8.4.1 CRS block diagram

Figure 19. CRS block diagram

8.4.2 Synchronization input

The CRS synchronization (SYNC) source, selectable through the CRS_CFGR register, can be the signal from the LSE clock or the USB SOF signal. For a better robustness of the SYNC input, a simple digital filter (2 out of 3 majority votes, sampled by the HSI48 clock) is implemented to filter out any glitches. This source signal also has a configurable polarity and can then be divided by a programmable binary prescaler to obtain a synchronization signal in a suitable frequency range (usually around 1 kHz).

For more information on the CRS synchronization source configuration, refer to Section 8.7.2: CRS configuration register (CRS_CFGR) .

It is also possible to generate a synchronization event by software, by setting the SWSYNC bit in the CRS_CR register.

8.4.3 Frequency error measurement

The frequency error counter is a 16-bit down/up counter which is reloaded with the RELOAD value on each SYNC event. It starts counting down till it reaches the zero value, where the ESYNC (expected synchronization) event is generated. Then it starts counting up to the OUTRANGE limit where it eventually stops (if no SYNC event is received) and generates a SYNCMISS event. The OUTRANGE limit is defined as the frequency error limit (FELIM field of the CRS_CFGR register) multiplied by 128.

When the SYNC event is detected, the actual value of the frequency error counter and its counting direction are stored in the FECAP (frequency error capture) field and in the FEDIR (frequency error direction) bit of the CRS_ISR register. When the SYNC event is detected during the downcounting phase (before reaching the zero value), it means that the actual frequency is lower than the target (and so, that the TRIM value must be incremented), while when it is detected during the upcounting phase it means that the actual frequency is higher (and that the TRIM value must be decremented).

Figure 20. CRS counter behavior

8.4.4 Frequency error evaluation and automatic trimming

The measured frequency error is evaluated by comparing its value with a set of limits:

• • TOLERANCE LIMIT, given directly in the FELIM field of the CRS_CFGR register
• • WARNING LIMIT, defined as \( 3 \times \text{FELIM} \) value
• • OUTRANGE (error limit), defined as \( 128 \times \text{FELIM} \) value

The result of this comparison is used to generate the status indication and also to control the automatic trimming which is enabled by setting the AUTOTRIMEN bit in the CRS_CR register:

• • When the frequency error is below the tolerance limit, it means that the actual trimming value in the TRIM field is the optimal one, hence no trimming action is needed.
  • – SYNCOK status indicated
  • – TRIM value not changed in AUTOTRIM mode
• • When the frequency error is below the warning limit but above or equal to the tolerance limit, it means that some trimming action is necessary but that adjustment by one trimming step is enough to reach the optimal TRIM value.
  • – SYNCOK status indicated
  • – TRIM value adjusted by one trimming step in AUTOTRIM mode
• • When the frequency error is above or equal to the warning limit but below the error limit, it means that a stronger trimming action is necessary, and there is a risk that the optimal TRIM value is not reached for the next period.
  • – SYNCWARN status indicated
  • – TRIM value adjusted by two trimming steps in AUTOTRIM mode
• • When the frequency error is above or equal to the error limit, it means that the frequency is out of the trimming range. This can also happen when the SYNC input is not clean or when some SYNC pulse is missing (for example when one USB SOF is corrupted).
  • – SYNCERR or SYNCMISS status indicated
  • – TRIM value not changed in AUTOTRIM mode

Note: If the actual value of the TRIM field is so close to its limits that the automatic trimming would force it to overflow or underflow, then the TRIM value is set just to the limit and the TRIMOVF status is indicated.

In AUTOTRIM mode (AUTOTRIMEN bit set in the CRS_CR register), the TRIM field of CRS_CR is adjusted by hardware and is read-only.

8.4.5 CRS initialization and configuration

RELOAD value

The RELOAD value must be selected according to the ratio between the target frequency and the frequency of the synchronization source after prescaling. It is then decreased by one to reach the expected synchronization on the zero value. The formula is the following:

The reset value of the RELOAD field corresponds to a target frequency of 48 MHz and a synchronization signal frequency of 1 kHz (SOF signal from USB).

FELIM value

The selection of the FELIM value is closely coupled with the HSI48 oscillator characteristics and its typical trimming step size. The optimal value corresponds to half of the trimming step size, expressed as a number of HSI48 oscillator clock ticks. The following formula can be used:

The result must be always rounded up to the nearest integer value to obtain the best trimming response. If frequent trimming actions are not needed in the application, the hysteresis can be increased by slightly increasing the FELIM value.

The reset value of the FELIM field corresponds to \( (f_{\text{TARGET}} / f_{\text{SYNC}}) = 48000 \) and to a typical trimming step size of 0.14%.

Note: The trimming step size depends upon the product, check the datasheet for accurate setting.

Caution: There is no hardware protection from a wrong configuration of the RELOAD and FELIM fields which can lead to an erratic trimming response. The expected operational mode requires proper setup of the RELOAD value (according to the synchronization source frequency), which is also greater than \( 128 * \text{FELIM} \) value (OUTRANGE limit).

8.5 CRS low-power modes

Table 44. Effect of low-power modes on CRS

8.6 CRS interrupts

Table 45. Interrupt control bits

8.7 CRS registers

Refer to Section 1.2 on page 52 for a list of abbreviations used in register descriptions.

The peripheral registers can be accessed only by words (32-bit).

8.7.1 CRS control register (CRS_CR)

Address offset: 0x00

Reset value: 0x0000 2000

Bits 31:14 Reserved, must be kept at reset value.

Bits 13:8 TRIM[5:0] : HSI48 oscillator smooth trimming

These bits provide a user-programmable trimming value to the HSI48 oscillator. They can be programmed to adjust to variations in voltage and temperature that influence the frequency of the HSI48 oscillator.

The default value is 32, which corresponds to the middle of the trimming interval. The trimming step is specified in the product datasheet. A higher TRIM value corresponds to a higher output frequency.

When the AUTOTRIMEN bit is set, this field is controlled by hardware and is read-only.

Bit 7 SWSYNC : Generate software SYNC event

This bit is set by software in order to generate a software SYNC event. It is automatically cleared by hardware.

• 0: No action
• 1: A software SYNC event is generated.

Bit 6 AUTOTRIMEN : Automatic trimming enable

This bit enables the automatic hardware adjustment of TRIM bits according to the measured frequency error between two SYNC events. If this bit is set, the TRIM bits are read-only. The TRIM value can be adjusted by hardware by one or two steps at a time, depending on the measured frequency error value. Refer to Section 8.4.4 for more details.

• 0: Automatic trimming disabled, TRIM bits can be adjusted by the user.
• 1: Automatic trimming enabled, TRIM bits are read-only and under hardware control.

Bit 5 CEN : Frequency error counter enable

This bit enables the oscillator clock for the frequency error counter.

• 0: Frequency error counter disabled
• 1: Frequency error counter enabled

When this bit is set, the CRS_CFGR register is write-protected and cannot be modified.

Bit 4 Reserved, must be kept at reset value.

Bit 3 ESYNCIE : Expected SYNC interrupt enable

• 0: Expected SYNC (ESYNCF) interrupt disabled
• 1: Expected SYNC (ESYNCF) interrupt enabled

• Bit 2 ERRIE : Synchronization or trimming error interrupt enable
  • 0: Synchronization or trimming error (ERRF) interrupt disabled
  • 1: Synchronization or trimming error (ERRF) interrupt enabled
• Bit 1 SYNCWARNIE : SYNC warning interrupt enable
  • 0: SYNC warning (SYNCWARNF) interrupt disabled
  • 1: SYNC warning (SYNCWARNF) interrupt enabled
• Bit 0 SYNCOKIE : SYNC event OK interrupt enable
  • 0: SYNC event OK (SYNCOKF) interrupt disabled
  • 1: SYNC event OK (SYNCOKF) interrupt enabled

8.7.2 CRS configuration register (CRS_CFGR)

This register can be written only when the frequency error counter is disabled (CEN bit is cleared in CRS_CR). When the counter is enabled, this register is write-protected.

Address offset: 0x04

Reset value: 0x2022 BB7F

• Bit 31 SYNCPOL : SYNC polarity selection
  • This bit is set and cleared by software to select the input polarity for the SYNC signal source.
  • 0: SYNC active on rising edge (default)
  • 1: SYNC active on falling edge
• Bit 30 Reserved, must be kept at reset value.
• Bits 29:28 SYNCSRC[1:0] : SYNC signal source selection
  • These bits are set and cleared by software to select the SYNC signal source.
  • 00: GPIO selected as SYNC signal source
  • 01: LSE selected as SYNC signal source
  • 10: USB SOF selected as SYNC signal source (default).
  • 11: Reserved
• Note: When using USB LPM (Link Power Management) and the device is in Sleep mode, the periodic USB SOF is not generated by the host. No SYNC signal is therefore provided to the CRS to calibrate the HSI48 oscillator on the run. To guarantee the required clock precision after waking up from Sleep mode, the LSE or reference clock on the GPIOs should be used as SYNC signal.
• Bit 27 Reserved, must be kept at reset value.

Bits 26:24 SYNCDIV[2:0] : SYNC divider

These bits are set and cleared by software to control the division factor of the SYNC signal.

000: SYNC not divided (default)

001: SYNC divided by 2

010: SYNC divided by 4

011: SYNC divided by 8

100: SYNC divided by 16

101: SYNC divided by 32

110: SYNC divided by 64

111: SYNC divided by 128

Bits 23:16 FELIM[7:0] : Frequency error limit

FELIM contains the value to be used to evaluate the captured frequency error value latched in the FECAP[15:0] bits of the CRS_ISR register. Refer to Section 8.4.4 for more details about FECAP evaluation.

Bits 15:0 RELOAD[15:0] : Counter reload value

RELOAD is the value to be loaded in the frequency error counter with each SYNC event. Refer to Section 8.4.3 for more details about counter behavior.

8.7.3 CRS interrupt and status register (CRS_ISR)

Address offset: 0x08

Reset value: 0x0000 0000

Bits 31:16 FECAP[15:0] : Frequency error capture

FECAP is the frequency error counter value latched in the time of the last SYNC event. Refer to Section 8.4.4 for more details about FECAP usage.

Bit 15 FEDIR : Frequency error direction

FEDIR is the counting direction of the frequency error counter latched in the time of the last SYNC event. It shows whether the actual frequency is below or above the target.

0: Upcounting direction, the actual frequency is above the target.

1: Downcounting direction, the actual frequency is below the target.

Bits 14:11 Reserved, must be kept at reset value.

Bit 10 TRIMOVF : Trimming overflow or underflow

This flag is set by hardware when the automatic trimming tries to over- or under-flow the TRIM value. An interrupt is generated if the ERRRIE bit is set in the CRS_CR register. It is cleared by software by setting the ERRRC bit in the CRS_ICR register.

0: No trimming error signalized

1: Trimming error signalized

This flag is set by hardware when the frequency error counter reached value \( FELIM * 128 \) and no SYNC was detected, meaning either that a SYNC pulse was missed or that the frequency error is too big (internal frequency too high) to be compensated by adjusting the TRIM value, and that some other action has to be taken. At this point, the frequency error counter is stopped (waiting for a next SYNC) and an interrupt is generated if the ERRRIE bit is set in the CRS_CR register. It is cleared by software by setting the ERRC bit in the CRS_ICR register.

0: No SYNC missed error signalized

1: SYNC missed error signalized

This flag is set by hardware when the SYNC pulse arrives before the ESYNC event and the measured frequency error is greater than or equal to \( FELIM * 128 \) . This means that the frequency error is too big (internal frequency too low) to be compensated by adjusting the TRIM value, and that some other action has to be taken. An interrupt is generated if the ERRRIE bit is set in the CRS_CR register. It is cleared by software by setting the ERRC bit in the CRS_ICR register.

0: No SYNC error signalized

1: SYNC error signalized

Bits 7:4 Reserved, must be kept at reset value.

This flag is set by hardware when the frequency error counter reached a zero value. An interrupt is generated if the ESYNCIE bit is set in the CRS_CR register. It is cleared by software by setting the ESYNCC bit in the CRS_ICR register.

0: No expected SYNC signalized

1: Expected SYNC signalized

This flag is set by hardware in case of any synchronization or trimming error. It is the logical OR of the TRIMOVF, SYNCMISS and SYNCERR bits. An interrupt is generated if the ERRRIE bit is set in the CRS_CR register. It is cleared by software in reaction to setting the ERRC bit in the CRS_ICR register, which clears the TRIMOVF, SYNCMISS and SYNCERR bits.

0: No synchronization or trimming error signalized

1: Synchronization or trimming error signalized

This flag is set by hardware when the measured frequency error is greater than or equal to \( FELIM * 3 \) , but smaller than \( FELIM * 128 \) . This means that to compensate the frequency error, the TRIM value must be adjusted by two steps or more. An interrupt is generated if the SYNCWARNIE bit is set in the CRS_CR register. It is cleared by software by setting the SYNCWARNC bit in the CRS_ICR register.

0: No SYNC warning signalized

1: SYNC warning signalized

This flag is set by hardware when the measured frequency error is smaller than \( FELIM * 3 \) . This means that either no adjustment of the TRIM value is needed or that an adjustment by one trimming step is enough to compensate the frequency error. An interrupt is generated if the SYNCOKIE bit is set in the CRS_CR register. It is cleared by software by setting the SYNCOKC bit in the CRS_ICR register.

0: No SYNC event OK signalized

1: SYNC event OK signalized

8.7.4 CRS interrupt flag clear register (CRS_ICR)

Address offset: 0x0C

Reset value: 0x0000 0000

Bits 31:4 Reserved, must be kept at reset value.

Bit 3 ESYNCC : Expected SYNC clear flag

Writing 1 to this bit clears the ESYNCF flag in the CRS_ISR register.

Bit 2 ERRC : Error clear flag

Writing 1 to this bit clears TRIMOVF, SYNCMISS and SYNCERR bits and consequently also the ERRF flag in the CRS_ISR register.

Bit 1 SYNCWARNC : SYNC warning clear flag

Writing 1 to this bit clears the SYNCWARNF flag in the CRS_ISR register.

Bit 0 SYNCOKC : SYNC event OK clear flag

Writing 1 to this bit clears the SYNCOKF flag in the CRS_ISR register.

8.7.5 CRS register map

Table 46. CRS register map and reset values

Table 46. CRS register map and reset values (continued)

Refer to Section 2.2 on page 58 for the register boundary addresses.