Multiple redundant clock system comprising a number of mutually synchronizing clocks, and clock circuit for use in such a clock system

摘要

A multiple redundant clock system comprises at least n=4 clocks and is self-synchronizing and fault tolerant against the failure of at the most 1/2(n-1) clocks. Each clock comprises an oscillator circuit which activates a dividing circuit at the end of each period in order to form its own clock signal on the output of the dividing circuit. Each clock furthermore comprises a deviation-determining device which compares the own clock signal with the clock signals originating from the other clocks in the system. When an excessively large number of the other clock signals deviate during the first half of the (own) period, the own oscillator circuit is decelerated. When an excessively large number of the other clock signals deviate during the second half of the own period, the own oscillator circuit is accelerated.