Spread Spectrum Support on Extperiph1/2

Issue Overview

Users have expressed concerns regarding the lack of information about spread-spectrum support for the external peripheral clocks (extperiph1/2) on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board. The symptoms include:

• Lack of Documentation: Users are unable to find relevant details in the Technical Reference Manual (TRM) regarding spread-spectrum capabilities for extperiph clocks or their parent clocks, such as PLLP.

• Specific Context: The issue arises during inquiries about clock configuration and management, particularly when users are trying to implement spread-spectrum techniques for reducing electromagnetic interference (EMI).

• Hardware/Software Specifications: The discussion revolves around the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board, which utilizes specific clock architectures that may or may not support spread-spectrum modulation.

• Frequency of Issue: This issue appears to be consistent among multiple users seeking clarification on the same topic.

• Impact on User Experience: The inability to confirm spread-spectrum support could hinder users’ ability to optimize their designs for EMI reduction, potentially affecting performance and regulatory compliance.

Possible Causes

• Hardware Incompatibilities: The extperiph clocks may not be designed to support spread-spectrum modulation due to inherent hardware limitations.

• Software Bugs or Conflicts: There could be a lack of software support or bugs in the configuration tools that prevent users from enabling spread-spectrum features.

• Configuration Errors: Users may not be aware of the correct settings required for enabling spread-spectrum if it were supported.

• Driver Issues: Outdated or incorrect drivers could lead to miscommunication with hardware capabilities, including clock settings.

• Environmental Factors: External conditions such as power supply fluctuations might affect clock performance but are unlikely to influence spread-spectrum support directly.

• User Errors or Misconfigurations: Users may misinterpret the available documentation or overlook necessary configurations that would enable desired features.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

1. Verify Documentation:

   • Check the latest version of the Technical Reference Manual (TRM) for any updates regarding clock settings and capabilities.

2. Check Clock Support:

   • Confirm with community forums or Nvidia’s official support whether extperiph1/2 and PLLP clocks have been confirmed as not supporting spread-spectrum modulation.
   • As per user feedback, it has been stated that none of the extperiph parent clocks, including PLLP, supports spread-spectrum.

3. Gather System Information:

   • Use terminal commands to gather information about current clock configurations:

     cat /sys/kernel/debug/clk/clk_summary
     

4. Isolation Testing:

   • If applicable, test other clock configurations or peripherals that might offer similar functionality without requiring spread-spectrum support.

5. Potential Workarounds:

   • If EMI reduction is critical, consider using external EMI filtering components or alternative design strategies that do not rely on spread-spectrum techniques.

6. Update Drivers/Firmware:

   • Ensure that all drivers and firmware are up-to-date. Check Nvidia’s official website for any relevant updates that might improve clock management features.

7. Engage with Community Support:

   • Participate in forums like Nvidia Developer Forums or Stack Overflow to seek additional insights from other users who may have faced similar issues.

8. Best Practices for Future Prevention:

   • Regularly check for updates in documentation and community discussions related to hardware capabilities.
   • Maintain a development environment that allows easy testing of different configurations without impacting ongoing projects.

This document serves as a comprehensive guide for users experiencing issues related to spread-spectrum support on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board’s extperiph clocks. Further investigation may be needed if new developments arise regarding hardware capabilities or software updates.