Method for monitoring a clock generator module of an electronic circuit

A method for monitoring a clock generator module of an electronic circuit that is configured to generate a plurality of internal clock signals for the electronic circuit, the method comprising:

• generating and outputting in parallel, using the electronic circuit, a plurality of PWM signals, whose period durations and holding times are predetermined, the generating of each of the PWM signals being based on a respective one of the clock signals;
• receiving and measuring the plurality of PWM signals by a circuit-external monitoring module to determine a plurality of measurement results;
• and
• determining a malfunction of the clock generator module when at least one of the plurality of measurement results does not match a corresponding comparison result or comparison result range.

A monitoring module connected or connectable to a control interface and at least one output of an electronic circuit which includes a clock generator module configured to generate a plurality of clock signals for the electronic circuit, wherein the monitoring module is configured to:

• initiate in alternating fashion a selection of one of the clock signals in the electronic circuit as a selection signal, wherein a PWM signal, whose period duration and holding time are predetermined, is generated and output based on the selection signal;
• receive the PWM signal from the electronic circuit and measure the received PWM signal using a monitoring clock signal to determine at least one measurement result;
• compare the at least one measurement result to at least one comparison result or comparison result range;
• and
• determine a malfunction of the clock generator module when the at least one measurement result does not match the at least one comparison result or comparison result range.

A computing unit, comprising:

• an electronic circuit having a clock generator module which is configured to generate a plurality of clock signals for the electronic circuit;
• and
• a monitoring module connected or connectable to a control interface and at least one output of the electronic circuit, the monitoring module configured to:
• initiate in alternating fashion a selection of one of the clock signals in the electronic circuit as a selection signal, wherein a PWM signal, whose period duration and holding time are predetermined, is generated and output based on the selection signal;
• receive the PWM signal the electronic circuit and measure the received PWM signal using a monitoring clock signal to determine at least one measurement result;
• compare the at least one measurement result to at least one comparison result or comparison result range;
• and
• determine a malfunction of the clock generator module when the at least one measurement result does not match the at least one comparison result or comparison result range.

A program product, comprising:

• a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium including a computer program for monitoring a clock generator module of an electronic circuit, the clock generator module being configured to generate a plurality of clock signals for the electronic circuit, the computer program, when executed by a computing unit, causing the computing unit to perform:
• initiating in alternating fashion, by a monitoring module external to the electronic circuit, a selection of one of the clock signals in the electronic circuit as a selection signal, wherein a PWM signal, whose period duration and holding time are predetermined, is generated and output based on the selection signal;
• receiving the PWM signal by the monitoring module from the electronic circuit and measuring the received PWM signal using a monitoring clock signal to determine at least one measurement result;
• comparing the at least one measurement result to at least one comparison result or comparison result range;
• and
• determining a malfunction of the clock generator module when the at least one measurement result does not match the at least one comparison result or comparison result range.