Kellopohjainen

Kellopohjainen is a Finnish adjective meaning based on a clock or driven by a clock signal. In technical contexts it describes systems, methods, or processes whose timing is governed by a clock or a global time base rather than by events or manual pacing. The term is most common in electronics, computer science, and automation.

In electronics and computing, kellopohjainen refers to synchronous designs where operations advance in discrete steps synchronized to a clock signal. Synchronous circuits, registers, counters, and finite state machines are characterized as kellopohjaisia. In software and simulation, kellopohjainen simulointi or kellopohjainen aikataulutus denotes fixed time-step execution where the state is updated at regular intervals. By contrast, event-driven or asynchronous approaches react to stimuli as they arrive.

In control and automation, kellopohjainen ohjaus describes time-triggered control loops that run periodically at a defined rate. The concept emphasizes predictability, bounded response times, and easier verification, but can lead to lower efficiency if the clock runs faster than needed or if clock distribution introduces skew and power usage.

Common considerations when adopting a kellopohjainen approach include clock frequency choice, synchronization integrity, and impact on latency. The term is sometimes used descriptively rather than as a strict standard, and its exact meaning can vary by field or organization.