Mastering

STM32F407VGT6
Microcontroller
- Clock System Management

vamsi krishna vaka 3/2/25 ESP course

The Heartbeat of a Microprocessor:
Understanding Clock Signals
Chapter 1:The Rhythm of the Digital World

Imagine a grand orchestra performing a beautiful symphony. Each musician plays their
instrument, but if they don’t follow a conductor’s timing, the music will turn into a chaotic
mess. The conductor keeps the orchestra in sync, ensuring every note is played at the
right moment.

Now, think of a microprocessor as a massive orchestra. Inside it, thousands (or even
millions) of tiny components—transistors, registers, logic gates—must work together in
perfect harmony. But how do they know when to perform their operations?

That’s where the clock signal comes in. It acts like a conductor, sending out precise beats
(pulses) at regular intervals. Every time the clock “ticks,” the microprocessor performs an
operation. Without this rhythmic pulse, the entire system would stop working—just like an
orchestra without a conductor.

Chapter 2: What Exactly is a Clock Signal?

A clock signal is a square wave, meaning it repeatedly switches between two states:

• ON (1 or HIGH voltage)

• OFF (0 or LOW voltage)

These rapid ON-OFF transitions happen at an incredibly fast rate, measured in Hertz (Hz).
For example:

• A 1 MHz clock means it ticks 1 million times per second.

• A 1 GHz clock ticks 1 billion times per second.

The faster the clock speed, the quicker the processor can execute instructions. That’s why
modern computers and microcontrollers use high-speed clocks to perform billions of
operations per second!

Why Can’t a Microprocessor Work Without a Clock?

Think of a school where students take tests. If there’s no bell to signal when to start or stop,
some students might write for too long, while others might stop early. It would be
unorganized and confusing.

Similarly, in a microprocessor:

• The clock signal acts like a school bell, keeping everything in sync.

• Without it, different components wouldn’t know when to start or stop their tasks.

Every operation inside a microprocessor—whether adding two numbers, sending data to

a display, or reading input from a sensor—happens only when the clock ticks.
Chapter 3: The Birth of a Clock Signal – How is it Generated?

Now that we understand what a clock signal does, let’s explore how it is created.

The Role of a Crystal Oscillator

The most common way to generate a clock signal is using a quartz crystal oscillator. Yes,
it’s the same type of quartz used in watches! Here’s how it works:

1. Quartz has a special property called the piezoelectric effect. When an electric
current is applied, it vibrates at a fixed frequency.

2. These vibrations are converted into an electrical signal, forming a stable and
precise clock pulse.

3. The clock pulse is then shaped into a square wave using electronic circuits.

This crystal oscillator is usually placed inside a clock generator circuit, which ensures that
the clock signal remains stable and accurate.

Different Sources of Clock Signals

Besides quartz oscillators, other ways to generate clock signals include:

• RC Oscillators (Resistor-Capacitor circuits) – Used for low-cost, low-precision clocks.

• PLL (Phase-Locked Loop) Circuits – Used to increase or stabilize the clock

frequency.

• External Clock Sources – Some microcontrollers can receive clock signals from
another device.

Chapter 4: Delivering the Beat – How the Clock Signal Reaches Peripherals

A microprocessor isn’t just one big component—it consists of many smaller parts called
peripherals. These include:

• Timers (for measuring time intervals)

• UART, SPI, I2C (for communication)

• ADC (Analog to Digital Converters)

• PWM Controllers (for controlling motors and LEDs)

Just like a school has different teachers for different subjects, each peripheral has a
different job. But for them to work, they must receive the clock signal from the
microprocessor.

How is the Clock Signal Transferred?

Inside a microprocessor, the clock signal is sent through special electronic pathways
called clock distribution networks. These networks ensure that:

1. Each peripheral gets the right clock frequency – Some peripherals need a fast
clock, while others work better with a slower one.
 2. The signal remains stable – Too much delay or distortion can cause errors.

To manage this, most microcontrollers have a Clock Control Unit (CCU) or Clock
Management System, which allows enabling, disabling, and adjusting the clock
frequency for each peripheral.

Chapter 5: Enabling the Clock for Peripherals – Making Them Come to Life

Why Do Peripherals Need to be Enabled?

Not all peripherals are used all the time. Keeping them running continuously wastes
power. For example:

• If an ADC is not needed, we can turn off its clock to save energy.

• If a timer is required, we enable its clock so it starts working.

How Do We Enable the Clock?

In most microcontrollers, enabling the clock for a peripheral is done through software
commands. A programmer writes a register configuration that tells the microcontroller:

1. Which peripheral needs the clock? (Timers, UART, SPI, etc.)

2. What clock frequency should be used? (High-speed or low-speed)

3. When to turn it ON or OFF?

For example, in STM32 microcontrollers, enabling a clock signal for a timer might look like
this in C code:

RCC->APB1ENR |= (1 << 1); // Enable Timer 2 clock

This simple command tells the microcontroller:

• "Go to the RCC (Reset and Clock Control) register."

• "Set bit 1 to 1, which enables the Timer 2 clock."

This way, programmers control which peripherals receive the clock signal and ensure the
microprocessor operates efficiently.

Chapter 6: The Final Beat – Understanding Clocks in the Real World

Now that we understand clock signals, let’s look at some real-world applications:

1. Watches and Clocks – The ticking sound in quartz watches comes from a tiny quartz
crystal vibrating to generate time signals.

2. Mobile Phones – Every function in your smartphone, from making calls to playing
games, relies on multiple clock signals working together.

3. Robots – A robot’s movements must be precisely timed, which is why its

microcontroller needs a reliable clock.
Final Thoughts

Clock signals may be invisible, but they are the lifeblood of every digital system. Whether
it's a simple digital watch or a complex supercomputer, the steady rhythm of a clock
keeps everything running smoothly.

Without clock signals, our digital world would fall into chaos—like an orchestra without a
conductor, a school without bells, or a heart without a beat.

Understanding the Clock System in STM32F407

The STM32F407 microcontroller has a highly configurable clock system that allows
flexibility in adjusting performance, power consumption, and peripheral operation.
Understanding its clock architecture is crucial for efficient embedded system design.

In this detailed explanation, we will cover:

• High-Level Overview of the Clock System

• HSE (High-Speed External) and HSI (High-Speed Internal) Clocks

• PLL (Phase-Locked Loop) and its Configurations

• Clock Distribution and Peripheral Clocking

1. High-Level Overview of the STM32F407 Clock System

The STM32F407 clock system consists of multiple clock sources and distribution
mechanisms. Here’s a high-level breakdown:

• Clock Sources:

o HSI (High-Speed Internal Clock): 16 MHz factory-trimmed RC oscillator

o HSE (High-Speed External Clock): Can use an external crystal oscillator (4-26
MHz) or an external clock signal

o PLL (Phase-Locked Loop): Generates high-frequency clocks using HSI or HSE

as an input

o LSI (Low-Speed Internal Clock): ~32 kHz RC oscillator, used for independent
watchdog timers

o LSE (Low-Speed External Clock): 32.768 kHz crystal oscillator, used for RTC
(Real-Time Clock)

• Clock Distribution:

o Different clock domains exist for different parts of the microcontroller:

▪ SYSCLK (System Clock): The main CPU clock

 ▪ HCLK (AHB Clock): The high-speed clock for the Advanced High-
Performance Bus (AHB)

▪ PCLK1 (APB1 Clock): The clock for lower-speed peripherals (e.g., UART,
timers, SPI)

▪ PCLK2 (APB2 Clock): The clock for high-speed peripherals (e.g., ADC,
timers, SPI)

• Clock Control Mechanisms:

o The RCC (Reset and Clock Control) register is responsible for configuring the
clock system.

o Clocks can be enabled/disabled for specific peripherals to optimize power

consumption.

2. High-Speed Clocks: HSI and HSE

HSI (High-Speed Internal) Clock

• Frequency: Fixed at 16 MHz

• Stability: Less accurate compared to an external crystal

• Power Consumption: Lower power than HSE

• Usage:

o Suitable for basic tasks where precise timing is not required

o Often used as a fallback clock if HSE fails

HSE (High-Speed External) Clock

• Frequency: Can range from 4 MHz to 26 MHz

• Stability: More precise than HSI since it uses an external quartz crystal

• Usage:

o Used when precision timing is needed (e.g., UART, USB, Ethernet)

o Provides input to the PLL for higher frequency generation

HSE Operating Modes:

• Crystal/Ceramic Resonator Mode: Requires two external capacitors

• External Clock Mode: A direct clock signal is fed into the OSC_IN pin

3. PLL (Phase-Locked Loop) – The Heart of Frequency Scaling

The PLL (Phase-Locked Loop) allows STM32F407 to generate high-frequency clock signals
from a lower-frequency source (HSE or HSI).
PLL Structure

The PLL takes an input clock and multiplies it to a higher frequency using a set of
configurable dividers.

Key Registers for PLL Configuration:

• PLLM (Pre-divider Factor): Divides the input frequency

• PLLN (Multiplier Factor): Multiplies the divided frequency

• PLLP (Post-divider Factor): Divides the multiplied frequency for the system clock

• PLLQ (USB Clock Divider): Generates a 48 MHz clock for USB

Example PLL Configuration (Common for 168 MHz System Clock):

If using a 8 MHz HSE, we can configure the PLL as:

• PLLM = 8 (Divides 8 MHz by 8 → 1 MHz)

• PLLN = 336 (Multiplies 1 MHz by 336 → 336 MHz)

• PLLP = 2 (Divides 336 MHz by 2 → 168 MHz)

• PLLQ = 7 (Divides 336 MHz by 7 → 48 MHz for USB)

Thus, we get:

• System Clock (SYSCLK) = 168 MHz

• USB Clock = 48 MHz

LSI (Low-Speed Internal Clock) – ~32 kHz

• Used for watchdog timers (IWDG)

• Consumes very low power

• Internal RC oscillator (not very accurate)

LSE (Low-Speed External Clock) – 32.768 kHz

• Used for RTC (Real-Time Clock)

• Highly accurate and stable

• Requires an external crystal

4. Clock Distribution in STM32F407

Once the system clock is generated, it is distributed to different parts of the

microcontroller via three main buses:
AHB (Advanced High-Performance Bus) – High-Speed Clock (HCLK)

• Used for CPU, memory, DMA, GPIO, and system buses

• Derived from SYSCLK

• Typically runs at 168 MHz

APB1 (Advanced Peripheral Bus 1) – Low-Speed Peripherals (PCLK1)

• Used for UART, I2C, SPI, and low-speed timers

• Derived from HCLK / Prescaler

• Maximum frequency: 42 MHz

APB2 (Advanced Peripheral Bus 2) – High-Speed Peripherals (PCLK2)

• Used for ADC, high-speed timers, SPI, and UART

• Derived from HCLK / Prescaler

• Maximum frequency: 84 MHz

Clock Configuration Example in C Code:

RCC->CR |= (1 << 16); // Enable HSE Clock

while (!(RCC->CR & (1 << 17))); // Wait until HSE is ready

RCC->PLLCFGR = (8 << 0) | // PLLM = 8

(336 << 6) | // PLLN = 336

(2 << 16) | // PLLP = 2

(7 << 24); // PLLQ = 7

RCC->CR |= (1 << 24); // Enable PLL

while (!(RCC->CR & (1 << 25))); // Wait for PLL to lock

RCC->CFGR |= (2 << 0); // Set PLL as system clock

while ((RCC->CFGR & (3 << 2)) != (2 << 2)); // Wait for system clock to switch to PLL

5. Enabling Peripheral Clocks

To enable a peripheral clock, use the RCC (Reset and Clock Control) registers.

Example: Enabling GPIOA Clock

RCC->AHB1ENR |= (1 << 0); // Enable clock for GPIOA

Example: Enabling USART1 (UART) Clock

RCC->APB2ENR |= (1 << 4); // Enable USART1 clock

6. Power Optimization with Clock Gating

STM32 allows disabling unused peripheral clocks to save power.

Example: Disabling UART Clock to Save Power

RCC->APB2ENR &= ~(1 << 4); // Disable USART1 clock

7. Summary – Key Takeaways

1. Clock Sources: STM32F407 has multiple clocks: HSI (16 MHz), HSE (4-26 MHz), PLL (up
to 168 MHz), LSI (~32 kHz), and LSE (32.768 kHz).

2. PLL Importance: Used to scale HSE or HSI to higher frequencies, essential for high-
speed operation.

3. Clock Distribution: The system clock is divided into AHB, APB1, and APB2 buses to
drive different peripherals.

4. Peripheral Clocks: Different peripherals require different clock speeds (APB1 = 42

MHz, APB2 = 84 MHz).

5. Configuration via RCC Registers: The RCC (Reset and Clock Control) registers allow
enabling/disabling and adjusting clocks dynamically.

This detailed breakdown should give you in-depth knowledge of the STM32F407 clock
system.