If you're passing data between clock domains without a proper handshaking protocol (like FIFO full/empty flags), you're building a time bomb.
A simple synchronizer chain is great for a single-bit flag. But for multi-bit data like a 32-bit sensor reading, it's a disaster. You can't synchronize each bit individually, as they might arrive at different times, creating a garbled value.
The correct way is to use a dual-clock FIFO (First-In, First-Out) buffer. The writing clock domain writes data to the FIFO until it's full. The reading clock domain reads data from the FIFO until it's empty. The FIFO handles the CDC safely and reliably.
I've seen a design try to pass a 16-bit value across a clock domain with just synchronizers, resulting in values that were a mix of the old and new data, causing the system to make completely wrong decisions.
🔥 What's your go-to method for safely passing multi-bit data across asynchronous clock domains?
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