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+.. SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
+
+=========================
+Generic Counter Interface
+=========================
+
+Introduction
+============
+
+Counter devices are prevalent among a diverse spectrum of industries.
+The ubiquitous presence of these devices necessitates a common interface
+and standard of interaction and exposure. This driver API attempts to
+resolve the issue of duplicate code found among existing counter device
+drivers by introducing a generic counter interface for consumption. The
+Generic Counter interface enables drivers to support and expose a common
+set of components and functionality present in counter devices.
+
+Theory
+======
+
+Counter devices can vary greatly in design, but regardless of whether
+some devices are quadrature encoder counters or tally counters, all
+counter devices consist of a core set of components. This core set of
+components, shared by all counter devices, is what forms the essence of
+the Generic Counter interface.
+
+There are three core components to a counter:
+
+* Signal:
+ Stream of data to be evaluated by the counter.
+
+* Synapse:
+ Association of a Signal, and evaluation trigger, with a Count.
+
+* Count:
+ Accumulation of the effects of connected Synapses.
+
+SIGNAL
+------
+A Signal represents a stream of data. This is the input data that is
+evaluated by the counter to determine the count data; e.g. a quadrature
+signal output line of a rotary encoder. Not all counter devices provide
+user access to the Signal data, so exposure is optional for drivers.
+
+When the Signal data is available for user access, the Generic Counter
+interface provides the following available signal values:
+
+* SIGNAL_LOW:
+ Signal line is in a low state.
+
+* SIGNAL_HIGH:
+ Signal line is in a high state.
+
+A Signal may be associated with one or more Counts.
+
+SYNAPSE
+-------
+A Synapse represents the association of a Signal with a Count. Signal
+data affects respective Count data, and the Synapse represents this
+relationship.
+
+The Synapse action mode specifies the Signal data condition that
+triggers the respective Count's count function evaluation to update the
+count data. The Generic Counter interface provides the following
+available action modes:
+
+* None:
+ Signal does not trigger the count function. In Pulse-Direction count
+ function mode, this Signal is evaluated as Direction.
+
+* Rising Edge:
+ Low state transitions to high state.
+
+* Falling Edge:
+ High state transitions to low state.
+
+* Both Edges:
+ Any state transition.
+
+A counter is defined as a set of input signals associated with count
+data that are generated by the evaluation of the state of the associated
+input signals as defined by the respective count functions. Within the
+context of the Generic Counter interface, a counter consists of Counts
+each associated with a set of Signals, whose respective Synapse
+instances represent the count function update conditions for the
+associated Counts.
+
+A Synapse associates one Signal with one Count.
+
+COUNT
+-----
+A Count represents the accumulation of the effects of connected
+Synapses; i.e. the count data for a set of Signals. The Generic
+Counter interface represents the count data as a natural number.
+
+A Count has a count function mode which represents the update behavior
+for the count data. The Generic Counter interface provides the following
+available count function modes:
+
+* Increase:
+ Accumulated count is incremented.
+
+* Decrease:
+ Accumulated count is decremented.
+
+* Pulse-Direction:
+ Rising edges on signal A updates the respective count. The input level
+ of signal B determines direction.
+
+* Quadrature:
+ A pair of quadrature encoding signals are evaluated to determine
+ position and direction. The following Quadrature modes are available:
+
+ - x1 A:
+ If direction is forward, rising edges on quadrature pair signal A
+ updates the respective count; if the direction is backward, falling
+ edges on quadrature pair signal A updates the respective count.
+ Quadrature encoding determines the direction.
+
+ - x1 B:
+ If direction is forward, rising edges on quadrature pair signal B
+ updates the respective count; if the direction is backward, falling
+ edges on quadrature pair signal B updates the respective count.
+ Quadrature encoding determines the direction.
+
+ - x2 A:
+ Any state transition on quadrature pair signal A updates the
+ respective count. Quadrature encoding determines the direction.
+
+ - x2 B:
+ Any state transition on quadrature pair signal B updates the
+ respective count. Quadrature encoding determines the direction.
+
+ - x4:
+ Any state transition on either quadrature pair signals updates the
+ respective count. Quadrature encoding determines the direction.
+
+A Count has a set of one or more associated Synapses.
+
+Paradigm
+========
+
+The most basic counter device may be expressed as a single Count
+associated with a single Signal via a single Synapse. Take for example
+a counter device which simply accumulates a count of rising edges on a
+source input line::
+
+ Count Synapse Signal
+ ----- ------- ------
+ +---------------------+
+ | Data: Count | Rising Edge ________
+ | Function: Increase | <------------- / Source \
+ | | ____________
+ +---------------------+
+
+In this example, the Signal is a source input line with a pulsing
+voltage, while the Count is a persistent count value which is repeatedly
+incremented. The Signal is associated with the respective Count via a
+Synapse. The increase function is triggered by the Signal data condition
+specified by the Synapse -- in this case a rising edge condition on the
+voltage input line. In summary, the counter device existence and
+behavior is aptly represented by respective Count, Signal, and Synapse
+components: a rising edge condition triggers an increase function on an
+accumulating count datum.
+
+A counter device is not limited to a single Signal; in fact, in theory
+many Signals may be associated with even a single Count. For example, a
+quadrature encoder counter device can keep track of position based on
+the states of two input lines::
+
+ Count Synapse Signal
+ ----- ------- ------
+ +-------------------------+
+ | Data: Position | Both Edges ___
+ | Function: Quadrature x4 | <------------ / A \
+ | | _______
+ | |
+ | | Both Edges ___
+ | | <------------ / B \
+ | | _______
+ +-------------------------+
+
+In this example, two Signals (quadrature encoder lines A and B) are
+associated with a single Count: a rising or falling edge on either A or
+B triggers the "Quadrature x4" function which determines the direction
+of movement and updates the respective position data. The "Quadrature
+x4" function is likely implemented in the hardware of the quadrature
+encoder counter device; the Count, Signals, and Synapses simply
+represent this hardware behavior and functionality.
+
+Signals associated with the same Count can have differing Synapse action
+mode conditions. For example, a quadrature encoder counter device
+operating in a non-quadrature Pulse-Direction mode could have one input
+line dedicated for movement and a second input line dedicated for
+direction::
+
+ Count Synapse Signal
+ ----- ------- ------
+ +---------------------------+
+ | Data: Position | Rising Edge ___
+ | Function: Pulse-Direction | <------------- / A \ (Movement)
+ | | _______
+ | |
+ | | None ___
+ | | <------------- / B \ (Direction)
+ | | _______
+ +---------------------------+
+
+Only Signal A triggers the "Pulse-Direction" update function, but the
+instantaneous state of Signal B is still required in order to know the
+direction so that the position data may be properly updated. Ultimately,
+both Signals are associated with the same Count via two respective
+Synapses, but only one Synapse has an active action mode condition which
+triggers the respective count function while the other is left with a
+"None" condition action mode to indicate its respective Signal's
+availability for state evaluation despite its non-triggering mode.
+
+Keep in mind that the Signal, Synapse, and Count are abstract
+representations which do not need to be closely married to their
+respective physical sources. This allows the user of a counter to
+divorce themselves from the nuances of physical components (such as
+whether an input line is differential or single-ended) and instead focus
+on the core idea of what the data and process represent (e.g. position
+as interpreted from quadrature encoding data).
+
+Driver API
+==========
+
+Driver authors may utilize the Generic Counter interface in their code
+by including the include/linux/counter.h header file. This header file
+provides several core data structures, function prototypes, and macros
+for defining a counter device.
+
+.. kernel-doc:: include/linux/counter.h
+ :internal:
+
+.. kernel-doc:: drivers/counter/counter-core.c
+ :export:
+
+.. kernel-doc:: drivers/counter/counter-chrdev.c
+ :export:
+
+Driver Implementation
+=====================
+
+To support a counter device, a driver must first allocate the available
+Counter Signals via counter_signal structures. These Signals should
+be stored as an array and set to the signals array member of an
+allocated counter_device structure before the Counter is registered to
+the system.
+
+Counter Counts may be allocated via counter_count structures, and
+respective Counter Signal associations (Synapses) made via
+counter_synapse structures. Associated counter_synapse structures are
+stored as an array and set to the synapses array member of the
+respective counter_count structure. These counter_count structures are
+set to the counts array member of an allocated counter_device structure
+before the Counter is registered to the system.
+
+Driver callbacks must be provided to the counter_device structure in
+order to communicate with the device: to read and write various Signals
+and Counts, and to set and get the "action mode" and "function mode" for
+various Synapses and Counts respectively.
+
+A counter_device structure is allocated using counter_alloc() and then
+registered to the system by passing it to the counter_add() function, and
+unregistered by passing it to the counter_unregister function. There are
+device managed variants of these functions: devm_counter_alloc() and
+devm_counter_add().
+
+The struct counter_comp structure is used to define counter extensions
+for Signals, Synapses, and Counts.
+
+The "type" member specifies the type of high-level data (e.g. BOOL,
+COUNT_DIRECTION, etc.) handled by this extension. The "``*_read``" and
+"``*_write``" members can then be set by the counter device driver with
+callbacks to handle that data using native C data types (i.e. u8, u64,
+etc.).
+
+Convenience macros such as ``COUNTER_COMP_COUNT_U64`` are provided for
+use by driver authors. In particular, driver authors are expected to use
+the provided macros for standard Counter subsystem attributes in order
+to maintain a consistent interface for userspace. For example, a counter
+device driver may define several standard attributes like so::
+
+ struct counter_comp count_ext[] = {
+ COUNTER_COMP_DIRECTION(count_direction_read),
+ COUNTER_COMP_ENABLE(count_enable_read, count_enable_write),
+ COUNTER_COMP_CEILING(count_ceiling_read, count_ceiling_write),
+ };
+
+This makes it simple to see, add, and modify the attributes that are
+supported by this driver ("direction", "enable", and "ceiling") and to
+maintain this code without getting lost in a web of struct braces.
+
+Callbacks must match the function type expected for the respective
+component or extension. These function types are defined in the struct
+counter_comp structure as the "``*_read``" and "``*_write``" union
+members.
+
+The corresponding callback prototypes for the extensions mentioned in
+the previous example above would be::
+
+ int count_direction_read(struct counter_device *counter,
+ struct counter_count *count,
+ enum counter_count_direction *direction);
+ int count_enable_read(struct counter_device *counter,
+ struct counter_count *count, u8 *enable);
+ int count_enable_write(struct counter_device *counter,
+ struct counter_count *count, u8 enable);
+ int count_ceiling_read(struct counter_device *counter,
+ struct counter_count *count, u64 *ceiling);
+ int count_ceiling_write(struct counter_device *counter,
+ struct counter_count *count, u64 ceiling);
+
+Determining the type of extension to create is a matter of scope.
+
+* Signal extensions are attributes that expose information/control
+ specific to a Signal. These types of attributes will exist under a
+ Signal's directory in sysfs.
+
+ For example, if you have an invert feature for a Signal, you can have
+ a Signal extension called "invert" that toggles that feature:
+ /sys/bus/counter/devices/counterX/signalY/invert
+
+* Count extensions are attributes that expose information/control
+ specific to a Count. These type of attributes will exist under a
+ Count's directory in sysfs.
+
+ For example, if you want to pause/unpause a Count from updating, you
+ can have a Count extension called "enable" that toggles such:
+ /sys/bus/counter/devices/counterX/countY/enable
+
+* Device extensions are attributes that expose information/control
+ non-specific to a particular Count or Signal. This is where you would
+ put your global features or other miscellaneous functionality.
+
+ For example, if your device has an overtemp sensor, you can report the
+ chip overheated via a device extension called "error_overtemp":
+ /sys/bus/counter/devices/counterX/error_overtemp
+
+Subsystem Architecture
+======================
+
+Counter drivers pass and take data natively (i.e. ``u8``, ``u64``, etc.)
+and the shared counter module handles the translation between the sysfs
+interface. This guarantees a standard userspace interface for all
+counter drivers, and enables a Generic Counter chrdev interface via a
+generalized device driver ABI.
+
+A high-level view of how a count value is passed down from a counter
+driver is exemplified by the following. The driver callbacks are first
+registered to the Counter core component for use by the Counter
+userspace interface components::
+
+ Driver callbacks registration:
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ +----------------------------+
+ | Counter device driver |
+ +----------------------------+
+ | Processes data from device |
+ +----------------------------+
+ |
+ -------------------
+ / driver callbacks /
+ -------------------
+ |
+ V
+ +----------------------+
+ | Counter core |
+ +----------------------+
+ | Routes device driver |
+ | callbacks to the |
+ | userspace interfaces |
+ +----------------------+
+ |
+ -------------------
+ / driver callbacks /
+ -------------------
+ |
+ +---------------+---------------+
+ | |
+ V V
+ +--------------------+ +---------------------+
+ | Counter sysfs | | Counter chrdev |
+ +--------------------+ +---------------------+
+ | Translates to the | | Translates to the |
+ | standard Counter | | standard Counter |
+ | sysfs output | | character device |
+ +--------------------+ +---------------------+
+
+Thereafter, data can be transferred directly between the Counter device
+driver and Counter userspace interface::
+
+ Count data request:
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ ----------------------
+ / Counter device \
+ +----------------------+
+ | Count register: 0x28 |
+ +----------------------+
+ |
+ -----------------
+ / raw count data /
+ -----------------
+ |
+ V
+ +----------------------------+
+ | Counter device driver |
+ +----------------------------+
+ | Processes data from device |
+ |----------------------------|
+ | Type: u64 |
+ | Value: 42 |
+ +----------------------------+
+ |
+ ----------
+ / u64 /
+ ----------
+ |
+ +---------------+---------------+
+ | |
+ V V
+ +--------------------+ +---------------------+
+ | Counter sysfs | | Counter chrdev |
+ +--------------------+ +---------------------+
+ | Translates to the | | Translates to the |
+ | standard Counter | | standard Counter |
+ | sysfs output | | character device |
+ |--------------------| |---------------------|
+ | Type: const char * | | Type: u64 |
+ | Value: "42" | | Value: 42 |
+ +--------------------+ +---------------------+
+ | |
+ --------------- -----------------------
+ / const char * / / struct counter_event /
+ --------------- -----------------------
+ | |
+ | V
+ | +-----------+
+ | | read |
+ | +-----------+
+ | \ Count: 42 /
+ | -----------
+ |
+ V
+ +--------------------------------------------------+
+ | `/sys/bus/counter/devices/counterX/countY/count` |
+ +--------------------------------------------------+
+ \ Count: "42" /
+ --------------------------------------------------
+
+There are four primary components involved:
+
+Counter device driver
+---------------------
+Communicates with the hardware device to read/write data; e.g. counter
+drivers for quadrature encoders, timers, etc.
+
+Counter core
+------------
+Registers the counter device driver to the system so that the respective
+callbacks are called during userspace interaction.
+
+Counter sysfs
+-------------
+Translates counter data to the standard Counter sysfs interface format
+and vice versa.
+
+Please refer to the ``Documentation/ABI/testing/sysfs-bus-counter`` file
+for a detailed breakdown of the available Generic Counter interface
+sysfs attributes.
+
+Counter chrdev
+--------------
+Translates Counter events to the standard Counter character device; data
+is transferred via standard character device read calls, while Counter
+events are configured via ioctl calls.
+
+Sysfs Interface
+===============
+
+Several sysfs attributes are generated by the Generic Counter interface,
+and reside under the ``/sys/bus/counter/devices/counterX`` directory,
+where ``X`` is to the respective counter device id. Please see
+``Documentation/ABI/testing/sysfs-bus-counter`` for detailed information
+on each Generic Counter interface sysfs attribute.
+
+Through these sysfs attributes, programs and scripts may interact with
+the Generic Counter paradigm Counts, Signals, and Synapses of respective
+counter devices.
+
+Counter Character Device
+========================
+
+Counter character device nodes are created under the ``/dev`` directory
+as ``counterX``, where ``X`` is the respective counter device id.
+Defines for the standard Counter data types are exposed via the
+userspace ``include/uapi/linux/counter.h`` file.
+
+Counter events
+--------------
+Counter device drivers can support Counter events by utilizing the
+``counter_push_event`` function::
+
+ void counter_push_event(struct counter_device *const counter, const u8 event,
+ const u8 channel);
+
+The event id is specified by the ``event`` parameter; the event channel
+id is specified by the ``channel`` parameter. When this function is
+called, the Counter data associated with the respective event is
+gathered, and a ``struct counter_event`` is generated for each datum and
+pushed to userspace.
+
+Counter events can be configured by users to report various Counter
+data of interest. This can be conceptualized as a list of Counter
+component read calls to perform. For example:
+
+ +------------------------+------------------------+
+ | COUNTER_EVENT_OVERFLOW | COUNTER_EVENT_INDEX |
+ +========================+========================+
+ | Channel 0 | Channel 0 |
+ +------------------------+------------------------+
+ | * Count 0 | * Signal 0 |
+ | * Count 1 | * Signal 0 Extension 0 |
+ | * Signal 3 | * Extension 4 |
+ | * Count 4 Extension 2 +------------------------+
+ | * Signal 5 Extension 0 | Channel 1 |
+ | +------------------------+
+ | | * Signal 4 |
+ | | * Signal 4 Extension 0 |
+ | | * Count 7 |
+ +------------------------+------------------------+
+
+When ``counter_push_event(counter, COUNTER_EVENT_INDEX, 1)`` is called
+for example, it will go down the list for the ``COUNTER_EVENT_INDEX``
+event channel 1 and execute the read callbacks for Signal 4, Signal 4
+Extension 0, and Count 7 -- the data returned for each is pushed to a
+kfifo as a ``struct counter_event``, which userspace can retrieve via a
+standard read operation on the respective character device node.
+
+Userspace
+---------
+Userspace applications can configure Counter events via ioctl operations
+on the Counter character device node. There following ioctl codes are
+supported and provided by the ``linux/counter.h`` userspace header file:
+
+* :c:macro:`COUNTER_ADD_WATCH_IOCTL`
+
+* :c:macro:`COUNTER_ENABLE_EVENTS_IOCTL`
+
+* :c:macro:`COUNTER_DISABLE_EVENTS_IOCTL`
+
+To configure events to gather Counter data, users first populate a
+``struct counter_watch`` with the relevant event id, event channel id,
+and the information for the desired Counter component from which to
+read, and then pass it via the ``COUNTER_ADD_WATCH_IOCTL`` ioctl
+command.
+
+Note that an event can be watched without gathering Counter data by
+setting the ``component.type`` member equal to
+``COUNTER_COMPONENT_NONE``. With this configuration the Counter
+character device will simply populate the event timestamps for those
+respective ``struct counter_event`` elements and ignore the component
+value.
+
+The ``COUNTER_ADD_WATCH_IOCTL`` command will buffer these Counter
+watches. When ready, the ``COUNTER_ENABLE_EVENTS_IOCTL`` ioctl command
+may be used to activate these Counter watches.
+
+Userspace applications can then execute a ``read`` operation (optionally
+calling ``poll`` first) on the Counter character device node to retrieve
+``struct counter_event`` elements with the desired data.