A method comprising: transmitting, by a sync signal generator, a synchronization signal (116, 204, 346, 348, 350, 436) to a plurality of synchronizers (110,112, 114, 200, 326, 328, 330, 332, 34, 336, 338, 340, 426, 428, 430, 432), wherein the plurality of synchronizers (110,112, 114, 200, 326, 328, 330, 332, 34, 336, 338, 340, 426, 428, 430, 432) include a plurality of upstream synchronizers (110, 112, 326, 328, 332, 334, 338, 340, 426, 428, 430) and a downstream synchronizer (114, 330, 336, 342, 432); wherein the downstream synchronizer is the synchronizer located the farthest away from the sync signal generator and the upstream synchronizers are located closer to the sync signal generator than the downstream synchronizer; causing each synchronizer of the plurality of upstream synchronizers (110, 112, 326, 328, 332, 334, 338, 340, 426, 428, 430) to count from a respective count value until a predetermined end count sequence value in response to receiving the synchronization signal (116, 204, 346, 348, 350, 436), the respective count value being stored at each synchronizer and being representative of a difference in time between a respective upstream synchronizer (110, 112, 326, 328, 332, 334, 338, 340, 426, 428, 430) of the plurality of upstream synchronizers (110, 112, 326, 328, 332, 334, 338, 340, 426, 428, 430) receiving the synchronization signal (116, 204, 346, 348, 350, 436) and the downstream synchronizer (114, 330, 336, 342, 432) receiving the synchronization signal (116, 204, 346, 348, 350, 436); and causing a respective processing element of a plurality of processing elements (102, 104, 106, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320, 322, 324) to start a respective function or operation in response to a respective upstream synchronizer (110, 112, 326, 328, 332, 334, 338, 340, 426, 428, 430) reaching the predetermined end count sequence value. transmitting, by a sync signal generator, a synchronization signal (116, 204, 346, 348, 350, 436) to a plurality of synchronizers (110,112, 114, 200, 326, 328, 330, 332, 34, 336, 338, 340, 426, 428, 430, 432), wherein the plurality of synchronizers (110,112, 114, 200, 326, 328, 330, 332, 34, 336, 338, 340, 426, 428, 430, 432) include a plurality of upstream synchronizers (110, 112, 326, 328, 332, 334, 338, 340, 426, 428, 430) and a downstream synchronizer (114, 330, 336, 342, 432); wherein the downstream synchronizer is the synchronizer located the farthest away from the sync signal generator and the upstream synchronizers are located closer to the sync signal generator than the downstream synchronizer; causing each synchronizer of the plurality of upstream synchronizers (110, 112, 326, 328, 332, 334, 338, 340, 426, 428, 430) to count from a respective count value until a predetermined end count sequence value in response to receiving the synchronization signal (116, 204, 346, 348, 350, 436), the respective count value being stored at each synchronizer and being representative of a difference in time between a respective upstream synchronizer (110, 112, 326, 328, 332, 334, 338, 340, 426, 428, 430) of the plurality of upstream synchronizers (110, 112, 326, 328, 332, 334, 338, 340, 426, 428, 430) receiving the synchronization signal (116, 204, 346, 348, 350, 436) and the downstream synchronizer (114, 330, 336, 342, 432) receiving the synchronization signal (116, 204, 346, 348, 350, 436); and causing a respective processing element of a plurality of processing elements (102, 104, 106, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320, 322, 324) to start a respective function or operation in response to a respective upstream synchronizer (110, 112, 326, 328, 332, 334, 338, 340, 426, 428, 430) reaching the predetermined end count sequence value.