AC-Coupled Receiver Activation Using Voltage Swing Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing single-ended AC-coupled signaling systems in die-to-die communication suffer from power dissipation waste during idle mode operation due to constant direct current consumption for DC restoration mechanisms, and back-channel signaling for receiver control introduces excessive latency and hardware overhead.

Innovation Solution

Implement a voltage swing detector within the receiver to directly control the activation and deactivation of the receiver based on threshold voltage levels, eliminating the need for back-channel signaling by using a voltage swing detector coupled between the channel and the receiver's activation switch.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a DC restoration mechanism is implemented in the receiver to detect data transitions, then data detection capability is improved, but power consumption increases due to constant direct current consumption even during idle mode

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata detection capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The receiver is designed to dynamically switch between active and idle modes based on channel activity detection. The receiver front-end circuitry can be deactivated during idle periods while maintaining the ability to quickly reactivate when data transmission resumes, allowing the system to adapt its power consumption to actual operational needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the transmitted signal itself to control receiver activation. The transmitter sends a control indication that automatically triggers the receiver to activate or deactivate, eliminating the need for separate control channels or manual intervention. The receiver monitors the channel and self-regulates its power state based on the presence or absence of valid data signals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If back-channel signaling is used to control receiver activation and deactivation, then receiver control capability is improved, but system latency increases and hardware overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereceiver control capabilityVSAvoidsystem latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control function for receiver activation is merged with the existing data transmission channel. The same physical channel used for data communication also carries the control indication, eliminating the need for a separate back-channel infrastructure. This integration reduces hardware complexity and eliminates the latency associated with separate control signaling paths

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The transmitted data signal itself serves as the intermediary that triggers receiver activation. Rather than using a separate control signal, the presence or absence of valid data transitions on the channel acts as the control mechanism, simplifying the system architecture and reducing latency by eliminating intermediate control stages

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12519501B2Transmitter-controlled receiver activation and deactivation for alternate current (AC)-coupled data signaling

Publication Date: 2026.01.06 NVIDIA CORP

AI summary

A system includes a transmission driver coupled to a channel, a capacitor coupled in series to the channel, and a receiver coupled to the channel. The receiver includes a front-end circuit to detect, as data, transitions in voltage over the channel, the front-end circuit including an activation switch. A voltage swing detector is coupled between the channel and the activation switch. The voltage swing detector detects a voltage swing in the voltage that satisfies one of a first threshold value or a second threshold value and causes, in response to the detection, the activation switch to one of open or close, respectively.