Active Cable Interface With Asymmetric Linear/Nonlinear Processing

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing active cables suffer from high power consumption and cost due to the inclusion of non-linear interface circuitry at both ends, which is unnecessary and contributes to signal impairments like crosstalk and jitter.

Innovation Solution

Implement interface circuitry at each end of the active cable with either linear or non-linear processing, ensuring non-linear processing is performed at only one end to reduce power consumption and cost while maintaining signal quality and reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If non-linear interface circuitry is included at both ends of the active cable, then signal quality and link reliability are improved, but power consumption and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelink reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by configuring the first active cable interface with non-linear driving circuitry and linear receiving circuitry, while the second active cable interface has linear driving circuitry and non-linear receiving circuitry. This asymmetric configuration ensures that non-linear processing is performed at both transmit and receive ends without requiring non-linear circuitry at both interfaces, thereby reducing power consumption and cost while maintaining signal quality and link reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Reliability

If non-linear interface circuitry is included at both ends of the active cable, then signal quality and link reliability are improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelink reliabilityVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by configuring the first active cable interface with non-linear driving circuitry and linear receiving circuitry, while the second active cable interface has linear driving circuitry and non-linear receiving circuitry. This asymmetric configuration ensures that non-linear processing is performed at both transmit and receive ends without requiring non-linear circuitry at both interfaces, thereby reducing power consumption and cost while maintaining signal quality and link reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Reliability

If non-linear processing is performed at both ends, then transmission impairments are corrected, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidinterface circuitry complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by configuring the first active cable interface with non-linear driving circuitry and linear receiving circuitry, while the second active cable interface has linear driving circuitry and non-linear receiving circuitry. This asymmetric configuration ensures that non-linear processing is performed at both transmit and receive ends without requiring non-linear circuitry at both interfaces, thereby reducing power consumption and cost while maintaining signal quality and link reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the non-linear processing function between the two ends of the active cable. The first interface performs non-linear driving (transmit processing) while the second interface performs non-linear receiving (receive processing). This segmentation allows the system to achieve comprehensive transmission impairment correction without requiring both interfaces to have complete non-linear processing capabilities, thereby reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12463731B1Active cable interface with hybrid direct drive and re-timer integration

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 MARVELL ASIA PTE LTD

AI summary

Interface circuitry for an active cable includes a first active cable interface configured for coupling to a first end of the active cable, and a second active cable interface configured for coupling to a second end of the active cable. The first active cable interface includes first transmitter circuitry including linear driving circuitry or non-linear driving circuitry, and first receiver circuitry including linear receiving circuitry or non-linear receiving circuitry. The second active cable interface includes second transmitter circuitry including linear driving circuitry when first transmitter circuitry includes non-linear receiving circuitry, and non-linear driving circuitry when first transmitter circuitry includes linear receiving circuitry. The second receiver circuitry includes linear receiving circuitry when first receiver circuitry includes non-linear driving circuitry, and non-linear receiving circuitry when first receiver circuitry includes linear driving circuitry.