Audio Signal Routing with Header Forwarding and Sample Rate Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current audio data processing systems in electronic devices face challenges in flexibility and configurability, leading to prolonged realization times due to static, one-to-one routing of audio data streams, which is exacerbated by the need for finalized firmware and software configurations.
Innovation Solution
A system with programmable rate generators, transaction control registers, and output control registers allows flexible audio data routing and sample rate converter allocation, enabling on-the-fly configuration changes through USB re-enumeration, and specialized hardware for handling header data to minimize processing overheads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If static one-to-one routing is used for audio data streams, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability and versatility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic routing by allowing the routing configuration to be changed at runtime through USB re-enumeration. The system transitions from static one-to-one routing to dynamic many-to-many routing, where audio data streams can be flexibly routed between multiple USB endpoints and sample rate converters based on runtime requirements. This is achieved through programmable rate generators and control registers that can be reconfigured without hardware changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal audio processing system where a single hardware platform can support multiple routing configurations and applications. The many-to-many routing capability allows the same hardware resources (USB endpoints, sample rate converters) to serve multiple functions and configurations, making the system adaptable to different audio processing scenarios without requiring dedicated hardware for each configuration.
2Productivity
If firmware and software finalization is required before manufacturing, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables preliminary manufacturing of ASIC designs with embedded routing logic before firmware finalization. The system allows routing configurations to be programmed and adjusted after manufacturing through USB re-enumeration, eliminating the need to wait for firmware completion before manufacturing. This preliminary action significantly reduces time-to-market while maintaining routing configuration accuracy through post-manufacturing programming.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sample rate converters are used with programmable routing, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service mechanisms where the system automatically manages the complexity of multiple control registers and programmable rate generators. The USB re-enumeration process automatically configures the routing between USB endpoints and sample rate converters without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by programmatically setting up the complex routing configurations, reducing the perceived complexity for users while maintaining high adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for processing audio data includes an isochronous data interface to output a first stream of audio data, a plurality of output sample rate converters to output a second stream of audio data, a plurality of transaction control registers to control routing of the first stream of audio data between the isochronous data interface and an output sample rate converter of the plurality of output sample rate converters, a processor to remove first header data from the first stream of audio data output from the isochronous data interface and to write the first header data to a circular buffer, a first audio header register to control forwarding of the first header data for prepending to the second stream of audio data output by the plurality of output sample rate converters, and a plurality of output control registers to control write enables of the plurality of output sample rate converters.