Clock Edge Transmission Using Narrow Duty-Cycle Pulses
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Solution Overview
Problem
In integrated circuits, efficient clock signal transmission is hindered by noise pickup from coexisting circuits, leading to degraded signal quality, and conventional methods that enhance signal amplitude to counter this increase power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an edge extraction circuit that generates a clock signal with a substantially smaller duty cycle, coupled with a transistor, transmission line, termination circuit, and edge detection circuit, including an inverter or comparator, to reduce power consumption while maintaining signal quality by minimizing the transistor's on-time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the amplitude of the current signal is increased to ensure good signal quality, then the signal quality is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic action by generating a narrow pulse signal with a duty cycle of 10% or less, instead of continuous high-amplitude signaling. The transistor switches periodically to generate pulses that contain sufficient edge information for clock recovery, reducing average power consumption while maintaining signal quality through optimized pulse timing and amplitude.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the duty cycle parameter to 10% or less, transforming the traditional continuous clock signal into a narrow pulse train. This parameter change allows the signal to maintain edge detection capability while significantly reducing the average current draw and power consumption of the transmission circuit.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the duty cycle is reduced to minimize power consumption, then the power consumption is reduced, but the signal quality may be degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The narrow pulse signal with periodic timing maintains sufficient edge information for reliable clock recovery despite the reduced duty cycle. The periodic nature ensures that rising and falling edges occur at predictable intervals, allowing receiving circuits to accurately reconstruct the clock signal even with minimal pulse width.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by carefully designing the pulse generation timing and width to ensure that sufficient edge information is embedded in the narrow pulses before transmission. This preliminary optimization of pulse parameters ensures that the reduced duty cycle does not compromise signal quality at the receiving end.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods are provided for an extraction circuit. In one configuration, an apparatus includes: an edge extraction circuit for receiving a first clock signal and outputting a second clock signal, wherein a duty cycle of the second clock is substantially smaller than a duty cycle of the first clock; a transistor for receiving the second clock signal and outputting a current signal; a transmission line for receiving the current signal on a first end and transmitting the current signal to a second end; a termination circuit for receiving the current signal at the second end and converting the current signal into a voltage signal; and an edge detection circuit for outputting a third clock by detecting an edge of the voltage signal. In one embodiment, the edge detection circuit comprises an inverter. In another embodiment, the edge detection circuit comprises a comparator.