Configurable Transmitter Timer Circuit for Data Rate Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional transmitter devices in high-speed communication systems lack flexibility to operate at different data rates and suffer from increased latency due to parallel processing of digital data.
Innovation Solution
A configurable transmitter device with a reconfigurable timer circuit that adjusts timing for serial transmission, utilizing a plurality of configurable retimers and multiplexors to enable or disable portions based on the data rate, reducing latency by serializing data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional transmitter devices process digital data in parallel manner, then data processing capability is improved, but latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional parallel processing approach by implementing serial processing of digital data through a timer circuit that sequentially processes data bits. This inversion reduces latency by eliminating the timing overhead and synchronization requirements inherent in parallel processing, while still achieving effective data transmission through the serial interface.
2Device complexity
If conventional transmitter devices are configured for single data rate, then device simplicity is improved, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic configurability in the timer circuit, allowing it to be reconfigured for different data rates through programmable timing parameters. The timer circuit can dynamically adjust its operation mode and timing characteristics based on the required data rate, enabling the transmitter to adapt to various communication standards and environments without requiring multiple dedicated hardware configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the timer circuit's operational characteristics to achieve different data rates. By modifying timing parameters, clock frequencies, and data width configurations of the timer circuit, the transmitter can operate at multiple data rates while maintaining a single unified hardware architecture, thus balancing simplicity with adaptability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If configurable timer circuit uses multiple retimers and multiplexors, then data rate adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality within the timer circuit by designing retimers and multiplexors that can operate in different configurations depending on the required data rate. The same hardware components serve multiple functions across different operating modes, reducing the need for dedicated components for each data rate and thereby managing complexity while maintaining high adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the timer circuit into modular retimer units and multiplexor stages that can be selectively enabled or disabled based on the configured data rate. This segmentation allows the circuit to scale its complexity according to operational requirements, enabling high data rate adaptability while keeping the active circuit complexity manageable by only activating necessary segments for each operating mode.
Data Source
AI summary
A transmitter device includes a configurable timer circuit that adjusts timing of input data for serial transmission of the input data. The configurable timer circuit may be configured depending on the configured data rate of the transmitter device. In one embodiment, the configurable timer circuit includes a plurality of configurable retimers that retime the input data where at least a portion of one of the plurality of configurable retimers is enabled based on the configured data rate.