Communication System Control Frame GPIO Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Communication networks face challenges in minimizing the number of GPIO pins required for connecting processors to RFICs and in reducing power consumption, particularly due to excessive power usage when detecting start and end of frame data for mode transitions.
Innovation Solution
A communication system comprising configuration registers, a packet processor, an interrupt processor, a timing monitor circuit, a configuration sampler, a control-frame processor, and a transceiver is used to efficiently transmit and receive control frames, reducing the need for GPIO pins and minimizing power consumption by dynamically switching interface modes without continuous polling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a detection system is used to detect EOF and SOF data and generate mode select signals, then the delay in detecting and switching interface mode is overcome and data loss is avoided, but the detection system must be constantly powered to continuously poll the interface resulting in excessive power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The interface is designed to self-detect EOF and SOF data conditions and automatically generate mode select signals without requiring a separate powered detection system. The interface monitors its own state and triggers mode transitions autonomously when data conditions are met, eliminating the need for continuous polling by an external detection system.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous polling, the system uses event-driven periodic action where the interface only actively detects and responds to EOF and SOF data when communication data is actually being transmitted or received. During idle periods, the detection function is suspended, reducing power consumption while maintaining reliability during active communication.
2Use of energy by moving object
If software-implemented logic is used to detect SOF and EOF data, then the interface can be switched between idle and active modes to reduce power consumption, but the software logic is not fast enough causing delay and potential loss of communication data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces software-implemented detection logic with hardware-based detection circuits within the interface. This hardware implementation provides faster response times for detecting EOF and SOF data conditions, eliminating the speed limitations of software processing while maintaining the ability to switch modes for power savings.
3Reliability
If the processor uses a significant number of GPIO pins to transmit control data to peripheral circuits, then the control data can be transmitted reliably, but the number of GPIO pins available to connect additional peripheral circuits is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The interface is designed to handle multiple control functions (interrupts, status bits, clock data, voltage-mode select signals, enable bits) through a unified control data transmission mechanism. This multi-functional interface reduces the need for separate dedicated pins for each control signal, freeing up GPIO pins for additional peripheral connections while maintaining reliable control data transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication system for communicating control data between a processor and an interface includes configuration registers, a packet processor, an interrupt processor, a timing monitor, a configuration sampler, a control-frame processor, a mode selector, and a transceiver. The processor, timing monitor, and configuration sampler generate control data, a timing signal and frame structure data, respectively. The packet processor generates a transmit control configuration packet, which includes the control data. The control-frame processor inserts the transmit control configuration packet into a first control frame, outputs the control frame to the interface and extracts a receive-configuration packet from a second control frame for generating one or more interrupts. The mode selector generates mode and idle signals for determining the mode of the interface, based on the idle signal. In one implementation, the system uses JESD control frames to reduce GPIO pin usage.