Cross-Coupled Receiver Circuit for Low-Power Data Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data isolators face challenges in achieving high-speed, low-power operation while maintaining accuracy and robustness, especially when dealing with circuits operating at different voltages and ground potentials, as they often require higher power levels associated with differential amplifiers.

Innovation Solution

A low-power differential data isolator circuit utilizing cross-coupled single-ended amplifiers referenced to a time-varying potential, allowing for efficient signal transmission and reception across an isolation barrier with reduced power consumption and improved noise margin.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional differential amplifiers are used for high-speed data transmission across isolation barriers, then signal integrity and noise margin are improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal integrityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The differential receiver is segmented into two separate single-ended amplifiers, each referenced to different time-varying potentials. This segmentation allows each amplifier to operate independently at lower power while collectively providing differential signal reception with improved noise margin and signal integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Use of energy by moving object

If single-ended amplifiers are used to reduce power consumption, then power efficiency is improved, but noise margin and signal robustness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidnoise margin

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The reference potentials for the single-ended amplifiers are made time-varying rather than static. By dynamically adjusting the reference potentials in synchronization with the differential signal transitions, the single-ended amplifiers achieve enhanced noise margin and signal robustness comparable to traditional differential amplifiers while maintaining lower power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Speed

If isolators are designed for high-speed operation, then data transmission rate is improved, but power consumption and circuit complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission rateVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The high-speed differential receiver is segmented into two independent single-ended amplifiers with time-varying references. This segmentation enables high-speed operation through simplified amplifier designs that can be optimized for speed individually, while the overall power consumption remains lower due to the single-ended architecture of each segment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3809593B1A low power receiver circuit for isolated data communications

Publication Date: 2024.05.01 ANALOG DEVICES INC

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AI summary

Data isolators are described. The data isolators include a differential receiver having cross-coupled single-ended amplifiers. The single-ended amplifiers may be referenced to a time-varying reference potential. The cross-coupling of the single-ended amplifiers may provide high speed, low power consumption operation of the data isolator.