Data-Line Reference Voltage Generation Without Separate Bandgap Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bandgap reference circuits require high supply voltage, leading to routing congestion, signal crosstalk, and significant IC footprint, making them inefficient for integrated circuits.
Innovation Solution
Generating a substantially constant DC reference voltage based on bandgap reference voltage from data signal transmission lines, eliminating the need for a separate bandgap reference circuit in the baseband chip by using a reference voltage generator that extracts and processes common mode voltages from differential data signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bandgap reference circuit is used to generate a stable reference voltage, then temperature independence and supply voltage independence are improved, but supply voltage requirement increases and routing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the bandgap reference voltage from a separate reference circuit and embeds it within the differential signal transmission lines. By coupling the bandgap reference circuit to the differential signal lines and extracting the reference voltage through common-mode voltage extraction, the design eliminates the need for separate high-voltage routing while maintaining reference voltage stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The differential signal transmission lines serve dual purposes: transmitting data signals and carrying the bandgap reference voltage. The same physical infrastructure (transmission lines) is used for both signal transmission and reference voltage distribution, eliminating the need for dedicated reference voltage routing and reducing overall routing complexity.
2Reliability
If a bandgap reference circuit is used to generate a stable reference voltage, then temperature independence and supply voltage independence are improved, but IC footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the bandgap reference circuit with the differential signal transmission infrastructure. By integrating the reference voltage generation and distribution functions into the existing signal path, the design consolidates multiple functions into shared physical space, thereby reducing the overall IC footprint while maintaining reference voltage stability.
3Reliability
If a bandgap reference circuit is used to generate a stable reference voltage, then reference voltage stability is improved, but supply voltage requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the bandgap reference circuit by coupling it to differential signal lines with controlled impedance and specific voltage levels. This allows the circuit to operate at lower supply voltages while maintaining temperature independence and supply voltage independence through the differential signaling mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for generating a substantially constant DC reference voltage. The apparatus includes a reference voltage generator configured to generate a substantially constant direct current (DC) reference voltage based on a voltage on a data signal transmission line, wherein the voltage is based on a bandgap reference voltage. In one implementation, the data signal transmission line is a differential signal transmission line and the voltage is a common mode voltage. In another implementation, the data signal transmission line is an I-data signal transmission line and a Q-data signal transmission line, and the voltage is an average or weighted-average of the common mode voltages of the I- and Q-differential signals. In another implementation, the reference voltage is based on a single-ended (e.g., positive- and/or negative)-component or vice-versa of I- and Q-data signals, respectively.