Data-on-Supply Repeater for Noise-Resilient Power Bus Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in effectively communicating data over power buses due to noise corruption and the need for complex digital control, especially in applications like USB Power Delivery, where data-on-supply solutions are limited.
Innovation Solution
A repeater circuit with a direction detector, input multiplexer, and output multiplexer, along with a band-pass filter and low-pass filter, is used to identify and isolate the transmitting conductor, attenuate noise, and route analog data signals between power bus segments with minimal digital interaction, enabling efficient data communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If data communication is implemented over power buses, then power delivery functionality is enhanced, but noise corruption increases and data reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The power bus is divided into multiple segments with dedicated repeaters positioned between them. Each repeater handles a specific segment, isolating noise from one segment from affecting other segments. This segmentation allows data communication to be maintained across the power bus while reducing noise propagation, thereby improving data reliability without sacrificing power delivery versatility.
2Reliability
If complex digital control is used for data communication, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex digital control mechanisms with an analog-based repeater circuit that operates passively. The repeater uses analog signal amplification and filtering to maintain data integrity without requiring complex digital processing or control logic. This substitution reduces device complexity while maintaining communication reliability through purely analog signal processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The repeater circuit is designed to automatically detect and amplify incoming analog data signals without requiring external digital control or complex processing. The circuit self-regulates by passively amplifying signals that exceed a threshold voltage level, eliminating the need for complex digital control systems while maintaining reliable communication.
3Power
If data signals are transmitted on power bus conductors, then power delivery capability is enhanced, but noise interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The repeater acts as an intermediary device positioned between power bus segments. It receives analog data signals from one segment, amplifies them, and transmits them to the next segment. This intermediary function allows data signals to be transmitted over the power bus conductors while the repeater's signal processing capabilities filter out noise interference, maintaining power delivery capability without excessive noise.
Solution Approach 2:
The repeater circuit changes the electrical parameters of the data signal by amplifying its voltage level and filtering its frequency content. By adjusting these parameters, the repeater enhances the signal strength to overcome noise interference while maintaining compatibility with the power bus conductors, thus enabling data transmission without sacrificing power delivery capability.
4Ease of operation
If analog data signals are routed between power bus segments, then data communication is enabled, but signal degradation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The repeater ensures continuous signal transmission by continuously monitoring and amplifying analog data signals as they pass through the power bus segments. This continuous action prevents signal degradation by maintaining constant signal strength and integrity throughout the transmission path, enabling reliable data communication without interruption or significant degradation.
Data Source
AI summary
This application discusses methods and apparatus for a data-on-supply repeater. In an example, a repeater can include a repeater circuit configured to receive a power signal at an input and to provide a representation of a received analog data signal at an output, a direction detector configured to receive the power signal from a first bus conductor of a plurality of bus conductors, to identify the first buss conductor of the plurality of bus conductors as a transmitting conductor, and to provide an output indicative of the transmitting conductor, a first input multiplexer configured to couple the transmitting conductor to the input of the repeater circuit in response to the output of the direction detector, and an output multiplexer configured to couple the output of the repeater circuit to a second bus conductor of the plurality of bus conductors, wherein the second bus conductor is different than the transmitting conductor.