Data Sampler with Integrated DFE and Offset Cancellation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional data receiver circuits with pre-amplifiers are power hungry and occupy large circuit area, making them impractical for high bandwidth interfaces and die-to-die communication, where they consume more power and space than the interfaces they are intended to support, and are limited by process, voltage, and temperature variations.

Innovation Solution

A data sampler with built-in decision feedback equalization (DFE) and offset cancellation, which eliminates the need for a pre-amplifier by integrating DFE and offset cancellation within the data sampler, allowing for half-rate or quarter-rate data sampling with reduced power consumption and circuit area, enabling efficient implementation in high bandwidth interfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a pre-amplifier is used in conventional data receiver circuits, then signal amplification and equalization are achieved, but power consumption and circuit area increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal amplification and equalizationVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the pre-amplifier functionality directly into the data sampler circuit, combining signal amplification, equalization, and sampling functions into a single integrated unit. This eliminates the need for separate pre-amplifier circuits and reduces overall power consumption while maintaining signal processing capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The data sampler circuit is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the sampling circuit and the pre-amplifier, providing signal amplification, decision feedback equalization, and offset cancellation all within one integrated circuit block.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a pre-amplifier is used in conventional data receiver circuits, then signal amplification and equalization are achieved, but circuit area increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal amplification and equalizationVSAvoidcircuit area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If conventional data receiver circuits with pre-amplifiers are used, then signal processing is achieved, but they are limited by process, voltage, and temperature variations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal processingVSAvoidPVT variations

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements decision feedback equalization where the output of the data sampler is fed back to adjust the sampling timing and offset. This feedback mechanism continuously compensates for process, voltage, and temperature variations, making the circuit adaptive to PVT changes while maintaining accurate signal processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The circuit employs dynamic adjustment of sampling timing and offset based on feedback from the data output. This dynamic behavior allows the circuit to adapt to changing operating conditions including PVT variations, improving robustness across different environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11677593B1Sampler with built-in DFE and offset cancellation

Publication Date: 2023.06.13 CADENCE DESIGN SYST INC

AI summary

Various embodiments provide for a data sampler with built-in decision feedback equalization (DFE) and offset cancellation. For some embodiments, two or more data samplers described herein can be used to implement a data signal receiver circuit, which can use those two or more data samplers to facilitate half-rate or quarter-rate data sampling.