Data Transmission Circuit Segmented Driver for Power Reduction

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data transmission circuits face challenges in minimizing bandwidth demands and power consumption while ensuring smooth data transmission and reception, especially as data transmission speeds and amounts increase.

Innovation Solution

The proposed data transmission circuit includes an encoder to generate a transition signal indicating the transition state of the input data signal, a first serializer to serialize the transition signal, an auxiliary driver to drive the output node based on the serialized transition signal, a second serializer to serialize the input data signal, and a main driver to drive the output node based on the serialized input data signal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the size of transmission transistors is increased to ensure high linearity, then data transmission performance is improved, but bandwidth demands and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission performanceVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The driver circuit is divided into a main driver and an auxiliary driver. The main driver handles continuous data transmission while the auxiliary driver is activated only during transition periods (rising or falling edges) to provide additional driving current. This segmentation allows the circuit to maintain high linearity during transitions without continuously operating at high power levels, thus improving data transmission performance while reducing overall power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the size of transmission transistors is increased to ensure high linearity, then data transmission performance is improved, but bandwidth demands increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission performanceVSAvoidbandwidth demands

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The driver circuit is divided into a main driver and an auxiliary driver. The main driver handles continuous data transmission while the auxiliary driver is activated only during transition periods (rising or falling edges) to provide additional driving current. This segmentation allows the circuit to maintain high linearity during transitions without continuously operating at high power levels, thus improving data transmission performance while reducing overall power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The auxiliary driver operates periodically only during signal transitions (rising or falling edges) rather than continuously. The transition detector identifies these periodic transition events and activates the auxiliary driver accordingly. This periodic operation reduces the overall bandwidth demand compared to continuous high-power operation, while still providing the necessary driving strength during critical transition periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If continuous driving is used to ensure smooth data transmission, then transmission reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The driver circuit dynamically adjusts its operation mode based on the input signal state. During stable periods (no transition), only the main driver operates at lower power. During transition periods (rising or falling edges detected by the transition detector), the auxiliary driver is dynamically activated to provide additional driving current. This dynamic adaptation ensures reliable transmission during critical transitions while minimizing power consumption during stable periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The circuit changes its driving parameters based on signal transitions. The auxiliary driver modifies the driving current strength dynamically - providing high current during transitions when needed for reliable signal propagation, and remaining inactive during stable periods. This parameter change approach maintains transmission reliability during critical moments while reducing average power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250080145A1Data transmission circuit, system including the same, and data transmission method

Publication Date: 2025.03.06 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A data transmission circuit including: an encoder configured to output a transition signal that indicates a transition state of an input data signal; a first serializer that receives the transition signal; an auxiliary driver configured to receive an output of the first serializer and drive an output node; a second serializer that receives the input data signal; and a main driver configured to receive an output of the second serializer and drive the output node.