DC Balance Skew Generator for Communication Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional high-speed communication systems face challenges in maintaining reliable data transmission over long distances due to the requirement for perfect DC balance, which can be impractical and may not always result in optimal communication performance.

Innovation Solution

Introducing a DC balance skew in the communication link by using a DC balance skew generator in the transmitter, which intentionally causes a controlled imbalance in the number of zeros and ones, improving communication reliability and reducing error rates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If perfect DC balance is maintained in the communication link, then electromagnetic interference is reduced and signal integrity is improved, but communication reliability deteriorates over long distances and challenging connections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectromagnetic interferenceVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the DC balance parameter from perfect balance (zero skew) to a controlled imbalance (non-zero skew). The DC balance skew generator intentionally creates a predetermined imbalance in the number of zeros and ones transmitted, which surprisingly improves communication reliability over long distances and challenging connections while maintaining acceptable signal integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of maintaining perfect DC balance as conventionally done, the patent inverts the approach by intentionally creating DC imbalance. The DC balance skew generator produces a controlled imbalance that prevents the harmful effects of perfect balancing over long distances, thereby improving communication reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If DC balance skew is introduced to improve communication reliability, then bit error rates are reduced, but DC imbalance increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidDC imbalance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by introducing a controlled, predetermined amount of DC imbalance rather than perfect balance or complete imbalance. The DC balance skew generator creates a specific level of skew that is optimized to improve reliability without causing excessive DC imbalance that would harm signal integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS9544092B2Apparatus for improved communication and associated methods

Publication Date: 2017.01.10 ALTERA CORP

AI summary

An apparatus includes a transmitter adapted to transmit encoded information to a communication link. The transmitter includes a DC balance skew generator. The DC balance skew generator is adapted to skew a DC balance of the information before information is provided to the communication link.