Delay-Chain Data Transmission for Low-Power Image Sensor Readout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data transmission methods, particularly differential signaling, face challenges in reducing power consumption and transmission delays due to high resistance and capacitance in long transmission lines, especially in high-speed data transmission for multimedia data like image data, which requires efficient data delay management and reduced power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a data transmission device with a delay chain unit comprising switching elements connected to form a data delay chain, where control signals are used to pipeline data signals, reducing RC delays and eliminating the need for current mode drivers and sense amplifiers, thereby lowering power consumption and enhancing transmission efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If differential signaling methods are used for high speed transmission, then transmission speed is improved, but power consumption increases due to current mode drivers and sense amplifiers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the power-consuming current mode drivers and sense amplifiers from the differential signaling system. By eliminating these active components and using passive transmission lines with switching elements, the system achieves high-speed transmission without the associated power consumption overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive, power-consuming active components (current mode drivers and sense amplifiers) with simpler, lower-power switching elements and transmission lines. This substitution uses less complex, lower-cost components that consume significantly less power while maintaining transmission functionality.
2Device complexity
If long transmission lines are used to transmit data signals in CMOS circuits, then device complexity is reduced, but transmission delay increases due to high resistance and capacitance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the long transmission line into multiple shorter sections by introducing switching elements at intermediate points. This segmentation reduces the effective transmission distance for each segment, thereby reducing the cumulative RC delay while maintaining the overall system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamically controllable switching elements along the transmission line that can actively manage signal propagation. These switching elements can be controlled to optimize signal transmission timing and reduce delays caused by passive RC characteristics of long transmission lines.
3Device complexity
If a single transmission line transmits multiple column data signals during predetermined time periods, then device complexity is reduced, but transmission speed is limited by sequential transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transmission process by dividing multiple column data signals into different time slots and using switching elements to route them through the single transmission line sequentially but efficiently. This allows the system to maintain simple hardware while increasing effective transmission throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic switching control to transmit multiple column data signals through a single transmission line. By systematically alternating between different data signals in predetermined time periods with optimized timing, the system achieves higher effective transmission speed while maintaining hardware simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A data transmission device includes a control unit and a delay chain unit. The control unit outputs a first control signal through an nth control signal, where n is a natural number. The delay chain unit includes a first switching element through an nth switching element. The switching elements receive a first data signal through an nth data signal and perform pipelining operations on the first through nth data signals based upon the first through nth control signals, respectively, to output the pipelined data signals as at least one data stream. The switching elements are connected to each other to form at least one data delay chain.