Differential Driver Power Recovery for Lower IC Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In data processing and transmitting systems, a significant amount of power is wasted in setting up DC conditions of high-speed differential drivers, which is not efficiently utilized, leading to increased power consumption and dissipation.
Innovation Solution
Harnessing the wasted power from low-swing high-speed differential line drivers by connecting load resistors to a power supply, using a voltage regulator and optional voltage booster to recover and regulate this power for supplying peripheral and data processing circuits within the system on a chip (SOC) implementation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If differential drivers draw constant DC current from power supply, then signal swing is achieved as per system specification, but power is wasted in setting up DC conditions of the drivers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers the wasted power from the differential drivers by capturing the voltage drop across the load resistors and using it to power peripheral circuits. The harmful power dissipation is converted into a useful power source through a recovery circuit that includes a regulator to provide stable voltage to circuits like pre-amplifier, PLL, and bias circuits.
2Ease of operation
If load resistors are connected to external power supply, then driver operation is maintained, but overall system power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the power supply function by using the same power connection for both the differential drivers and the peripheral circuits. The load resistors remain connected to the power supply to maintain driver operation, but the recovered power from this connection is used to power peripheral circuits, eliminating the need for separate power supplies and reducing overall system power consumption.
3Productivity
If constant DC current is supplied to differential drivers, then signal transmission is ensured, but power cannot be reused for other circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the power supply system multi-functional by using the power connection to simultaneously supply current to the differential drivers for signal transmission and to power peripheral circuits through power recovery. The same power connection serves multiple purposes: driving the differential outputs and powering supporting circuits like pre-amplifiers and PLLs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces overall system power dissipation by utilizing the wasted power, enabling low power implementation and efficient power management within the SOC.
Implementation Method 1
This power is currently dissipated in setting up the DC conditions of the drivers and hence wasted. This power is available and can be tapped to power part of the peripheral circuits 111, 112 and 114 of the driver, data processing circuits 113 and some of the associated circuits 105 in the SOC 100
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for supplying power to circuits of an integrated circuit (IC) from the wasted power in low-swing high-speed differential line drivers used in the IC, is disclosed. In a high speed line driver the load resistors of the driver are connected to a power supply, either the local power supply or the receiver power supply. DC power for the driver is supplied through these resistors. A large portion of this power, supplied from the power supply is wasted in the DC set-up circuit of the differential line driver. It is proposed to use this wasted power to power selected circuits of an IC. The use of this wasted power from the drivers for powering the circuits reduces the overall power dissipation of the system.