Edge-Triggered Digital Isolator Circuit for High-Speed Data Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing isolator circuitry for interfacing between different power domains in electronic devices faces challenges in high-speed data transmission, leading to increased power consumption and cost due to the use of multiple parallel data streams, and there is a need for efficient methods to prevent circuitry damage.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of edge-triggered digital isolator circuitry using transmitter and receiver channel circuitry, which conditions data transmission across an isolation barrier by utilizing rising and falling edges of digital data streams, generating voltage rings to represent these edges, and reconstructing the data using edge detection and validation techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If multiple parallel data streams are used for high-speed data transmission across isolation barriers, then data transmission speed is improved, but power consumption and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data transmission process into distinct phases: edge detection at the transmitter, magnetic coupling across the isolation barrier, and edge reconstruction at the receiver. By dividing the data stream into individual edge transitions (rising and falling edges) and transmitting them separately through the isolator, the system achieves high-speed transmission without requiring multiple parallel data streams, thereby reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic edge-triggered transmission where data is transmitted as a sequence of periodic edge transitions rather than continuous parallel streams. The transmitter generates regular rising and falling edges that couple through the isolation barrier, and the receiver reconstructs data based on these periodic edge patterns, enabling high-speed transmission with reduced power requirements compared to continuous parallel transmission.
2Speed
If multiple parallel data streams are used for high-speed data transmission across isolation barriers, then data transmission speed is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential edge transition information (rising and falling edges) from the data stream and transmits this extracted information across the isolation barrier. By taking out only the critical edge events rather than transmitting complete parallel data streams, the system reduces the number of transmission channels needed, simplifying the overall device architecture while maintaining high-speed transmission capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces magnetic coupling as an intermediary mechanism between the transmitter and receiver across the isolation barrier. The edge-triggered signals from the transmitter induce magnetic flux in the receiver through magnetic coupling, enabling data transmission without direct electrical connection. This intermediary approach simplifies the isolation barrier design compared to multiple parallel physical connections, reducing device complexity while achieving high-speed transmission.
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 power consumption and cost while ensuring reliable high-speed data transmission across power domains by effectively isolating and reconstructing digital data, minimizing the risk of circuitry damage.
Implementation Method 1
a first inductor having a terminal coupled to the second terminal of the capacitor; and a second inductor magnetically coupled to the first inductor across an isolation barrier
Data Source
AI summary
An example apparatus includes: transmitter channel circuitry including: a buffer having an output; and a capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the capacitor coupled to the output of the buffer; an isolation transformer including: a first inductor having a terminal coupled to the second terminal of the capacitor; and a second inductor magnetically coupled to the first inductor across an isolation barrier; and receiver channel circuitry coupled to the second inductor.