eUSB Repeater Lockup Detection Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
USB repeaters can become locked up due to noise or aborted packets, leading to incorrect operation and potential contention on the bus.
Innovation Solution
A lockup detection circuit is implemented in the eUSB repeater to detect idle conditions and enable signals, setting a timer to reset the repeater if the idle condition persists, thus preventing lockups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the eUSB repeater operates without lockup detection, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential lockups from noise or aborted packets
Solution Approach 1:
The lockup detection circuit proactively monitors the repeater state by detecting idle conditions on the receiver and enable signals on the transmitter before actual lockup occurs. When an idle condition is detected for a predetermined time period while the transmitter is enabled, the circuit preemptively triggers a reset, preventing the lockup from developing and maintaining reliable operation.
2Reliability
If the timer duration is extended to detect lockup conditions, then the reliability improves by preventing false resets, but the loss of time increases during normal operation
Solution Approach 1:
The predetermined time period parameter is carefully selected to distinguish between temporary idle conditions (normal operation) and sustained idle conditions (lockup). By optimizing this time threshold, the circuit achieves reliable lockup detection while minimizing unnecessary resets and time loss during normal communication pauses.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of a method and a device of lockup detection for an eUSB repeater are described. In an embodiment, the method involves detecting received data at an analog receiver on a first side of the eUSB repeater, detecting an enable signal for an analog transmitter on a second side of the eUSB repeater, detecting an idle condition of the analog receiver on the first side of the eUSB repeater after detecting the enable signal, setting a timer, determining that the timer has elapsed, and resetting the eUSB repeater after the timer has elapsed while an idle condition is detected on the first side and the enable signal is detected on the second side of the eUSB repeater.