Eyewear USB Hub Switching for Low-Power Multi-SoC Debug Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing eyewear devices with multiple SoCs face challenges in efficient low-power debugging and automation, as they often require persistent USB connections that keep SoCs awake, leading to increased power consumption and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
The eyewear device incorporates a USB hub that allows simultaneous communication with multiple SoCs, along with control logic and switches to enable low-power debugging and automation, enabling SoCs to enter low-power modes without persistent USB connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If persistent USB connections are used for debugging multiple SoCs, then debug access is maintained, but power consumption increases and SoCs cannot enter low-power modes
Solution Approach 1:
A USB hub is introduced as an intermediary device between the USB port and multiple SoCs. The hub manages connections to multiple SoCs simultaneously without requiring persistent USB connections to each individual SoC, allowing SoCs to enter low-power modes while maintaining debug access through the hub's coordination
Solution Approach 2:
The USB hub provides multi-functional capability by enabling a single USB port to communicate with multiple SoCs simultaneously. This universal interface allows one USB connection to serve multiple debugging purposes across different SoCs, eliminating the need for persistent individual connections to each SoC
2Reliability
If persistent USB connections are used to maintain debug access, then debugging capability is ensured, but debugging efficiency decreases due to inability to enter low-power modes
Solution Approach 1:
The USB hub acts as a mediator that coordinates debugging sessions across multiple SoCs. It manages wake-up events and connection states, allowing SoCs to remain in low-power modes during idle periods while ensuring debugging capability is rapidly re-established when needed, thereby improving debugging efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of maintaining continuous persistent USB connections, the system uses periodic or on-demand connection activation through the USB hub. The hub manages intermittent connections that are activated only when debugging is required, allowing SoCs to enter and remain in low-power modes between debugging sessions
3Reliability
If multiple USB connections are used for each SoC, then individual debug access is possible, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual USB connection paths to different SoCs are merged into a single USB hub interface. The hub consolidates multiple connection management functions into one centralized component, allowing individual debug access to each SoC through a unified interface rather than requiring separate persistent USB connections for each SoC
Solution Approach 2:
The USB hub provides a universal interface that handles communication with multiple SoCs through a single connection point. This multi-functional device replaces the need for multiple dedicated USB connections, reducing the overall USB connection structure complexity while maintaining the ability to access each SoC individually when needed
Data Source
AI summary
An eyewear device that includes a plurality of SoCs that share processing workload, and a USB port configured to perform low-power debugging and automation of the plurality of SoCs, such as using either a Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter (UART) or a Serial Wire Debug (SWD). The eyewear includes a USB hub configured such that the USB port can simultaneously communicate with the plurality of SoCs. The USB hub can be shut down to disable the USB hub, and all the SoCs can enter their low-power modes without being kept awake by a persistent USB connection. The eyewear includes a first switch and a control logic, wherein the control logic controls the first switch and enables the USB port to perform low-power debugging and automation of the SoCs. The eyewear further includes a second switch, wherein the control logic controls the second switch to enable the USB port to perform low-power debugging and automation of the SoCs via a processor, or to enable the USB port to control each of the SoCs.