Flexible Sensor Hub Routing to Cut SoC Delay and DRAM Load
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number and type of sensors in automobiles place significant burdens on System on a Chip (SoC) devices, particularly due to the need for reliable processing of sensor data across multiple systems, leading to delays and bandwidth issues in existing configurations.
Innovation Solution
A hub is introduced to receive and distribute sensor data directly to appropriate recipients in the format they require, bypassing the need for intermediate storage and reformatting in DRAM, using a demultiplexer to filter and multiplexers to route data to formatters, reducing delays and bandwidth demands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensor data is provided to DRAM for storage and then retrieved by each recipient, then data can be stored and accessed by multiple systems, but processing delays increase and DRAM bandwidth becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data processing architecture by introducing a hub that divides the data distribution function from the general-purpose DRAM storage function. The hub creates dedicated data paths that segment the monolithic memory-access model into multiple parallel distribution channels, allowing simultaneous data delivery to multiple recipients without contention for DRAM bandwidth.
Solution Approach 2:
The hub acts as an intermediary component between the sensor data source and multiple recipients. It receives data streams, performs format conversion, and distributes processed data to various systems (ADAS, infotainment, telematics) without requiring them to directly access DRAM, thereby reducing processing delays and bandwidth requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If each recipient retrieves and reformats data from DRAM independently, then each system can process data in its required format, but DRAM bandwidth requirements increase and processing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the format conversion function into the hub, combining data distribution and format adaptation into a single centralized operation. Instead of each recipient independently retrieving and reformating data (which would require multiple DRAM access operations), the hub performs format conversion once and distributes the reformatted data to multiple recipients simultaneously, improving processing efficiency while maintaining format compatibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensor types and systems are integrated into the SoC, then functionality and data utility increase, but the burden on the SoC device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hub provides a universal data distribution interface that handles multiple sensor types (cameras, radar, LIDAR) and multiple recipient systems through a single standardized architecture. This multi-functional hub reduces the overall SoC burden by providing a unified data routing mechanism that eliminates the need for separate processing paths for each sensor-recipient pair, thereby managing device complexity while supporting multi-sensor integration.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A hub (702) that receives sensor data streams and then distributes the data streams to the various systems that use the sensor data. A demultiplexer (demux) (804) receives the streams, filters out undesired streams and provides desired streams to the proper multiplexer (mux) or muxes of a series of muxes (808A-808D). Each mux (808A-808D) combines received streams and provides an output stream to a respective formatter or output block (816A-816D). The formatter or output block (816A-816D) is configured based on the destination of the mux output stream, such as an image signal processor (614), a processor (616), memory (704) or external transmission (706). The output block (816A-816D) reformats the received stream to a format appropriate for the recipient and then provides the reformatted stream to that recipient.