Follower Circuit Stepped Voltage Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication systems in printing devices, such as I2C, require four conductive lines for data and power transmission, which increases material costs and reduces the usable area for logic elements on supply components, and often fail to provide sufficient power for follower circuits.
Innovation Solution
A communication system using a leader circuit and a follower circuit connected via three conductive lines (power, reference, and single data conductor) that employs a stepped voltage signal for data transmission and includes an authentication circuit to manage communication sessions efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If four conductive lines are used for data and power transmission (I2C standard), then reliable communication can be achieved, but material costs increase and usable area for logic elements decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single data conductor line. The same data conductor is used for both data transmission and power supply, eliminating the need for separate power lines. This merging of functions reduces the total number of conductive lines from four to three, thereby reducing material costs and increasing the usable area for logic elements on the follower circuit.
Solution Approach 2:
The data conductor is designed to serve multiple purposes: it transmits data bidirectionally between leader and follower circuits, and simultaneously provides power supply to the follower circuit. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain reliable communication while reducing the number of required conductive lines, resolving the contradiction between communication reliability and area utilization.
2Power
If four conductive lines are used for data and power transmission, then sufficient power can be supplied to follower circuits, but material costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the power supply function with the data transmission function by using the same data conductor for both purposes. The leader circuit provides power through the data conductor during communication sessions, eliminating the need for separate dedicated power lines. This reduces device complexity from four conductive lines to three, while maintaining sufficient power supply to follower circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The data conductor serves itself by simultaneously handling both data transmission and power delivery functions. During communication sessions, the conductor automatically provides power to the follower circuit without requiring additional dedicated power lines, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining adequate power supply.
3Area of stationary object
If three conductive lines are used instead of four, then material costs decrease and usable area increases, but power supply capability may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The data conductor is designed with multi-functionality to handle both data transmission and power supply tasks. By using the same conductor for multiple functions, the system compensates for the reduced number of lines by maximizing the utilization of each line, thereby maintaining power supply capability while increasing the usable area for logic elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the data conductor by utilizing it for both data and power transmission. The leader circuit controls the timing and level of signals on the data conductor to simultaneously achieve data communication and power delivery, ensuring that power supply capability is maintained despite using fewer conductive lines.
Data Source
AI summary
A follower circuit includes a communication circuit coupled to a data pad and an authentication circuit to conduct a communication session. The communication circuit detects a stepped voltage signal having a plurality of successive voltage levels of three voltage levels on the data pad to initiate a data frame of the communication session and provides a voltage signal to the data pad to request the communication session. The authentication circuit coupled to the communication circuit identifies a parameter in the data frame.