Framer Power Optimization via Inactive State and Serial Comparison
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional high-speed communication systems face significant power consumption issues due to continuous frame alignment processes in receivers, particularly in power-sensitive applications, and the use of multiple comparators for parallel data bus windows leads to high gate count and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a framer that can enter an inactive state after achieving frame alignment, with power reduction mechanisms like clock gating, and using fewer comparators to serially compare multiple windows, as well as processing multiple lanes and channels serially to reduce power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous frame alignment process is performed to maintain synchronization, then data transmission reliability is improved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The framer performs frame alignment searches periodically rather than continuously. After achieving frame alignment, the framer enters an inactive state and only wakes up when triggered by an out-of-frame condition, converting continuous operation into periodic action to reduce power consumption while maintaining transmission reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The framer dynamically changes its operational state between active (performing frame alignment) and inactive (power-saving) modes. This dynamic state transition allows the system to adapt power consumption to actual needs, maintaining reliability only when necessary
2Speed
If multiple comparators are used to compare parallel data bus windows simultaneously, then frame alignment speed is improved, but gate count and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple comparators are merged into a single comparator that processes windows sequentially. Instead of having multiple identical comparator circuits operating in parallel, one comparator handles multiple windows in sequence, significantly reducing gate count while maintaining acceptable alignment performance
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from spatial parallelism (multiple comparators processing simultaneously) to temporal parallelism (single comparator processing sequentially over time). This dimensional change in the processing approach reduces hardware complexity while achieving the same functional goal
3Measurement precision
If one framer is allocated to each physical lane for frame alignment, then alignment accuracy for each lane is improved, but power consumption and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single framer is designed to handle multiple physical lanes universally. The framer can be dynamically allocated to different lanes as needed, making one device perform multiple functions across different lanes, thereby reducing the total number of framers and power consumption while maintaining alignment accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
System and method of frame alignment at a receiver with power optimization mechanisms. A framer is configured to perform a frame alignment process on a data stream and enter an inactive state after frame alignment is achieved. In the inactive state, the circuits used to perform the frame alignment process in the framer can be powered down or otherwise placed in a power reduction mode. Responsive to an indication that data processing at the receiver becomes “out-of-frame” again, the framer can wake up from the inactive state and restart the frame alignment process. An “out-of-frame” indication may be generated by error detection logic (e.g., forward error correction (FEC) decoder) when it detects an excessive number of uncorrectable errors.