Frequency Responsive Bus Coding for Resonance Avoidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing complexity of processor-based systems leads to frequency response issues in power delivery networks, causing resonance that degrades supply voltage quality, introduces data-dependent delays, and results in bit errors due to interference with other devices.

Innovation Solution

A frequency-based bus coding system that uses filters to detect resonant frequencies and adjusts encoding schemes to disrupt these resonances, reducing peak voltage, current, and phase excursions, thereby minimizing inter-symbol interference and noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the number of applications and their complexity increase, then system functionality improves, but frequency response issues and resonance occur in the power delivery network

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem functionalityVSAvoidpower delivery network stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The encoding scheme is dynamically adjusted based on detected resonant frequencies. The system transitions from a static encoding approach to a dynamic one where the encoder modifies the bus encoding in real-time according to the frequency conditions detected by the frequency detector, thereby adapting to changing system states and avoiding resonance-induced errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the encoding parameters of the bus transmission based on the detected frequency characteristics. When resonance is detected in specific frequency ranges (e.g., 100-300MHz), the encoder modifies the encoding scheme to alter the frequency spectrum of the transmitted signals, thereby avoiding excitation of resonant modes in the power delivery network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If traditional bus encoding is used, then data transmission simplicity is maintained, but resonant frequencies cause data-dependent delays and bit errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission simplicityVSAvoiddata transmission accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A frequency detector monitors the frequency characteristics of the bus signals and provides feedback to the encoder. This feedback loop enables the system to detect resonant conditions and adjust the encoding scheme accordingly, preventing data-dependent delays and bit errors that would occur with traditional fixed encoding methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The encoding scheme transitions from a static, fixed approach to a dynamic adaptive approach. The encoder continuously adjusts the bus encoding based on real-time frequency detection, modifying transmission characteristics to avoid resonant frequencies while maintaining data integrity and reducing errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If frequency-based encoding is implemented, then resonance disruption and noise reduction are achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidcoding system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A frequency detector is introduced as an intermediary component between the bus and the encoder. This detector monitors frequency characteristics and provides information to the encoder, enabling resonance avoidance without requiring complex real-time analysis within the encoder itself. The intermediary simplifies the overall system architecture by separating detection and encoding functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Device complexity

If resonant frequencies are not addressed, then system design simplicity is maintained, but voltage and timing margins are affected and performance degrades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem designVSAvoidvoltage and timing margins
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary frequency detection and encoding adjustment before data transmission occurs. By detecting resonant frequencies in advance and pre-adjusting the encoding scheme, the system prevents voltage and timing margin degradation before they occur, rather than attempting to correct issues after they manifest during transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2443558B1Frequency responsive bus coding
Publication Date: 2015.02.18 RAMBUS INC
  • EP2443558B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2443558B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP2443558B1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

A data system permits bus encoding based on frequency of the bus and the frequency of switching on the bus so as to avoid undesirable frequency conditions such as a resonant condition or interference with other electrical devices. Transmission frequencies along one or more busses are monitored and used to control the encoding process, for example, an encoding process based on data bus inversion (DBI). The use of both a measure of an absolute number of logic levels ("DBI_DC") and a measure of a number of logic level transitions relative to a prior signal ("DBI_AC") provides a measure of control that may be used to compensate for both main and predriver switching noise.