GPIO-Controlled SLIC Multiplexing for Voice Signal Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current MCU hardware resources are limited in multiplexing multiple channels of voice signals, as the number of SPI controllers is insufficient, leading to time-consuming and costly solutions like FPGA extension or daisy chaining, which are not cost-effective and limit product diversification due to the scarcity and high price of daisy chain-enabled chips.
Innovation Solution
A circuit utilizing multiple GPIO interfaces to generate enabling signals for SLICs in a time division manner, enabling them to process voice signals, thereby implementing multiplexing of multiple channels without relying on the limited number of SPI controllers and allowing for the use of a wider range of SLICs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a primary SPI controller is connected to multiple secondary SPI controllers or peripheral circuits using FPGA extension, then the number of supported voice signal channels is improved, but the design time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes a single SPI controller capable of serving multiple SLICs by using GPIO interfaces to generate chip select signals. Instead of requiring one SPI controller per SLIC, the same SPI controller is shared across multiple SLICs through time-division multiplexing controlled by GPIO-generated CS signals, making the SPI controller universal for multiple voice channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the control of multiple SLICs by assigning each SLIC a dedicated GPIO interface for chip select control. This segmentation allows independent selection and control of each SLIC connected to the same SPI controller, enabling multiple voice channels to be handled separately through time-division multiplexing.
2Quantity of substance
If daisy chain function is used to connect multiple SLICs, then the number of supported voice signal channels is improved, but the product cost increases due to limited chip availability and high pricing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for specialized daisy-chain enabled SLIC chips by making a standard SPI controller universal for controlling multiple conventional SLICs. The GPIO-generated chip select signals enable any standard SLIC to be selected and controlled by the same SPI controller, expanding component selection and reducing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces GPIO interfaces as intermediary control elements between the SPI controller and multiple SLICs. These GPIO-generated chip select signals act as mediators that enable selective activation of different SLICs, allowing multiple standard SLICs to be controlled through a single SPI controller without requiring specialized daisy-chain hardware.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple SPI controllers are used to handle multiple voice signal channels, then the number of supported channels is improved, but the device complexity and hardware resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control of multiple SLICs into a single SPI controller by using GPIO interfaces to generate chip select signals for each SLIC. This combining approach allows one SPI controller to handle multiple voice channels that would otherwise require separate controllers, reducing hardware complexity while maintaining channel capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic time-division multiplexing where the SPI controller alternates between different SLICs in periodic cycles. Each SLIC is activated in turn through GPIO-generated chip select signals, allowing the single SPI controller to service multiple voice channels through periodic time-sliced operation rather than requiring simultaneous dedicated controllers for each channel.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention discloses a circuit, a user equipment, and a method for multiplexing multiple channels of voices. The circuit includes: an MCU, where the MCU includes at least two GPIO interfaces; and at least two SLICs, where each of the at least two SLICs includes an enabling CS port; the CS port of each of the at least two SLICs is separately connected to the at least two GPIO interfaces, and the at least two GPIO interfaces generate an enabling signal, and enable the at least two SLICs in a time division manner through the CS port of each of the at least two SLICs. The user equipment in the embodiments of the present invention includes the circuit, and the method provided by the embodiments of the present invention is applied to the circuit. By applying the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present invention, more SLICs may be added in a case in which resources of an SPI controller on the MCU are limited, thereby implementing multiplexing of multiple channels of voice signals.