High-Side Driver Transmit Buffer for Serial Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional high-side drivers experience processing delays and erroneous operations due to latching mechanisms in transmit buffers during serial communication, leading to unnecessary control processes and data omission.

Innovation Solution

A high-side driver configuration that includes a state detector selecting between a latching and non-latching transmit buffer to ensure timely and accurate serial data transmission, preventing processing delays and ensuring necessary data is transmitted without omission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a latching transmit buffer is used to ensure data stability during serial communication, then data transmission reliability is improved, but processing delays occur and responsiveness to abnormal states deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoidprocessing delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the transmit buffer's latching behavior adjustable rather than fixed. The buffer can dynamically switch between latching mode (for normal data transmission) and non-latching mode (for abnormal state notification), allowing the system to adapt its behavior based on the type of data being transmitted. This resolves the contradiction by enabling reliability when needed while minimizing delays when responsiveness is critical.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the latching parameter of the transmit buffer based on the data type. For abnormal state indicators, the latching parameter is set to false (non-latching) to enable immediate transmission without delay. For normal communication data, the latching parameter is set to true to ensure stability. This parameter change approach allows the system to optimize between reliability and responsiveness depending on the communication context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a latching transmit buffer is used to prevent data omission, then data transmission completeness is improved, but unnecessary control processes are triggered and operation efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission completenessVSAvoidoperation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the latching behavior based on the data being transmitted. When abnormal state data needs to be transmitted, the buffer operates in non-latching mode, allowing immediate transmission without the overhead of latching operations. This eliminates unnecessary control processes while ensuring that critical abnormal state information is transmitted without omission, thereby improving operation efficiency without sacrificing transmission completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the data transmission process into two distinct paths: one for normal data using latching buffers to prevent omission, and another for abnormal state data using non-latching buffers for immediate transmission. This segmentation allows the system to apply appropriate buffering strategies for different data types, avoiding unnecessary control processes for time-critical abnormal state notifications while maintaining completeness for normal communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If serial communication is implemented for external control, then adaptability and remote monitoring are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexternal communication capabilityVSAvoidcommunication circuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal transmit buffer that can serve multiple functions: it handles both normal communication data and abnormal state indicators through a single interface. The buffer's ability to dynamically adjust its latching behavior based on data type makes it a multi-functional component that reduces the need for separate communication circuits for different data types, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining high adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2302795B1High-side driver
Publication Date: 2013.11.13 SANKEN ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP2302795B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2302795B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A high-side driver has a semiconductor element being connected in series in a power supply path extending from a DC power source to a linear solenoid and turned on/off to control a current of the linear solenoid. The high-side driver includes a current detector of a current of the linear solenoid, a controller of the semiconductor element, a state detector of the high-side driver or the linear solenoid and output a state signal, a first transmit buffer to latch and output the state signal, a second transmit buffer to output the state signal without latching the same, and a transmit shift register to convert the state signal into serial data and transmit the serial data to an external device at predetermined timing. The state detector selects at least one of the first and second transmit buffers and outputs the state signal to the selected one.