I2C Signal Transfer Circuit for Voltage Instability

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Solution Overview

Problem

The I2C bus signal transfer system is prone to data errors due to logic level interference caused by unstable operational voltage, leading to incorrect command execution in slave ICs when master ICs send control commands.

Innovation Solution

A signal transfer system that includes a protection circuit and a delay circuit to detect voltage instability and adjust signal transmission accordingly, generating alternative signals to prevent data errors by delaying or stopping I2C commands during voltage instability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the master IC sends control commands through the transmission lines, then data transfer between ICs is achieved, but data errors occur due to logic level interference caused by unstable operational voltage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transferVSAvoiddata accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a voltage detection circuit and protection circuit as intermediary components between the master IC and slave IC. The voltage detection circuit monitors the operational voltage and generates a detection signal, while the protection circuit uses this signal to control signal transmission through transmission lines. This intermediary mechanism prevents direct transmission during voltage instability, eliminating logic level interference while maintaining data transfer capability when voltage is stable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary voltage detection before signal transmission. The voltage detection circuit continuously monitors the operational voltage and generates a detection signal in advance. The protection circuit uses this preliminary detection signal to enable or disable signal transmission before actual data transfer occurs, preventing data errors caused by unstable voltage conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the operational voltage is monitored and signal transmission is controlled, then data errors are prevented, but the system complexity increases due to additional protection and delay circuits

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidcircuit structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the voltage detection and protection functions into separate, dedicated circuits. The voltage detection circuit is extracted as an independent module that monitors voltage and generates detection signals. The protection circuit is extracted as another independent module that uses detection signals to control transmission. This extraction approach isolates the complexity into manageable, modular components while maintaining overall system reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The protection circuit automatically responds to voltage conditions without external intervention. When the voltage detection circuit detects unstable voltage, it generates a detection signal that automatically triggers the protection circuit to stop signal transmission. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external control logic, simplifying the overall system architecture while ensuring data accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If signal transmission is stopped during voltage instability, then data errors are prevented, but communication efficiency decreases due to interrupted data transfer

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidcommunication efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic signal transmission control based on real-time voltage conditions. The protection circuit dynamically enables or disables signal transmission through transmission lines according to the detection signal from the voltage detection circuit. When voltage is stable, transmission is enabled for efficient data transfer; when voltage becomes unstable, transmission is automatically disabled to prevent errors. This dynamic adjustment optimizes both reliability and communication efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS7826402B2Signal transfer systems and methods
Publication Date: 2010.11.02 QISDA CORP
  • US7826402B2 patent drawing
  • US7826402B2 patent drawing
  • US7826402B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A signal transfer system. A first device operates with a first voltage and outputs a first signal and a second signal. A protection circuit receives the first and second signals and outputs the first and second signals when the first voltage is greater than or equal to a predetermined voltage, and provides a third signal and a fourth signal when the first voltage is smaller than the predetermined voltage. A delay circuit delays the second and fourth signals to generate a first delay signal and a second delay signal, respectively. A second device operates with the first signal and the first delay signal when the first voltage is greater than or equal to the predetermined voltage, and operates with the third signal and the second delay signal when the first voltage is smaller than the predetermined voltage.