I3C Master Clock Pulse Delay for High Latency Slave Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional I3C protocols require slave devices to respond to read commands within one clock cycle, leading to increased complexity and longer read times for devices with varying response latencies, necessitating repeated read commands and cache management.
Innovation Solution
A method that delays the clock signal pulse after a read/write bit is transmitted, allowing slave devices with high latency to respond without needing repeated read commands, by maintaining configuration information on device latencies and extending the clock signal duration based on identified latency values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional I3C protocols require slave devices to respond within one clock cycle, then the protocol maintains simple timing rules, but slave devices with high latency cannot respond in time and require repeated read commands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the clock signal duration adaptive rather than fixed. The master device dynamically extends the clock signal pulse width based on the specific slave device's latency characteristics. This allows the system to adjust timing parameters in real-time to match the response capabilities of different slave devices, eliminating the need for repeated read commands while maintaining protocol simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the timing parameter (clock signal pulse width) to accommodate different slave device latencies. By modifying the duration of the clock signal pulse beyond the standard one-clock-cycle limit, the system allows high-latency slave devices sufficient time to respond. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by enabling reliable responses from diverse devices without increasing protocol complexity or device complexity.
2Productivity
If the clock signal pulse width is extended to accommodate high-latency slave devices, then all slave devices can respond without repeated commands, but the timing precision for low-latency devices may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by customizing the clock signal pulse width for each individual slave device based on its latency characteristics. Rather than using a uniform extended pulse width for all devices, the master device adjusts the pulse duration locally for each slave device interaction. This ensures that low-latency devices receive appropriately short pulses maintaining timing precision, while high-latency devices receive extended pulses enabling single-command responses, thus optimizing overall data transfer efficiency without unnecessary time loss.
3Reliability
If slave devices are equipped with cache storage to manage repeated read commands, then read reliability improves, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the master device proactively adjust the clock signal pulse width before the slave device needs to respond. By extending the pulse width in advance based on known latency characteristics, the system eliminates the need for slave devices to implement complex cache management mechanisms. The slave device simply responds to the extended pulse without requiring additional storage or control logic, thereby maintaining read reliability while reducing device complexity and power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and apparatus are described. An apparatus provides a clock signal, transmits an address on a second line of the serial bus followed by a read/write bit configured to initiate a read transaction, and delays a pulse in the clock signal after transmitting the read/write bit. The pulse may be delayed for a first duration configured to accommodate a latency associated with a first slave device that is a participant in the read transaction. The apparatus may receive an acknowledgement from the first slave device while the pulse is being transmitted and may receive a first data byte from the first slave device after receiving the acknowledgment. The apparatus may stall the clock signal for a second duration after receiving the first data byte from the first slave device, and receive a second data byte from the first slave device after the acknowledgment.