Aggressor IC Frequency Planning Around Victim Spur-Sensitive Bands
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electronic devices, spurs generated by one integrated circuit (IC) can interfere with the operation of another IC, leading to degradation of signal-to-noise ratio and mixing of undesirable noise, as existing techniques like frequency planning and clock spreading are often insufficient to mitigate these interferences effectively.
Innovation Solution
A first IC analyzes its operating status to generate protection information indicating frequencies to be protected, which is then sent to a second IC to configure its operations and avoid generating spurs that interfere with these frequencies, with the second IC prioritizing the protection of critical frequencies to prevent interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If frequency planning and clock spreading techniques are used, then some spur interference is reduced, but the interference is not sufficiently mitigated to avoid degradation of signal-to-noise ratio at the victim circuit
Solution Approach 1:
The victim integrated circuit generates protection information in advance that identifies frequencies to be protected from spurs. This protection information is sent to the aggressor integrated circuit before the aggressor operates, allowing the aggressor to configure its subsystems to avoid generating spurs at the protected frequencies. This preliminary configuration prevents spur interference before it can degrade the signal-to-noise ratio at the victim circuit.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where the victim integrated circuit monitors its operating status and generates protection information about frequencies that need protection. This information is fed back to the aggressor integrated circuit, which then adjusts its operation to avoid generating spurs at those frequencies. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that spur interference is actively prevented rather than passively tolerated.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple integrated circuits operate in close physical proximity with multiple operating frequencies, then device functionality is enhanced, but spur generation from one circuit interferes with another circuit
Solution Approach 1:
The protection information enables the aggressor integrated circuit to apply local quality control by configuring specific subsystems to operate at frequencies that avoid generating spurs at the victim circuit's protected frequencies. This localized frequency configuration allows the aggressor to maintain its functionality while preventing harmful spur generation at specific frequency locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The aggressor integrated circuit changes its operating parameters (frequencies) based on the protection information received from the victim circuit. By dynamically adjusting its operating frequencies to avoid the protected frequencies, the aggressor can maintain high device functionality while preventing spur interference. This parameter adjustment allows multiple circuits to coexist without mutual interference.
Data Source
AI summary
Identifying frequencies to be protected at a victim integrated circuit (IC) and sending protection information including the identified frequencies to an aggressor IC. The aggressor IC configures its subsystems or circuits to operate using operating frequencies that prevents spurs that may interfere with the frequencies identified in the protection information. If not all of the frequencies in the protection information can be protected, the aggressor IC selects a subset of the frequencies to be protected. Then, the aggressor IC configures the operating frequencies of its subsystems or circuits so that spurs that they generate do not interfere with the selected frequencies.