Image Sensor Control Signal Alignment for Large Die Timing Skew
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large die size image sensors experience performance degradation and functional errors due to signal skew and deterioration in control signals transmitted through long signal transfer lines, leading to inefficiencies and errors in image data capture.
Innovation Solution
An integrated circuit design featuring cascade-coupled aligning blocks that generate aligned control signals by aligning original control signals with a clock signal, allowing sub-functional blocks and count executing units to operate in parallel, reducing timing margins and channel matching overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If control signals are transmitted through long signal transfer lines in large die size image sensors, then the image sensor can capture high definition image data, but signal skew and deterioration occur causing performance degradation and functional errors
Solution Approach 1:
The signal transfer block is divided into multiple aligning blocks (first through M-th aligning blocks) that are cascade-coupled. Each aligning block independently aligns control signals with the clock signal, breaking down the long signal transfer path into shorter segments. This segmentation reduces cumulative signal skew and deterioration while still supporting large die size image sensors for high definition image data capture
Solution Approach 2:
Aligning blocks serve as intermediary components between the control signal source and the functional blocks. Each aligning block introduces a clock signal to realign control signals, acting as a mediator that compensates for signal deterioration accumulated during transmission through long signal transfer lines, thereby maintaining control signal integrity across large die sizes
2Reliability
If buffers are added to compensate for control signal deterioration through long signal transfer lines, then signal quality improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The aligning blocks perform multiple functions simultaneously: they align control signals with the clock signal to maintain timing relationships, compensate for signal skew, and reduce the need for additional buffers. This multi-functionality improves control signal quality without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the same aligning infrastructure serves multiple purposes throughout the signal transfer block
Solution Approach 2:
The aligning blocks change the timing parameters of control signals by aligning them with the clock signal. This parameter adjustment (timing alignment) compensates for signal deterioration effects without requiring additional buffer circuits, thereby improving control signal quality while avoiding the complexity increase that would result from adding more buffers
3Productivity
If sub-functional blocks operate in parallel to improve processing speed, then productivity increases, but timing synchronization becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The aligning blocks perform preliminary timing alignment of control signals with the clock signal before the signals reach the parallel-operating sub-functional blocks. This preliminary action ensures that all sub-functional blocks receive properly synchronized control signals, enabling them to operate in parallel at high speed without timing synchronization issues
Solution Approach 2:
The clock signal serves as a reference that provides feedback timing information to all aligning blocks. Each aligning block uses this clock reference to adjust and synchronize its output control signals, ensuring that parallel sub-functional blocks receive coordinated timing signals that maintain synchronization while enabling high-speed parallel processing
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated circuit comprises a first signal transfer block comprising first through (M)-th aligning blocks that are cascade-coupled to produce first aligned control signals through (M)-th aligned control signals, respectively, by aligning first control signals with a clock signal, wherein M is an integer greater than one, and a functional block divided into first through (M)-th sub-functional blocks configured to perform a same function in parallel, each of the first through (M)-th sub-functional blocks operating according to corresponding ones of the first aligned control signals through (M)-th aligned control signals generated by the first through (M)-th aligning blocks.