Logic Signal Processing Circuit for Low-Power Timing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The time-to-digital converter circuit and the digital-to-time converter circuit in existing signal processing systems consume a large amount of power.
Innovation Solution
A signal processing circuit that outputs signals based on the timing of input signal changes, eliminating the need for time-to-digital and digital-to-time converter circuits by directly managing signal timing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If time-to-digital converter circuit and digital-to-time converter circuit are used to perform signal processing, then signal processing functionality is achieved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the power-consuming time-to-digital converter and digital-to-time converter circuits from the signal processing system. By directly processing time difference signals in the time domain using analog circuits, the invention removes the need for A/D and D/A conversion stages, thereby significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining signal processing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the digital signal processing mechanism (which requires conversion circuits) with an analog time-domain processing mechanism. By using analog circuits to directly manipulate time difference signals representing neural network operations, the system substitutes digital conversion processes with continuous time-domain operations, eliminating the need for power-hungry converter circuits.
2Area of stationary object
If time-to-digital converter circuit and digital-to-time converter circuit are used, then signal processing is enabled, but the system size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the bulky time-to-digital converter and digital-to-time converter circuits from the system architecture. By processing signals directly in the time domain using compact analog circuits, the invention extracts only the essential signal processing functionality needed, eliminating unnecessary conversion components and thereby reducing the overall circuit area.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the functions of multiple separate circuits (time-to-digital converter, digital signal processing circuits, digital-to-time converter) into a single integrated analog time-domain processing circuit. This consolidation combines multiple discrete components into one unified circuit structure, significantly reducing the total area occupied by converter circuits and intermediate processing stages.
Data Source
AI summary
A signal processing circuit outputs, in a case where a first timing at which a first input signal changes is earlier than or same as a second timing at which a second input signal changes, a first output signal at the first timing and a second output signal at the second timing, and outputs, in a case where the first timing is later than the second timing, the first output signal and the second output signal at the second timing.