Multi-Standard Interface Circuit With Shared Physical Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
The proliferation of different interface circuit standards for high-speed performance and portability leads to an increase in parts count due to the need for individual interface circuits conforming to each standard, resulting in inefficiencies and increased complexity.
Innovation Solution
An interface circuit design that includes a shared physical layer module and switch control units to enable compliance with multiple standards such as UFS, M-PCIe, and PCIe, reducing the need for redundant components by sharing modules like the PHY, transaction, and data link modules across standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If individual interface circuits are provided for each standard, then compliance with multiple standards is achieved, but parts count increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a single interface circuit that can operate with multiple interface standards (SATA, SAS, NVLink) by incorporating a standard determination unit that identifies the target standard and configures the interface circuit accordingly. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated circuits for each standard, directly reducing parts count while maintaining compliance with multiple standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface circuit employs dynamic reconfiguration capability where the circuit's operational parameters and protocol handling are adjusted based on the detected standard type. The standard determination unit dynamically selects appropriate protocol control settings, allowing the same hardware to adapt its behavior to different standards without requiring static dedicated circuits for each standard.
2Reliability
If individual interface circuits are provided for each standard, then standard-specific performance is optimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interface circuit is segmented into distinct functional units: a standard determination unit that identifies the target standard, and separate protocol control units for different standards (SATA protocol control unit, SAS protocol control unit, NVLink protocol control unit). This segmentation allows each protocol control unit to be optimized for its specific standard while sharing common infrastructure, maintaining standard-specific performance without requiring entirely separate dedicated circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The standard determination unit acts as an intermediary that receives detection signals, identifies the target interface standard, and routes control signals to the appropriate protocol control unit. This mediator architecture enables a single interface circuit to achieve standard-specific optimization by dynamically selecting the appropriate protocol handling path without requiring multiple parallel dedicated circuits.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a first module is responsible for protocol control in compliance with a first interface standard. A second module is provided separately from the first module and is responsible for protocol control in compliance with a second interface standard. A third module is responsible for a physical layer shared between the first interface standard and the second interface standard.