Bi-directional Multiplexer Configuration Error Checker

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Solution Overview

Problem

Bi-directional multiplexing infrastructures face challenges in detecting invalid configurations, where a sink driven by a source cannot select other allocated sources, leading to complex debugging and configuration issues.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus with multiplexer decoder logic and a configuration error checker monitors control signals across forward and backward multiplexers, using standard-cells like AND- and OR-gates to determine if a source is used more than once, generating error information to identify invalid configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If bi-directional multiplexing infrastructure is implemented with multiple sources and sinks, then connectivity and data flow capability are improved, but configuration complexity and difficulty of detecting invalid configurations increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnectivity and data flow capabilityVSAvoidconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a configuration error detector that continuously monitors backward multiplexer control signals and provides feedback about invalid configurations. The detector evaluates whether multiple sinks are simultaneously selecting the same source and generates error information when conflicts are detected, enabling real-time detection and correction of configuration errors in bi-directional multiplexing systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If bi-directional multiplexing infrastructure is implemented with multiple sources and sinks, then connectivity and data flow capability are improved, but debugging difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnectivity and data flow capabilityVSAvoiddebugging difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The configuration error detector provides automated feedback about configuration errors, eliminating the need for manual debugging of invalid configurations. The detector monitors control signals and automatically identifies when multiple sinks select the same source, providing clear error information that significantly reduces debugging time and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-diagnosis by automatically detecting and reporting configuration errors without external intervention. The error detector monitors the multiplexer configuration and independently identifies invalid states, enabling the system to self-correct or alert operators to problems without requiring complex external debugging tools.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If configuration error detector is added to monitor control signals, then detection of invalid configurations is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection of invalid configurationsVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The configuration error detector acts as an intermediary component that monitors backward multiplexer control signals without disrupting the primary data flow. It evaluates control signals to detect conflicts where multiple sinks select the same source, providing error detection capability while maintaining the existing multiplexing architecture and minimizing added complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3893009B1Apparatus for detecting invalid configurations in bi-directional multiplexing circuits
Publication Date: 2023.10.25 SHENZHEN GOODIX TECH CO LTD
  • EP3893009B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3893009B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3893009B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention discloses an apparatus for detecting invalid configurations in bi-directional multiplexing infrastructures. The objective of the invention to disclose a circuitry that detects invalid configurations of generic bi-directional multiplexing infrastructures will be solved by an apparatus for detecting invalid configurations in a bi-directional multiplexing infrastructure, whereas the infrastructure comprising a multiplexer decoder logic configured to process control signals, multiple sources as inputs and multiple sinks as outputs, whereas the sources and sinks are connected via forward and backward multiplexers, wherein the multiplexer decoder logic is extended by a configuration error checker which monitors each source and all control signals of the backward multiplexers connected to the sources and creates error information which source is used more than once.