Non-Uniform Source-Synchronous Interface for Low-Power Data Strobes

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Solution Overview

Problem

As data rates increase in source-synchronous systems, conventional architectures face challenges with power consumption and matching of channels, leading to inefficiencies in data transmission.

Innovation Solution

Implementing non-uniform interfaces with mismatched drivers and terminations between data strobe and data channels, using differential drivers for strobe channels and single-ended drivers, along with capacitive terminations for strobe channels and resistive terminations for data channels, to reduce power consumption and prevent signal reflections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional matched drivers and terminations are used for data strobe and data channels, then channel matching is maintained, but power consumption increases and matching becomes problematic at high data rates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel matchingVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different termination types to different channels: capacitive terminations are used for data strobe channels while resistive terminations are used for data channels. This local differentiation allows each channel type to be optimized independently, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining necessary signal integrity for each channel category.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces asymmetric interface architecture where data strobe channels and data channels have different driver configurations and termination types. The data strobe uses capacitive terminations while data channels use resistive terminations, breaking the conventional symmetric matched architecture to achieve power savings at high data rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Object-generated harmful factors

If matched resistive terminations are used for data strobe channels, then signal reflections are prevented, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal reflectionsVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the termination parameter from resistive to capacitive for data strobe channels. This parameter change fundamentally alters how the channel is terminated, allowing power savings while managing reflections through the capacitive nature of the termination rather than through resistive matching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9773542B2Source-synchronous data transmission with non-uniform interface topology

Publication Date: 2017.09.26 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

A source-synchronous system is provided in which a non-uniform interface may exist in a data source endpoint as well as in a data sink endpoint.