One-hot-XOR Encoding for Low-Speed Data Bus Energy Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

In communication systems, particularly in silicon integration, high-speed data transfer consumes significant power even at low data rates, which is inefficient and affects battery life in Always-On-Always-Connected scenarios, especially when using full-speed data interfaces for low-speed data transmission.

Innovation Solution

A 'one-hot-XOR' encoding scheme is used to transmit data on a data bus, where a one-hot value is encoded and XORed with the previous state, allowing for low-speed data transfer with reduced energy consumption by minimizing transitions and eliminating the need for a channel clock, making it backwards-compatible with standard transmission schemes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If full-speed data interface is used for low-speed data transmission, then data transfer capability is maintained, but power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddata transfer rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts the data transfer mode based on the actual data rate requirements. When low-speed data transmission is detected, the system automatically switches to transition-minimized encoding mode, which uses fewer signal transitions to represent data, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining adequate data transfer capability for the given application scenario

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the encoding parameters of the data bus by implementing transition-minimized encoding instead of standard full-speed encoding. This parameter change allows the same physical data bus to operate efficiently at both full-speed and low-speed modes, with the encoding scheme adjusted to minimize unnecessary signal transitions and reduce power consumption during low-rate transmission

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If transition-minimized encoding is used, then energy efficiency improves by 40%, but encoding complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidencoding complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The encoding scheme is designed to be self-synchronizing and self-correcting. The transition-minimized encoding automatically adapts to the data being transmitted without requiring external control signals or complex state management. The receiver can reconstruct the original data by detecting transitions and using feedback mechanisms, eliminating the need for complex encoding/decoding hardware while achieving 40% energy efficiency improvements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of energy

If one-hot-XOR encoding is implemented, then multiple data bit transitions are carried with single channel binary bit transition, but compatibility with standard transmission schemes is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidbackwards compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The data bus is designed to serve multiple functions: it can operate in standard full-speed mode for high-data-rate applications and in transition-minimized encoding mode for low-data-rate applications. The same physical interface and most of the same hardware logic support both modes, allowing the system to universally handle different data transfer requirements without requiring separate dedicated interfaces for each mode

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3087496B1Transition-minimized low speed data transfer
Publication Date: 2019.02.27 INTEL CORP
  • EP3087496B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3087496B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3087496B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A method of transition minimized low speed data transfer is described herein. In an embodiment, a data rate of a set data to be transmitted on a data bus is determined. A one hot value is encoded on the data bus in response to a low data rate. An XOR operation is performed with a previous state of the data bus and the encoded one hot value. Additionally, a resulting value of the XOR operation is driven onto the data bus.