PCB Signal Timing Control for Unequal Lead Lengths

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional printed circuit board design complicates signal synchronization and inefficient use of limited space due to the need for adjusting lead lengths to ensure equal signal reception by components.

Innovation Solution

A printed circuit board with a control unit that uses a look-up table to generate and deliver control signals to receiving components through leads of varying or equal lengths, synchronizing signal receipt by adjusting the timing of signal delivery based on lead information, including length and transmission speed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If lead lengths are adjusted to ensure equal signal reception time, then signal synchronization is improved, but design complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal synchronizationVSAvoiddesign complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing the required signal delay times for different lead lengths in a look-up table during the design phase. This allows the system to directly retrieve pre-computed timing values without performing complex real-time calculations, thereby achieving signal synchronization while keeping the operational design simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a look-up table as an intermediary between the signal transmission system and the timing control mechanism. This intermediary component stores pre-computed delay values that correspond to different lead lengths, enabling the system to achieve precise signal synchronization without requiring complex real-time timing calculations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If lead lengths are adjusted to ensure equal signal reception time, then signal synchronization is improved, but space utilization deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal synchronizationVSAvoidspace utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing the required signal delay times for different lead lengths in a look-up table during the design phase. This allows the system to directly retrieve pre-computed timing values without performing complex real-time calculations, thereby achieving signal synchronization while keeping the operational design simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by using a look-up table that stores timing parameters corresponding to different lead length configurations. This allows the system to adapt signal timing based on actual lead lengths without physically adjusting lead lengths for synchronization, thereby maintaining flexible and efficient space utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Area of stationary object

If different lead lengths are used for components, then space utilization is improved, but signal synchronization deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidsignal synchronization

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing the required signal delay times for different lead lengths in a look-up table during the design phase. This allows the system to directly retrieve pre-computed timing values without performing complex real-time calculations, thereby achieving signal synchronization while keeping the operational design simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a look-up table as an intermediary between the signal transmission system and the timing control mechanism. This intermediary component stores pre-computed delay values that correspond to different lead lengths, enabling the system to achieve precise signal synchronization without requiring complex real-time timing calculations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8729945B2Printed circuit board and method for controlling signal timing sequence thereof

Publication Date: 2014.05.20 INVENTEC PUDONG TECH CORPOARTION

AI summary

A printed circuit board includes multiple receiving components for respectively receiving control signals and a transmitting component coupled to the receiving component through multiple leads. Given that the lengths of the leads may be different to each other, the control unit generates the control signals to the leads according to the information about the leads, and firstly delivers at least one of the control signals to the corresponding receiving component(s), and then delivers the remaining control signals to the receiving components after a predetermined time. Furthermore, a method for controlling a signal sequence for the printed circuit board includes generating multiple control signals depending on the information about leads and delivering at least one of the control signals to the corresponding receiving component and delivering the remaining control signals to the remaining receiving components after the predetermined time.