Programmable Polyphase Filter Circuit for Variable Tap Sizes

Solution Overview

Problem

Current polyphase filtering circuits are limited to fixed tap sizes, requiring multiple filters for various image formats, leading to increased silicon surface area and inefficiency in video processing systems.

Innovation Solution

A processing circuit with functional units that receive data and coefficients in parallel, allowing for various polyphase filtering configurations through programming, including direct and transposed modes, with a crossbar for efficient data transfer, enabling flexible performance of different filtering types without significant area expansion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple polyphase filters with different tap sizes are provided to support various image formats, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity and silicon surface area increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepolyphase filtering typesVSAvoidcircuit structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal polyphase filtering circuit that can perform multiple filtering operations (different tap sizes and image format conversions) using a single integrated structure. The circuit uses a unified set of functional units that can be dynamically configured through control signals to achieve various filtering types, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated filters for each image format.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs dynamic configuration of the polyphase filtering circuit through control signals that adjust the operation mode of functional units based on the required filtering type. The circuit can dynamically switch between different tap sizes and filtering configurations without requiring physical reconfiguration or multiple static filter structures, thereby adapting to various image formats in real-time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple polyphase filters with different tap sizes are provided to support various image formats, then the adaptability is improved, but the silicon surface area increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepolyphase filtering typesVSAvoidsilicon surface area

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal polyphase filtering circuit that can perform multiple filtering operations (different tap sizes and image format conversions) using a single integrated structure. The circuit uses a unified set of functional units that can be dynamically configured through control signals to achieve various filtering types, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated filters for each image format.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple filtering functions into a single integrated circuit structure. By combining the functionality of multiple tap-size-specific filters into one unified circuit with shared functional units and resources, the design achieves various polyphase filtering types without proportionally increasing silicon surface area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If a fixed tap size polyphase filter is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to various image formats is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecircuit structureVSAvoidpolyphase filtering types

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic configuration of the polyphase filtering circuit through control signals that adjust the operation mode of functional units based on the required filtering type. The circuit can dynamically switch between different tap sizes and filtering configurations without requiring physical reconfiguration or multiple static filter structures, thereby adapting to various image formats in real-time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8452827B2Data processing circuit

Publication Date: 2013.05.28 ENTROPIC COMM INC

AI summary

The invention relates to a data processing system for performing a polyphase filtering. This circuit comprises functional units (304, 305, 306) able to perform polyphase filterings, and a memory device (301, 302, 308) for storing data and coefficients. The functional units receive in parallel data and coefficients coming from the memory device, calculate results from the data and coefficients and supply these results to the memory device.