Power Domain Change Circuit for Transition Jitter Averaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power domain change circuits introduce transition jitter during signal transfer, leading to unstable circuit operation timing and unreliable signal reliability due to changes in power domains.
Innovation Solution
A power domain change circuit that generates intermediate processing signals in a first power domain and changes them to a second power domain, averaging and combining transition jitter components to produce a final output signal, thereby mitigating jitter effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If power domain change is implemented to enable signal transfer between different power domains, then adaptability is improved, but transition jitter is introduced causing timing instability
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit is divided into multiple inverting circuits (first, second, third, fourth, and fifth inverting circuits) that process the signal in sequence. Each circuit operates in a specific power domain and contributes to transforming the signal from one power domain to another, enabling adaptability while managing timing stability through distributed processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The output signals from the third and fourth inverting circuits are combined through a common node to generate the final output signal. This merging of multiple signal paths allows the circuit to average out transition jitter components, thereby maintaining timing stability while achieving power domain compatibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple inverting circuits are used to transfer signals between power domains, then power domain compatibility is improved, but transition jitter is incorporated into the output signal
Solution Approach 1:
The output signals from multiple inverting circuits are merged at a common node. This combination causes the transition jitter components generated by individual circuits to average out, reducing the overall jitter in the final output signal while maintaining the power domain transformation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The transition jitter generated by each inverting circuit is not eliminated but rather converted into a beneficial effect through combination. By merging multiple signal paths, the random jitter components average out, transforming the harmful jitter into a stable output while preserving the power domain compatibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If input and output circuits operate at different power levels, then adaptability is improved, but signal timing becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The signal transfer process is segmented into multiple stages, each handled by a dedicated inverting circuit operating at a specific power level. This segmentation allows the circuit to adapt to different power domains while distributing the timing impact across multiple stages, reducing overall timing instability.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate signals from different power domains are combined at a common node to produce the final output. This merging process synchronizes the timing of signals that have been processed at different power levels, thereby maintaining timing precision while achieving power level flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A power domain change circuit includes an input circuit and an output circuit. The input circuit is suitable for operating in a first power domain and generating first and second intermediate processing signals. The output circuit is suitable for operating in a second power domain and generating a final output signal by averaging and combining transition jitter components of the first and second intermediate processing signals.