Programmable Receiver Termination for Multi-Standard Signal Integrity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current gigabit serial receivers lack flexibility to support multiple communication standards with varying common mode and coupling requirements, often sacrificing signal integrity when configured for one standard over others.
Innovation Solution
A programmably terminated receive interface/equalizer using reconfigurable integrated circuits, such as FPGAs, that apply a programmable common mode signal and adjust termination impedance to accommodate different communication standards, including AC and DC coupled modes, ensuring compatibility and signal integrity across various protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a receiver is configured for a specific communication standard with fixed termination, then signal integrity for that standard is optimized, but the receiver cannot support other communication standards with different common mode requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamically reconfigurable termination circuits that can adjust their electrical characteristics in real-time. The termination impedance and common mode voltage are made variable through programmable control, allowing the receiver to adapt to different communication standards while maintaining optimal signal integrity for each standard.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key electrical parameters including termination impedance value and common mode voltage level to accommodate different communication standards. By making these parameters programmable and reconfigurable, the receiver can optimize performance for each standard without sacrificing the ability to support multiple protocols.
2Device complexity
If a receiver uses fixed termination impedance, then circuit design is simplified, but the receiver cannot accommodate different impedance requirements of various communication standards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal receiver architecture that can handle multiple communication standards through programmable logic control. The core circuit remains relatively simple, while software-configurable parameters provide the adaptability needed to support different protocols, achieving both simplicity and versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a programmable logic layer as an intermediary between the physical communication interface and the processing logic. This mediator handles the complexity of multiple standards through configuration data, allowing the underlying hardware to remain relatively simple while supporting diverse protocols.
3Ease of manufacture
If a receiver is designed with fixed common mode voltage, then manufacturing and calibration are simplified, but the receiver cannot support standards with different common mode requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the common mode voltage dynamic and reconfigurable rather than fixed. Through programmable control circuits, the common mode voltage can be adjusted to match the requirements of different communication standards, enabling support for both AC and DC coupled modes while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized hardware designs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables a single receive interface to support multiple communication standards by reconfiguring the receive equalizer to match specific common mode and coupling requirements, maintaining signal integrity and scalability, thereby addressing the limitations of prior art.
Implementation Method 1
The receive interface is adapted to internally apply a programmable common mode signal to the first and second terminals
Implementation Method 2
a receive equalizer that is coupled to the receive interface and is adapted to sum first and second phases of the differential signal
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for a receive equalizer of a gigabit transceiver that is reconfigurable to support multiple communication standards. Communication standards having variable common mode and coupling requirements are accommodated through the use of reconfigurable integrated circuits (ICs), such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), that provide a plurality of reconfigurable transceivers that are programmable through configuration, or partial reconfiguration, events. The reconfigurable transceivers apply internally generated common mode voltage signals to the differential input in support of the various communication standards.