Rate-Adaptive Signal Multiplexing With Low-Delay Sampling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing signal multiplexing techniques are inefficient for handling signals with different transmission rates, as they often require a common high sampling frequency, leading to redundant oversampling and increased costs due to the need for multiple transmission lines, and introduce delays through data buffering.
Innovation Solution
A signal conversion apparatus that generates control information to sample signals at frequencies tailored to their specific transmission rates, using a sampler and selector to create a serial signal with minimized delay, allowing for efficient multiplexing of signals with varying rates without the need for multiple transmission lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a common high sampling frequency is used for multiplexing signals with different transmission rates, then all signals can be transmitted, but redundant oversampling occurs and resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sampling process by creating separate sampling paths for each signal channel. Each sampler (104-1 to 104-N) independently samples its corresponding original signal (15-1 to 15-N) at that signal's specific transmission rate, rather than using a common high sampling frequency for all channels. This segmentation eliminates redundant oversampling while maintaining the ability to transmit all signals efficiently.
2Reliability
If multiple transmission lines are provided for simultaneous signal exchange, then each signal has dedicated transmission, but occupied space and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple parallel transmission lines into a single serial transmission line. The serializer (106) combines multiple sampled signals (16-1 to 16-N) with different transmission rates into one serial signal (18) that can be transmitted over a single line. This merging reduces the physical space required for transmission infrastructure while maintaining reliable signal transmission through proper serialization and timing control.
3Ease of operation
If data is buffered in memory for multiplexing with different priorities, then data can be organized by priority, but delay in data transmission occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing sampling of each signal at its appropriate rate before the multiplexing process. The samplers (104-1 to 104-N) prepare the signals in advance with correct timing characteristics, and the serializer (106) then simply combines them according to their sampling frequencies. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for priority-based buffering and reordering, thereby avoiding transmission delays while maintaining proper data organization.
4Productivity
If the frequency of serial signal is increased to handle more signals, then more signals can be multiplexed, but upper frequency limits restrict the total number of signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the serialization process adaptive to different signal rates. The serializer (106) dynamically adjusts its operation based on the specific sampling frequencies of the input signals (16-1 to 16-N), which may differ. This dynamic approach allows efficient multiplexing of signals with varying rates without requiring a uniformly high serial signal frequency, thereby increasing the total number of multiplexed signals while respecting frequency limits.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an embodiment, a signal conversion apparatus includes a control information generator and a selector. The control information generator generates first control information based on rate information indicating transmission rates of original signals. The first control information designates a first timing at which each of the original signals is sampled. The selector selects each of the sampled signals at a timing based on the first timing. The original signal group includes a first original signal at a first transmission rate and a second original signal at a second transmission rate. The first transmission rate is higher than the second transmission rate. The frequency of allocating the first timing to the first original signal is higher than a frequency of allocating the first timing to the second original signal.