Input Receiver Crosstalk Compensation Using Adjacent Signal Coupling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Crosstalk noise between signal lines in semiconductor memory systems affects signal integrity, causing input receivers to capture erroneous commands, addresses, and data due to capacitive coupling, which becomes more pronounced as memory devices decrease in size and increase in bandwidth.

Innovation Solution

An input receiver circuit that utilizes input signals from adjacent signal lines to generate a mitigation signal, which is used to reduce or eliminate crosstalk noise by compensating for the noise through a differential pair circuit, with programmable components to adjust the influence of adjacent signals based on capacitive coupling and recovery time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If memory devices decrease in size and increase in bandwidth, then productivity and data capacity improve, but crosstalk noise between signal lines increases causing signal integrity degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata bandwidthVSAvoidcrosstalk noise

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent captures the harmful crosstalk noise signals from adjacent signal lines using capacitive coupling, and then feeds these captured noise signals back through compensation circuits to cancel out the original crosstalk interference. This converts the harmful crosstalk energy into a beneficial counteracting signal that restores signal integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediate compensation circuits between the affected signal line and the input receiver. These compensation circuits act as mediators that process the crosstalk noise from adjacent lines and generate counteracting signals, thereby isolating the main signal path from the harmful interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If signal lines are placed closer together to increase density, then area efficiency improves, but capacitive coupling and crosstalk noise increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvememory device areaVSAvoidcapacitive coupling noise

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the capacitive coupling that naturally occurs between closely spaced signal lines to capture the crosstalk noise, then feeds this captured noise back through compensation circuits to cancel the interference. This approach accepts the necessary capacitive coupling for high density and converts it into a useful signal for noise cancellation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback loops that continuously monitor the crosstalk noise on signal lines and dynamically adjust compensation signals to counteract the interference. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain signal integrity despite the increased capacitive coupling inherent in high-density layouts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Speed

If input receivers capture signals with higher bandwidth, then data throughput improves, but susceptibility to crosstalk noise and signal errors increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal capture speedVSAvoidsignal capture accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies compensation for crosstalk noise before the input receiver captures the signal. By pre-processing the signal to remove or reduce crosstalk interference, the receiver can accurately capture high-speed signals without being corrupted by noise, thus maintaining both speed and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces compensation circuits as intermediary elements between the noisy signal lines and the input receiver. These intermediaries filter and condition the signals, removing crosstalk components before the receiver captures the data, thereby preserving signal integrity at high speeds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The solution effectively reduces crosstalk noise, ensuring that input signals meet the specified characteristics for successful capture by input receivers, thereby improving signal integrity and reducing errors in semiconductor memory systems.

Implementation Method 1

crosstalk noise between signal lines in semiconductor memory systems affects signal integrity, causing input receivers to capture erroneous commands, addresses, and data due to capacitive coupling

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitive coupling: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS11683033B2Apparatuses and methods for compensating for crosstalk noise at input receiver circuits

Publication Date: 2023.06.20 LODESTAR LICENSING GROUP LLC

AI summary

An input receiver circuit for a signal line may receive inputs from other signal lines to mitigate crosstalk noise present on the signal line. In some examples, the input receiver circuit may include a transistor with a programmable width. In some examples, the input receiver circuit may include a bias current generator with a programmable current. The width and/or current may be programmed based on an amount of crosstalk noise introduced by the other signal line. In some examples, the input receiver circuit may include a resistance and/or a capacitance. In some examples the resistor and/or capacitor may be programmable. The resistance and/or capacitance may be programmed based on a duration of the crosstalk noise on the signal line.