Three-Signal Receiver Delay Alignment for High-Speed Skew Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems face challenges in enhancing communication performance, particularly in high-speed interfaces where skew adjustment is crucial for optimal data transmission.

Innovation Solution

The proposed communication system includes a receiver and a transmitter equipped with multiple receiving and transmitting sections, respectively, which utilize delay sections and control sections to adjust skew by detecting patterns or phase information, thereby optimizing data lane alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If high-speed data transmission is implemented, then communication speed is improved, but skew between data signals and clock signals increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication speedVSAvoidsignal alignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The transmitter performs preliminary skew adjustment by adding delay to the clock signal before transmission. The delay amount is determined in advance based on channel characteristics, ensuring that the clock signal and data signal arrive at the receiver with proper alignment, thus preventing skew-related errors at high speeds

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The receiver detects skew between the received data signal and clock signal, and feeds back skew adjustment information to the transmitter. The transmitter uses this feedback to adjust the delay amount of the clock signal, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains optimal signal alignment despite variations in transmission conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If skew adjustment circuits are added to improve signal alignment, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal alignment accuracyVSAvoidcircuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The skew adjustment circuit is integrated into the existing transmitter structure, sharing components with the data transmission path. The same delay elements and control mechanisms are used for both clock signal adjustment and data signal conditioning, reducing the need for separate dedicated skew adjustment hardware

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-calibration by using the transmitted test patterns to automatically measure skew and adjust delay amounts without requiring external calibration equipment or manual intervention. The feedback mechanism enables the system to autonomously optimize its performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3761185B1Receiver, transmitter, and communication system
Publication Date: 2025.04.30 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3761185B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3761185B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3761185B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A receiver includes a first receiving circuit that receives a first data including a first symbol transmitted using three signals over a first data lane, the first data lane including three signal lines respectively corresponding to the three signals. The first receiving circuit includes a delay adjustment circuit configured to adjust a delay amount of at least one of the three signals.