Reconfigurable Interface for Multi-Peripheral Controller Pin Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing need for controllers to connect to various peripheral devices leads to an increase in the number of pins required, resulting in larger, more costly, and complex designs due to differing communication protocols and interconnection strategies.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable interface with a shared input/output interface, profile memory, and state machine that dynamically configures communication settings based on interface profiles to accommodate multiple peripheral devices using a reduced number of pins, allowing for real-time reconfiguration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated pins are used for each peripheral device connection, then communication reliability is improved, but the number of pins increases leading to larger size and higher cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a reconfigurable interface that allows a single set of pins to serve multiple peripheral devices by dynamically changing the interface configuration. The state machine controller reconfigures the interface between different peripheral devices based on communication requests, enabling one interface to universally handle multiple device connections instead of requiring dedicated pins for each device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a state machine controller that dynamically reconfigures the interface parameters (data width, clock frequency, protocol) in real-time based on which peripheral device is being accessed. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the same physical pins to adapt their electrical and logical characteristics to match different peripheral device requirements.
2Reliability
If dedicated pins are used for each peripheral device, then communication protocol compliance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reconfigurable interface serves as a universal communication adapter that can be programmed to comply with multiple different communication protocols. Instead of having separate dedicated interfaces for each protocol, a single interface is designed to universally support various protocols through software-based configuration controlled by the state machine.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the interface (data width, clock frequency, signal timing) dynamically based on the target peripheral device. The state machine controller adjusts these parameters in real-time to match the specific protocol requirements of each peripheral device, allowing protocol compliance without dedicated hardware for each protocol.
3Adaptability or versatility
If more pins are added to support varying peripheral devices, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal interface design that can adapt to multiple peripheral device types through software configuration rather than requiring different hardware configurations. This universal approach allows a single controller design to manufacture with fewer pins while still supporting a wide variety of peripheral devices, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
4Adaptability or versatility
If more pins are used for peripheral connections, then peripheral device connectivity is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
By implementing a reconfigurable interface where a single set of pins can serve multiple peripheral devices, the patent reduces the total number of pins required. Fewer pins mean fewer physical connections and less power consumption for signal driving and switching, while maintaining the ability to connect to various peripheral devices through dynamic reconfiguration.
Data Source
AI summary
A real-time reconfigurable input/output interface of a controller and a method of reconfiguring the same. The reconfigurable interface enables the controller to communicate with a plurality of peripheral digital subsystem blocks, and includes an input/output interface, a profile memory, and a state machine. The input/output interface includes a plurality of data lines including a shared portion that are shared among the plurality of peripheral digital subsystem blocks. The profile memory stores a plurality of interface profiles, each interface profile defining a configuration of the input/output interface to communicate with an associated one of the peripheral blocks. The state machine is coupled to the profile memory to receive interface profiles and to the input/output interface. In response to each request to communicate with a particular peripheral block, the state machine configures the input/output interface according to the interface profile associated with the particular peripheral block.