Retimer Exit Command Control for Stable Electrical Idle
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retimer devices in high-speed data communication channels face issues with excessive electrical idle states that violate predefined bus standards, leading to instability in the clock data recovery loop and potential data corruption.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for controlling the electrical idle state of retimers by extending the exit command until the clock data recovery loop stabilizes, ensuring compliance with bus standards like USB 3.0, using a retimer device with an LFPS module and multiplexer to manage the transition from energy-saving states to active data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the retimer exits from low power link state quickly to meet electrical idle duration specification, then the electrical idle state complies with bus standard, but the CDR loop becomes unstable and data corruption occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by extending the exit command duration before the CDR loop is fully stabilized. The exit command is deliberately prolonged to ensure the CDR loop has sufficient time to lock and stabilize before the electrical idle state begins, preventing CDR loop instability while maintaining compliance with electrical idle duration specifications through careful timing control.
2Reliability
If the exit command is extended to stabilize CDR loop, then the CDR loop stability improves, but the electrical idle duration exceeds the predefined specification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the exit command duration variable rather than fixed. The exit command is dynamically extended only for the minimum necessary time required for CDR loop stabilization, and then promptly terminated. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain CDR loop stability while minimizing the electrical idle duration to comply with specifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback by monitoring the CDR loop stabilization status to control the exit command duration. The system detects when the CDR loop has successfully locked and stabilized, and uses this feedback information to determine when to terminate the extended exit command, ensuring both CDR loop stability and electrical idle duration compliance through closed-loop control.
Data Source
AI summary
This application is directed to controlling an electrical idle state of a retimer of a data communication channel. A receiving side of the retimer obtains an input signal including at least an exit command and a data sequence following the exit command. The exit command requests the retimer to exit a target energy saving state and transmit the data sequence. The retimer splits the input signal into two distinct signals including a control signal carrying the exit command and a data signal carrying the data signal. The retimer extends the exit command carried by the control signal, outputs the control signal carrying the extended exit command at an output of the retimer, and in accordance with a determination that the retimer has been equalized and locked, outputs the data signal carrying the data sequence at the output of the retimer.