Time-Interleaved SAR ADC Slicer Scaling for Channel Loss Modes

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

High-speed communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing insertion loss in receiver devices, particularly in adapting to different communication ranges, as existing technologies struggle to optimize power consumption and ADC performance across varying data rates and insertion loss modes.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a receiver device with time-interleaved analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) that include multiple sub-ADCs with successive approximation (SAR) ADC slices, allowing for reconfiguration based on insertion loss modes to adjust the number of enabled ADC slicers, thereby optimizing performance for long-range, medium-range, and short-range communications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the sampling rate of ADC is increased to support higher data rates, then the communication speed is improved, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata rateVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The ADC is divided into multiple time-interleaved sub-ADCs, each operating at a lower sampling rate but collectively achieving the higher overall sampling rate needed for high data rate communication. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high speed performance while managing power consumption across multiple lower-power components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The receiver dynamically reconfigures the number of enabled ADC slices based on the communication mode and channel insertion loss conditions. For long-range communication with high insertion loss, more ADC slices are enabled to maintain signal integrity, while for short-range communication with low insertion loss, fewer slices are sufficient, reducing power consumption while maintaining adequate performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If more ADC slices are enabled to handle high insertion loss, then the signal recovery accuracy is improved, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal recovery accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the number of enabled ADC slices based on detected channel insertion loss characteristics. When high insertion loss is detected (long-range communication), more ADC slices are activated to improve signal recovery accuracy. When low insertion loss is detected (short-range communication), fewer slices are activated to reduce power consumption, optimizing the trade-off between accuracy and energy usage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The receiver changes operational parameters (number of enabled ADC slices) based on channel conditions. By monitoring insertion loss and adjusting the active ADC slice configuration accordingly, the system adapts its measurement precision and power consumption to match the actual communication requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the receiver is designed for long-range communication with high insertion loss tolerance, then the adaptability is improved, but the performance for short-range communication deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication range adaptabilityVSAvoidsignal recovery accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The receiver employs dynamic reconfiguration of ADC resources based on communication mode. For long-range communication, the system allocates more ADC slices to handle high insertion loss. For short-range communication, the system reduces the number of active slices, preventing over-processing that could degrade signal quality and maintaining optimal performance for each specific range

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Measurement precision

If all ADC slices are always enabled to maintain maximum performance, then the measurement precision is maintained, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveADC performanceVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of always enabling all ADC slices (excessive action), the system enables only the necessary number of slices required for the current communication conditions (partial action). This approach maintains adequate measurement precision while avoiding the excessive power consumption that would result from continuously operating all ADC slices at full capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS11115040B1ADC slicer reconfiguration for different channel insertion loss

Publication Date: 2021.09.07 ETOPUS TECH

AI summary

A receiver having analog-to-digital converters (ADC) is disclosed. The ADCs may be reconfigured based on the insertion loss mode of the receiver. For example, different portions of a plurality of time-interleaved successive approximation (SAR) ADC slices included in at least one sub-ADC of each time-interleaved ADC may be enabled depending on which of a plurality of insertion loss modes is selected for operation of the receiver.