Scrambler-Based Data Encoding for DC Balance Without Overhead

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing digital communication systems face challenges in maintaining DC balance without adding coding bits, which affects signal fidelity and power efficiency, particularly in applications like ultrasound imaging where robustness against noise is crucial.

Innovation Solution

A digital interface that includes a scrambler to align and tag data streams, scrambling the formatted digital data to enhance balance between digit values without adding coding bits, thereby reducing spectral bandwidth and improving power efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If 8b/10b encoding scheme is used to guarantee DC balance and short run lengths, then signal fidelity and clock recovery are improved, but data overhead increases by 25%

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal fidelityVSAvoiddata overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the encoding parameters by using 64b/66b encoding instead of 8b/10b, reducing the overhead from 25% to approximately 3.125%. This parameter change maintains DC balance through scrambling while reducing the number of overhead bits required for synchronization and control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and removes unnecessary overhead coding bits from the data stream. By using a scrambler instead of extensive overhead coding, the system eliminates redundant synchronization and control bits while maintaining the essential functions through a more efficient scrambling mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Quantity of substance

If scrambling methods are used to statistically guarantee DC balance, then data overhead is reduced, but run length control becomes less deterministic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata overheadVSAvoidrun length guarantee

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the scrambler uses the data stream itself to control the scrambling process. This feedback approach ensures that the scrambling adapts to the data pattern, maintaining DC balance while providing deterministic run length control through the inherent properties of the feedback-based scrambler design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If overhead coding bits are added to maintain DC balance, then signal robustness is improved, but processing load and data rate increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal robustnessVSAvoidprocessing load

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical overhead coding system with an electronic scrambling mechanism. Instead of adding physical overhead bits to the data stream, the system uses a scrambler to statistically and electronically maintain DC balance, significantly reducing processing load while maintaining signal robustness through efficient electronic manipulation of the data stream.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20260081810A1Data encoding without overhead

Publication Date: 2026.03.19 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

AI summary

A method of encoding data for transmission includes aligning and tagging a start of a data stream; receiving, at a communication interface comprising a scrambler (111C1), a digitized signal comprising formatted digital data; scrambling the formatted digital data into scrambled digital data to reduce spectral bandwidth and enhance balance between amounts of digit values of the digital data and without adding coding bits to the formatted digital data; and outputting the scrambled digital data.