SDA Line Stuck Detection in Two-Wire Serial Bus Controllers

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Solution Overview

Problem

The issue of a stuck SDA condition in serial communication protocols like I3C, where a target device fails to release the SDA line during read/write transactions, hindering further communication and necessitating a detection mechanism for recovery.

Innovation Solution

A controller with processing circuitry to sample and monitor the SDA line for consecutive low voltage levels without a low-to-high transition, indicating a stuck SDA condition and implementing recovery methods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a target device drives the SDA line low during read/write transaction, then data transmission is enabled, but the communication is hindered if the SDA line is not released (stuck condition)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidstuck SDA condition

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The controller performs preliminary sampling and monitoring of the SDA line during the transaction to detect the stuck condition before it completely halts communication. By continuously monitoring voltage levels and detecting predetermined sequences of consecutive low levels, the controller can identify the stuck condition early and initiate recovery procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by monitoring the SDA line voltage levels and using this information to detect stuck conditions. The controller samples the SDA line, analyzes the voltage level sequences, and based on this feedback, determines whether a stuck condition exists and triggers appropriate recovery actions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the controller continuously monitors the SDA line for stuck conditions, then detection accuracy is improved, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestuck condition detection accuracyVSAvoidmonitoring circuit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuously monitoring every voltage transition, the controller samples the SDA line at specific intervals and looks for predetermined sequences of consecutive low voltage levels. This partial monitoring approach maintains detection accuracy by focusing on the specific pattern that indicates a stuck condition, while reducing processing complexity compared to continuous analysis of all signal variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The detection mechanism changes the monitoring parameter from analyzing all voltage transitions to specifically detecting predetermined sequences of consecutive low voltage levels. By focusing on this specific parameter pattern (sequence of low levels without expected transitions), the system achieves accurate stuck condition detection with simpler processing logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12572497B2Detection of a stuck data line of a serial data bus

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

A controller is provided that includes a serial data (SDA) line interface to connect the controller to an SDA line of a two-wire, shared, serial data bus. The controller includes processing circuitry to sample the SDA line to obtain samples of a voltage level on the SDA line, and monitor the samples. The processing circuitry detects a predetermined number of consecutive ones of the monitored samples at a low voltage level, without a low-to-high transition in the voltage level. The processing circuitry indicates a stuck SDA condition based on the detected, predetermined number of consecutive ones of the monitored samples.