Serial Bus Event Sequencing Arbitration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing event synchronization methods in complex electronic systems rely on synchronized counters, which are challenging to verify and limit flexibility, especially in scenarios where multiple devices need to sequence events in a predetermined order without hard-wired sequencing.
Innovation Solution
A serial bus-based system for event synchronization that eliminates the need for synchronized counters, allowing sequencing controllers to communicate directly through a single wire or differential bus, enabling self-actuation and self-termination of sequencing events based on preprogrammed positions, with the ability to handle faults and flexible sequencing orders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If synchronized counters are used for event sequencing, then sequencing order can be controlled, but verification becomes challenging and flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the counter synchronization requirement entirely from the system. Instead of using synchronized counters to determine sequencing order, each sequencing controller independently determines its position in the sequence by monitoring the serial bus for the release of the arbitration signal. This eliminates the complexity of counter synchronization while maintaining sequencing control through the arbitration mechanism alone.
Solution Approach 2:
Each sequencing controller independently determines its own sequencing position by self-monitoring the serial bus state. When the arbitration signal is released, each controller independently evaluates whether it should proceed based on its pre-programmed position, without relying on other controllers' counters. This self-service approach eliminates the need for inter-controller counter synchronization.
2Productivity
If daisy chain feedback is used for sequencing, then fast sequencing time is achieved, but sequencing order becomes hard-wired and inflexible
Solution Approach 1:
The serial bus serves multiple functions: it acts as both the arbitration signal medium and the communication channel for sequencing coordination. The arbitration signal itself carries the sequencing position information implicitly through its release timing, eliminating the need for separate hard-wired feedback paths while maintaining fast sequencing response.
Solution Approach 2:
The sequencing order is made dynamic and reconfigurable through pre-programmed positions in each controller's memory. The arbitration signal release pattern can be dynamically adjusted by changing the pre-programmed positions, allowing flexible reconfiguration of sequencing order without physical rewiring, while maintaining fast response through the direct arbitration mechanism.
3Adaptability or versatility
If serial bus arbitration with synchronized counters is used, then flexible sequencing order is achieved, but counter synchronization verification is challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the synchronized counter component entirely from the system. Instead of verifying counter synchronization between controllers, each controller independently determines its sequencing position by monitoring when the arbitration signal is released on the serial bus. This eliminates the verification difficulty while preserving programming flexibility through pre-programmed position values.
Solution Approach 2:
The arbitration signal release provides implicit feedback to all controllers about the current sequencing position. Each controller monitors this feedback signal and independently determines when it should proceed based on its pre-programmed position, eliminating the need for complex counter synchronization verification while maintaining coordinated sequencing.
4Device complexity
If multiple sequencing controllers operate in isolation with time-based sequencing, then simple implementation is achieved, but coordination and feedback capability are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The serial bus arbitration signal serves as an intermediary that coordinates all sequencing controllers. Each controller operates relatively independently with simple logic, but the arbitration signal mediates their coordination by providing a shared reference point for sequencing position, ensuring reliable coordination without complex inter-controller communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The arbitration signal provides feedback to all controllers about the system's sequencing state. Each controller monitors this feedback to determine when it should proceed, maintaining simple implementation while achieving reliable coordination through the shared feedback mechanism that synchronizes all controllers' actions.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems of synchronizing events using a plurality of sequencing controllers are provided. For each sequencing controller, a serial communication bus (SCB) is monitored for a first reference level. Upon identifying that the SCB is at the first reference level for a predetermined period, a bit sequence indicative of an event position is broadcast to be arbitrated on the SCB. The SCB is monitored for the arbitrated bit sequence. Upon determining that the arbitrated bit sequence corresponds to the bit sequence of the event position, an event corresponding to the event position is enabled.