Serial Bus Signal Conditioner for High-Speed Edge Boosting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing serial bus systems, such as USB, face limitations in transmission distance due to signal degradation and the introduction of jitter and skew by repeaters, which truncate packet bits and add errors, especially when longer conductors are needed for larger board sizes or flex cable connections.
Innovation Solution
A serial bus signal conditioner circuit that includes receiver circuitry, a mode identification circuit, and an edge-rate booster circuit, which detects the initiation of high-speed signaling and injects differential current to improve signal edge rates, thereby increasing transmission distance without repeating data and avoiding the shortcomings of repeaters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If repeaters are introduced to extend transmission distance, then signal transmission distance is improved, but signal quality deteriorates due to added jitter, skew, and packet bit truncation
Solution Approach 1:
An intermediary signal conditioner circuit is introduced between the USB devices to detect high-speed signaling and inject differential current to boost signal edges. This intermediary improves signal quality without repeating data, avoiding the errors introduced by traditional repeaters while extending transmission distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the necessary signal conditioning function from the repeater - specifically, detecting high-speed signaling and injecting current to improve edge rates - without including the data repetition function that causes errors. This selective extraction maintains signal quality while extending transmission distance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If longer conductors are used for larger board sizes, then board size flexibility is improved, but signal degradation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The signal conditioner acts as an intermediary that compensates for signal degradation over longer conductors by detecting high-speed signaling and injecting differential current to reinforce signal edges, thereby maintaining signal integrity across extended transmission distances suitable for larger boards.
3Length of stationary object
If traditional repeaters are used to extend transmission, then transmission distance is improved, but errors are introduced through data repetition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the data repetition function from the repeater that causes packet bit truncation and errors, retaining only the signal conditioning function of detecting high-speed signaling and injecting differential current to improve edge rates, thereby extending transmission without introducing errors.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of copying and retransmitting data like traditional repeaters, this invention uses a non-intrusive approach by injecting current to boost signal edges during high-speed signaling without creating copies of the data, thus avoiding the introduction of packet bit errors.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances signal transition times and eye patterns on the serial bus, allowing for longer transmission distances without adding errors, thus overcoming the limitations of traditional repeaters and supporting increased board sizes and flex cable connections.
Implementation Method 1
The edge-rate booster circuit is coupled to the mode identification circuit, and is configured to identify edges of a differential signal transmitted on the serial bus, and to supply a differential current to the serial bus based on identification of an edge of the differential signal
Data Source
AI summary
A serial bus signal conditioner circuit includes receiver circuitry, a mode identification circuit, and an edge-rate booster circuit. The receiver circuitry is configured to receive signals transmitted on a serial bus. The mode identification circuit is coupled to the receiver circuitry, and is configured to identify initiation of or return to high-speed signaling on the serial bus based on sequences of the signals transmitted on the serial bus. The edge-rate booster circuit is coupled to the mode identification circuit, and is configured to identify edges of a differential signal transmitted on the serial bus, and to supply a differential current to the serial bus based on identification of an edge of the differential signal.