Serial Data Transmission Encoding for Clock Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

In serial data transmission, existing methods require separate transmission of the clock signal, which necessitates an additional transmission line, and face challenges in synchronizing the clock at the receiving side with the transmitting side to recover data effectively, especially at higher data transmission rates.

Innovation Solution

The method involves generating a serial stream of symbols by coding digital data using biphase coding and phase shift keying, allowing multiple bits to be transmitted simultaneously, and using a phased locked loop for clock recovery, eliminating the need for a separate clock transmission line by synchronizing the clock at the receiving side with the transmitting side through phase-shifted clock signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate transmission line is used for clock signal transmission, then clock synchronization between transmitting and receiving sides is achieved, but the device complexity and number of transmission lines increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclock synchronizationVSAvoidnumber of transmission lines
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the clock signal transmission with the data signal transmission by encoding the clock information within the data signal itself. The receiving end extracts the clock signal from the received data signal, eliminating the need for a separate clock transmission line while maintaining synchronization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The data signal serves dual purposes: transmitting data information and carrying clock synchronization information. The receiving end uses the received data signal itself to generate the clock signal, making the system self-sufficient without external clock transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If data transmission rate is increased by using higher toggle rates, then productivity improves, but bandwidth requirements and signal integrity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission rateVSAvoidbandwidth
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments each data symbol into multiple bits (e.g., 2 bits per symbol), allowing parallel transmission of multiple bits within a single symbol period. This increases the effective data transmission rate without proportionally increasing the toggle rate or bandwidth requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from transmitting one bit per symbol to transmitting multiple bits per symbol by utilizing phase information as an additional dimension. Phase shift keying encodes multiple bits within the same time frame by varying the phase angle, effectively adding a dimensional aspect to the signal representation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2164215B1Method and device for serial transmission of digital data
Publication Date: 2011.10.26 INOVA SEMICON
  • EP2164215B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2164215B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2164215B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A generating unit generates a serial stream of digital data comprising a sequence of bits. A converting unit converts the serial stream of digital data into a serial stream of symbols, wherein each symbol being indicative of a plurality of 2n bits, n being an integer equal to or greater than 1, by coding the sequence of bits such that the plurality of 2n bits of each symbol being indicated by a signal having a level transition within a period of each symbol and a phase shift of the level transition within a period of each symbol and to transmit the serial stream of symbols via a serial transmission line. A reconverting unit receives the transmitted serial stream of symbols and reconverts the transmitted serial stream of symbols into the serial stream of digital data.