Serial Communication Feedback via Slave Device Pathway Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

In serial communication systems where the output port of the last slave device is not connected to the master device, slave devices cannot transmit feedback information to the master device.

Innovation Solution

A method where slave devices configure their pathways to specific voltage levels based on the presence of information, using pull-up and pull-down circuits to signal back to the master device, allowing feedback even without direct connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the output port of the last slave device is not connected to the master device, then the wiring complexity is reduced, but the slave devices cannot transmit feedback information to the master device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewiring complexityVSAvoidfeedback information transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The existing serial communication pathway is made multi-functional by enabling slave devices to transmit both forward communication signals and feedback information through the same daisy-chain connection. The first slave device acts as a relay, forwarding master device instructions to subsequent slave devices while also relaying feedback signals from those slave devices back to the master device, eliminating the need for separate feedback wiring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The feedback communication pathway is merged with the existing forward communication pathway. Instead of creating a separate connection from the last slave device back to the master device, the patent combines both communication directions into the single daisy-chain connection, where the first slave device serves as a bidirectional gateway.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Loss of information

If a separate feedback connection is added from the last slave device to the master device, then feedback information can be transmitted, but the wiring complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeedback information transmissionVSAvoidwiring complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The existing serial communication pathway is made multi-functional by enabling slave devices to transmit both forward communication signals and feedback information through the same daisy-chain connection. The first slave device acts as a relay, forwarding master device instructions to subsequent slave devices while also relaying feedback signals from those slave devices back to the master device, eliminating the need for separate feedback wiring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4468165B1Information feedback method and serial communication system
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 SILERGY SEMICON TECH (HANGZHOU) CO LTD
  • EP4468165B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4468165B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4468165B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An information feedback method applied to a serial communication system is provided. The serial communication system comprises a master device (Master) and at least one communication link, and the master and each communication link are connected in series. Each communication link comprises a plurality of slave devices (IC1, IC2, IC3)) connected in series. The information feedback method comprises: transmitting, by the master device, an instruction to acquire specific information, wherein each of the plurality of slave devices when receiving the instruction serves as a current slave device; configuring (12, b) the current slave device in the communication link to receive the instruction from the master device or a previous slave device, and forwarding the instruction to a subsequent slave device; connecting an input port and an output port of the current slave device by controlling the current slave device to form a first pathway (12, a); determining, by the current slave device, whether the specific information is present in the current slave device to obtain a corresponding determination result; and based on the determination result, selectively configuring (13), by the current slave device, a potential of the first pathway of the current slave device to be at a first level, such that the master device receives a feedback signal indicating whether the specific information is present in the slave device in the communication link. The present disclosure utilizes the information feedback method by multiplexing a serial communication system to make the slave device in the communication link to transmit the information to the master device.