Serial Interface Crossbar for Clock-Data Swap Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing serial communication interfaces face limitations due to the limited number of available package pins, leading to increased package size, complexity, and higher manufacturing costs, while requiring reliable, lightweight, and low-power solutions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a clock-data swap capability through a crossbar circuit that allows for configurable internal clock-data configurations, utilizing a clock-data swap detection circuit to determine and adjust the swap state, enabling efficient routing without overlapping signal connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of package pins is increased to support more signals, then the communication capability is improved, but the package size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the clock and data signal routing through a single PCB layer by implementing clock-data swap capability. The crossbar circuit allows the external clock port to be coupled to the internal data port and the external data port to be coupled to the internal clock port, enabling both clock and data signals to share the same physical routing path without requiring separate pins for each signal type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic configurability through the crossbar circuit that can switch between different routing configurations. The crossbar circuit is selectably configurable to implement either clock-data swapped or non-swapped modes, allowing the system to adapt to different communication requirements without changing the physical pin configuration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of package pins is increased to support more signals, then the communication capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple signal routing functions into a single PCB layer by enabling clock-data swap. This allows the system to route both clock and data signals through the same physical path, eliminating the need for separate routing layers and reducing overall routing complexity despite supporting multiple communication modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The crossbar circuit serves multiple functions by being selectably configurable between different routing modes. It can implement clock-data swapped configuration for certain communication protocols and non-swapped configuration for others, making the routing infrastructure universal and reducing the need for dedicated routing paths for each mode.
3Productivity
If clock-data swap capability is implemented, then the routing efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic routing through the crossbar circuit that can switch configurations based on communication requirements. The crossbar circuit is controlled by configuration signals that determine whether to route external clock port to internal data port and external data port to internal clock port, or maintain standard routing, enabling efficient adaptation to different protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The crossbar circuit acts as an intermediary component between the external interface and internal processing units. It mediates the routing of clock and data signals, providing the flexibility to implement clock-data swap when needed while maintaining straightforward routing when not needed, thus improving overall routing efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and techniques for providing clock-data swap capability for a communication interface are disclosed. A method includes obtaining a clock-data swap check command; determining, based on processing the clock-data swap check command, that an external clock-data swapped state is present at an external clock port of a WM and an external data port of the WM, wherein the external clock port is coupled to a first external serial signal and the external data port is coupled to a second external serial signal; and selecting, based on determining that the external clock-data swapped state is present at the external clock port and the external data port, an internal clock-data swapped configuration for a crossbar circuit. The crossbar circuit is selectably configurable to couple the WM in an internal clock-data swapped configuration or couple the WM in an internal clock-data non-swapped configuration.