Shared-Resistor Calibration Circuit for Faster Impedance Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing calibration methods for impedance matching in electronic devices are inefficient due to the need for sequential impedance matching operations across multiple dies, which results in increased total calibration time and potential impedance mismatch issues caused by noise, power supply variations, and manufacturing variations.
Innovation Solution
A calibration circuit and apparatus that utilize a shared resistor for impedance matching, where one die initiates an impedance matching operation and generates a completion signal, allowing subsequent dies to start their matching operations immediately upon receiving this signal, thereby reducing the total impedance matching time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If multiple dies perform impedance matching operations sequentially using a shared resistor, then the total calibration time is reduced, but the complexity of coordinating multiple calibration circuits increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a calibration control circuit as an intermediary that coordinates between multiple calibration circuits and the shared resistor. This control circuit manages the sequential activation of calibration circuits, ensuring that only one calibration circuit is active at a time when accessing the shared resistor, thereby reducing total calibration time while maintaining system coordination through centralized control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous calibration operations by having multiple calibration circuits sequentially access the shared resistor without idle waiting time. Each calibration circuit is activated immediately after the previous one completes, creating a continuous calibration process that minimizes total calibration time while maintaining systematic coordination.
2Reliability
If impedance matching is performed without sequential coordination, then the calibration process is simpler, but impedance mismatch occurs due to noise and power supply variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the calibration control circuit prepare and activate calibration circuits in a predetermined sequential order. Each calibration circuit is activated only after the previous calibration operation is complete, ensuring that impedance matching is performed under stable conditions without interference from simultaneous operations, thereby improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where each calibration circuit monitors the completion status of previous calibration operations and adjusts its activation accordingly. The calibration control circuit receives status information from each calibration circuit and uses this feedback to coordinate the sequential activation, ensuring reliable impedance matching while managing system complexity through information-based coordination.
Data Source
AI summary
A calibration circuit sharing a resistor for impedance matching includes a command decoder configured to receive a command signal and decode the command signal into a calibration enable signal; a selector configured to select one of the calibration enable signal and a start signal according to a select signal, and provide a driving signal; and a calibration driver configured to perform an impedance matching operation in response to the driving signal, and generate a completion signal when performance is completed, wherein the start signal corresponds to a completion signal provided from another calibration circuit which shares the resistor for the impedance matching.