Shared Storage Interface for Multi-Controller PCB Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of multiple electrical components on a printed circuit board (PCB) is resource-intensive and costly, requiring significant redesign and additional PCB space, especially when adding new components like Flash memory storage, which complicates debugging and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
Configuring existing components to communicate via a shared storage I/O interface, such as a DDR interface, minimizes additional PCB space and redesign efforts by reusing existing connections and eliminating the need for new package pins and routing, while using on-die terminations to mitigate signal reflections and noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If new components are integrated on a PCB, then functionality is enhanced, but PCB space and redesign requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple controllers are merged onto a single PCB, sharing common interfaces and resources. The first and second controllers both access the same storage device through shared address and data buses, eliminating the need for separate dedicated interfaces for each controller and thereby reducing overall PCB space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage device interface is designed to be universal, supporting multiple controllers accessing the same device. The interface includes shared chip select signals that can be activated by different controllers, allowing the same physical interface to serve multiple functional purposes across different controllers.
2Adaptability or versatility
If new components are integrated on a PCB, then functionality is enhanced, but redesign efforts and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into independent controllers that can be added or removed without affecting the entire system. Each controller has independent chip select logic that can be enabled or disabled, allowing flexible configuration and easier manufacturing iterations without redesigning the entire PCB.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface uses configurable parameters such as chip select signals and address decoding to adapt to different controller configurations. By changing control parameter settings rather than physical redesign, the system can accommodate different controller combinations with minimal manufacturing effort.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple controllers share a storage interface, then PCB space is reduced, but signal reflections and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
A termination resistor is introduced as an intermediary component at the end of the data bus to match impedance and prevent signal reflections. This termination resistor absorbs excess energy from signal reflections, reducing noise and improving signal integrity without requiring additional PCB routing or component complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface includes adjustable termination resistance parameters that can be configured to match the specific impedance characteristics of the PCB trace and storage device. By optimizing the termination resistance value, the system minimizes signal reflections while maintaining the benefits of shared interface architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A second controller is communicated with from a first controller via an interface. Storage is also communicated with from the first controller via the interface. The first controller is configured to be a master on the interface and the second controller and the storage are configured to be targets on the interface.