Shared Voltage Reference Circuit for SERDES Deserializer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems require multiple independent voltage reference circuits for generating variable voltages, leading to increased implementation costs and power consumption, as well as errors due to independent feedback control circuits, which complicates tracking and matching of voltage references.
Innovation Solution
A circuit with a feedback control generator producing a center voltage and multiple voltage generators that generate high and low voltages relative to the center voltage, using offset voltages determined by control inputs, allowing for multiple variable voltages to share a common reference point, thereby simplifying the generation and tracking of reference voltages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple independent voltage reference circuits are used to generate variable voltages, then each voltage reference can be independently controlled, but the implementation cost and power consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple independent voltage reference circuits into a single shared voltage reference circuit. The feedback control circuit generates a single reference voltage that is shared by multiple serdes channels, eliminating the need for separate voltage reference circuits for each channel. This reduces power consumption and implementation cost while maintaining voltage control capability across all channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The single shared voltage reference circuit is designed to serve multiple functions and multiple serdes channels simultaneously. The feedback control circuit provides universal voltage reference generation that can be used by any number of serdes channels, making the system more efficient and reducing overall power consumption.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple independent voltage reference circuits are used, then each can be independently adjusted, but tracking and matching between references becomes complex and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple independent voltage reference circuits into a single shared reference circuit, the patent eliminates the tracking and matching problems between independent references. The single feedback control circuit ensures that all serdes channels use the same reference voltage, guaranteeing consistency and eliminating offset errors between channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a feedback control circuit that continuously monitors and adjusts the shared reference voltage to maintain accuracy. The feedback mechanism ensures that the single reference voltage remains stable and accurate across all serdes channels, providing consistent performance without the complexity of coordinating multiple independent references.
3Measurement precision
If separate feedback control circuits are used for each voltage reference, then each reference can be precisely controlled, but offset errors vary between independent circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate feedback control circuits into a single shared feedback control circuit. This single circuit generates one reference voltage that is used by all serdes channels, ensuring that offset errors are consistent across all channels rather than varying between independent circuits. The unified approach maintains precision while improving reliability and consistency.
4Manufacturing precision
If more stringent component matching is used to make voltage references track each other, then tracking accuracy improves, but implementation cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for stringent component matching between multiple voltage references by merging them into a single shared reference circuit. Since all serdes channels use the same reference voltage generated by one feedback control circuit, there are no tracking accuracy issues between independent references, and no stringent component matching is required. This significantly reduces implementation complexity and cost.
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit is described that generates multiple voltages each having a common reference point. The circuit uses a feedback control loop to generate a center voltage, a first voltage generator, and a second voltage generator. The first voltage generator generates a first high voltage related to the center voltage plus a first offset voltage and a first low voltage related to the center voltage minus the first offset voltage, where the first offset voltage is determined by a first control input to the first voltage generator. The second voltage generator generates a second high voltage related to the center voltage plus a second offset voltage and a second low voltage related to the center voltage minus the second offset voltage, where the second offset voltage is determined by a second control input to the second voltage reference generator. An example is also presented where the multiple voltage generator circuit is advantageously employed in a deserializer data acquisition system.