Signal Receiver Offset Compensation for High-Speed ISI Channels

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-speed signal transmission in electrical systems, such as computers and memory, is limited by channel bandwidth, causing inter symbol interference (ISI) and voltage/time margin reduction, which distorts data and affects signal receiver performance. Additionally, process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) variations can lead to signal offset issues that compromise accurate operation.

Innovation Solution

A signal receiver design incorporating first and second preliminary reception circuits, a reception circuit, and a reference voltage generation circuit, which selectively output signals based on voltage levels and adjust reference voltages to measure and compensate for offsets by generating preliminary reception signals using different reference voltages and clock phases, allowing for accurate offset measurement and compensation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high-speed signal transmission is implemented, then data rate is improved, but inter symbol interference distorts the original data and voltage and time margin is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata rateVSAvoidsignal accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The signal receiver is divided into multiple preliminary reception circuits (first, second, third, fourth) that operate in parallel with different reference voltages and clock phases. This segmentation allows the system to process signals through multiple paths simultaneously, improving both data rate and signal accuracy by selecting the most reliable reception result.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention varies multiple parameters including reference voltage levels (different for each preliminary reception circuit), clock phases (first and second phases), and circuit configurations. By changing these parameters across different reception circuits, the system can accommodate high-speed transmission while maintaining signal integrity through offset compensation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If process, voltage and temperature variations occur, then signal offset is introduced, but accurate operation of the signal receiver is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation under PVT variationsVSAvoidoffset measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention performs preliminary offset measurements using dedicated offset measurement circuits before normal signal reception. The offset measurement circuits pre-characterize the signal receiver under different PVT conditions, storing offset information that is later used to compensate for variations during actual operation, thereby maintaining measurement precision despite environmental changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where offset measurement results are fed back to adjust the operation of preliminary reception circuits. The measured offsets from calibration phases are used to compensate for PVT variations during normal operation, creating a closed-loop system that maintains accuracy despite process, voltage, and temperature changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If multiple preliminary reception circuits with different reference voltages are used, then offset measurement capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoffset measurement capabilityVSAvoidcircuit structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The preliminary reception circuits are designed to serve multiple functions: they perform both normal signal reception and offset measurement operations. The same circuits that receive signals during normal operation are also used to measure offsets by processing test signals with known characteristics, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the offset measurement functionality with the normal signal reception circuits. Instead of having separate dedicated offset measurement circuits, the system combines both functions into the same preliminary reception circuits, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining the ability to accurately measure offsets under different reference voltage conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11239872B2Signal receiver and method of measuring offset of signal receiver

Publication Date: 2022.02.01 SK HYNIX INC

AI summary

A signal receiver includes a first preliminary receiver circuit suitable for receiving an input signal and generating a first preliminary reception signal based on a first reference voltage, a second preliminary receiver circuit suitable for receiving the input signal and generating a second preliminary reception signal based on a second reference voltage, a reception circuit suitable for selecting one of the first preliminary reception signal and the second preliminary reception signal in response to a voltage level of a reception signal and generating the reception signal using the selected signal, and a reference voltage generation circuit suitable for adjusting a voltage level of the first reference voltage based on a first offset and adjusting a voltage level of the second reference voltage based on a second offset.