High-Speed Signaling Interconnect Link Management for Controlled Power-Down
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Solution Overview
Problem
Communication systems face reliability issues due to abrupt power-down or reset sequences in high-speed interconnects, leading to stress on components and reduced longevity, as separate software stacks cannot coordinate these actions effectively.
Innovation Solution
Implementing link status detection circuitry in receivers to monitor clock lanes, allowing devices to autonomously initiate power-down sequences based on detected link status, ensuring components are shut down within safe voltage thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate software stacks control power-down or reset operations independently, then each device can be controlled individually, but the communication channel cannot coordinate shutdown actions causing abrupt power-down sequences and component stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (link status detection circuitry and coordination protocol) that mediates between independent software stacks and the communication channel. This intermediary enables coordinated power-down sequences by detecting link status and triggering synchronized shutdown actions across both devices, preventing abrupt power-down while maintaining independent software control architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the power-down control functionality from separate software stacks into a unified coordination mechanism at the hardware level. By combining link status detection, coordination logic, and synchronized shutdown triggers into an integrated system, the patent enables coordinated operation without requiring software stack integration, thus maintaining independence while achieving reliability
2Loss of time
If the communication channel shuts down abruptly without coordinated sequences, then device shutdown is faster, but additional stress is placed on the communication channel reducing component longevity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by detecting link status changes and initiating coordinated power-down sequences before abrupt shutdown occurs. The link status detection circuitry monitors communication channel state and triggers synchronized shutdown procedures in advance, allowing components to transition safely through voltage thresholds and preventing stress-induced degradation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by implementing controlled voltage transition sequences during power-down. The coordination mechanism ensures both devices reduce voltage gradually through predefined thresholds, cushioning the transition and preventing abrupt voltage changes that would stress communication channel components and reduce longevity
3Reliability
If software stacks cannot access physical link controls due to security specifications, then system security is maintained, but the software stack cannot control the physical communication channel causing uncoordinated shutdowns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (link status detection circuitry and coordination protocol) that bridges the gap between security-restricted software stacks and physical link controls. This intermediary operates at the hardware level with appropriate access privileges, receiving software control requests and translating them into coordinated physical channel actions, thus maintaining security while enabling control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the hardware layer to autonomously execute coordination functions without requiring software stack access to physical controls. The link status detection circuitry and coordination logic operate independently, detecting link status and triggering synchronized shutdowns automatically, thus providing the needed control functionality while maintaining security restrictions on software access
Data Source
AI summary
A device includes receiver circuitry to receive incoming signals on a clock lane and data lanes and detection circuitry. The detection circuitry is to monitor the incoming signals on the clock lane, and determine that an incoming pattern of the incoming signals on the clock lane does not correspond to a clock pattern associated with communicating data on the data lanes. The detection circuitry is to initiate a power-down sequence in response to determining that the incoming pattern does not correspond to the clock pattern.