Single Wire Interface With Sync Symbol For Debugging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication interfaces for integrated circuit debugging require multiple wires and pins, leading to increased board space usage and susceptibility to errors due to shorting and crosstalk, and often necessitate precise timing circuits, which are costly and resource-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A single wire data interface with a sync symbol for reliable data transmission, including methods for detecting stuck states and conflicts, and a pilot readback sequence to determine interface validity and optimize communication speed, allowing asynchronous data transfer without a common clock or strobe signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple wire interfaces are used for communication, then data transmission reliability is improved, but board space and routing space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple communication functions (data transmission, clocking, synchronization) into a single wire interface, eliminating the need for separate clock lines and reducing board space while maintaining reliable communication through integrated protocol design
2Speed
If multiple wire interfaces are used for communication, then data transmission speed is improved, but susceptibility to shorting and crosstalk errors increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging clock and data signals onto a single wire with differential encoding, the patent eliminates parallel wire issues like crosstalk and shorting while maintaining high data transmission speeds through efficient protocol design
3Measurement precision
If synchronous communication with precise timing is used, then data transmission accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single wire interface generates its own timing signals and synchronization cues through the protocol itself, eliminating the need for external clock lines and complex timing circuits while maintaining accurate data transmission through self-synchronized communication
4Reliability
If precise on-board timing circuits are used, then communication synchronization is improved, but integrated circuit die area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interface uses the communication wire itself to carry timing and synchronization information through protocol-level signaling, eliminating the need for dedicated timing circuits on the chip and reducing die area while maintaining synchronization reliability
Data Source
AI summary
In a single wire communications interface embodiment, a single wire is coupled between a master device and at least one slave device, the master device configured for transmitting data words as serial data to and for receiving data words as serial data from the at least one slave device, and the at least one slave device configured for transmitting data words as serial data to and receiving data words as serial data from the master device; wherein prior to transmission of any data word on the single wire by one of the master device and the slave device, a sync pulse is first transmitted on the single wire. Integrated circuit embodiments for implementing the single wire communications interface, and method embodiments incorporating the single wire communications interface are disclosed. Additional embodiments are disclosed.