Slave Circuit Initialization via Multi-Function Data Lines
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slave circuit designs require a large number of connection pins for integration, complicating miniaturization due to the need for independent chip select lines and address decoding circuits, as well as pull-up resistors for data output lines.
Innovation Solution
A slave circuit with a data transmission interface, an address register, a comparator, and an indicator register that uses a common initialization address to minimize connection pins by inhibiting data output until initialization, allowing series connection with minimal external pins and eliminating the need for pull-up resistors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If independent chip select lines and address decoding circuits are provided for each slave circuit, then slave circuits can be selectively addressed, but the number of connection pins increases
Solution Approach 1:
The data input line of the slave circuit serves multiple functions: it transmits both data and address information, and acts as the chip select line. The data output line similarly serves as both data output and chip select output. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate chip select lines and address decoding circuits, reducing the number of connection pins while maintaining slave circuit selection capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If pull-up resistors are provided on data output lines, then open drain output drivers can be used, but circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes pull-up resistors from the circuit by implementing a different output driver architecture. The slave circuit uses push-pull output drivers that can actively drive both high and low states without requiring external pull-up resistors, thereby simplifying the circuit while maintaining the ability to drive data lines.
3Ease of operation
If multiple connection pins are used for slave circuits, then full functionality can be implemented, but miniaturization becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The slave circuit implements multi-functionality where the data input line also serves as the chip select input line, and the data output line also serves as the chip select output line. This reduces the number of required connection pins from multiple separate lines to just the essential data lines, enabling miniaturization while preserving full functionality including address decoding and slave selection.
Data Source
AI summary
Slave circuit having a data transmission interface (2) for processing data frames; an address register (10) for storing an address; a comparator (13) for comparing the address stored in the address register (10) with an address transmitted to the data transmission interface (2) in a data frame; an indicator register (16) which indicates the initialization of the slave circuit (1) if the address transmitted to the data transmission interface (2) in the slave circuit (1) is identical to a predetermined initialization address (UIA) for the slave circuit (1).