Combined Spatial Time Multiplexer for TDM Data Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in retrieving both current and past data points from time-division multiplexed (TDM) data streams, particularly when stream selection occurs after the desired data has passed through a receiver, leading to data loss or missed information.
Innovation Solution
A spatial and time multiplexer device is developed to organize and select signals from multiple TDM data streams by using memory structures to store different time portions of individual signals, allowing for the retrieval of both current and past data points through address selection signals, and a multiplexer that selects the appropriate signal group for output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If time-division multiplexing is used to share combinational logic across multiple streams, then bandwidth efficiency is improved, but the ability to retrieve past data points deteriorates when stream selection occurs after data has passed through the receiver
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by storing data from multiple TDM streams in memory structures before stream selection is made. The memory structures hold both current and past data points from each stream, allowing the system to retrieve any desired data point even after the original stream has passed through the receiver. This pre-storing mechanism eliminates data loss that would otherwise occur when selection happens too late.
2Productivity
If multiple physical streams are used when combinational logic cannot be clocked fast enough, then processing capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the processing system into multiple independent memory structures, each handling a specific TDM stream. This segmentation allows each memory structure to be optimized for its specific stream while maintaining overall system capability to process multiple streams simultaneously. The modular memory structure approach manages complexity by organizing it into manageable, independent units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces memory structures as intermediary elements between the TDM streams and the output selection logic. These memory structures act as buffers that decouple the high-speed data flow from the slower selection and retrieval operations, allowing the combinational logic to operate at its maximum clock speed without being bottlenecked by stream switching requirements.
3Ease of operation
If stream selection is performed after data has passed through the receiver, then operational flexibility is improved, but data availability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-storing data from all TDM streams in memory structures before any selection decision is made. This allows the system to maintain operational flexibility in choosing which stream and which data point to retrieve, while ensuring that the desired data is already available in memory and will not be lost due to timing constraints.
Data Source
AI summary
A combined spatial and time multiplexer device is disclosed. The device organizes and selects any signal(s), including past data, from amongst a plurality of time division multiplexed (TDM) data streams. The data streams are collected by memory devices that are configured to separately store the multiplexed signals such that different time portions of the signals from each data stream are stored in different addressable sections. This allows for the current time data and past time data for a given signal to be selected and outputted by the device. According to an embodiment, each of the memory devices receives an address select signal and selects a signal group based on the address select signal. The device also includes a multiplexer that selects one of the signal groups from amongst the memory devices to output as the requested signal group.