Single-Wire Serial Interface Delay Module for Clock Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing single-wire interfaces face challenges in synchronizing data transmissions between devices due to the need for complex logic and additional components, which increases complexity and cost, especially when communicating with multiple slave devices.
Innovation Solution
A single-wire serial interface (SWSI) system that employs local clocks for both master and slave devices, with a delay module to synchronize data transmissions, allowing devices to operate at a full clock rate by determining the appropriate edge of their local clock for sampling data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a multi-wire interface is used for communication between master and slave devices, then data transmission reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to additional wires, pins, and connectors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple communication functions (data transmission, clock synchronization, and slave select signaling) into a single wire interface. The master device multiplexes these functions by timing the signals appropriately, allowing reliable communication without requiring separate dedicated wires for each function, thus reducing interface complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The single-wire interface is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it carries data bits, provides clock synchronization through edge-triggered sampling, and enables slave device selection through timing control. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate dedicated wires for each function, reducing overall interface complexity.
2Device complexity
If a single-wire interface is used to reduce complexity, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but synchronization difficulty increases due to the need for complex logic to recover data
Solution Approach 1:
The slave device automatically determines its own sampling timing by detecting the rising edge of the master's clock signal (or the corresponding edge on the shared wire). This self-synchronizing mechanism eliminates the need for complex external synchronization logic, as each device uses its own local clock to automatically align data sampling with the transmitted signal, thereby reducing synchronization difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface employs feedback mechanisms where the slave device monitors the data line and uses this information to determine when to sample data based on the local clock edge. This feedback-based timing approach allows the slave to automatically adjust its sampling moment based on actual signal conditions, simplifying the synchronization process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional interfaces are added to communicate with multiple slave devices via a single-wire interface, then communication versatility is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional pins and pads
Solution Approach 1:
The master device dynamically multiplexes communication with multiple slave devices by timing the data transmission and sampling operations appropriately. The master controls which slave device is actively communicating by asserting or deasserting the slave select signal at the appropriate moment in the communication cycle, allowing a single wire interface to serve multiple devices without requiring additional physical interfaces for each slave.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface uses periodic clock cycles to manage communication with multiple slave devices. During each clock cycle, the master can selectively communicate with a specific slave device by timing the data transmission and sampling operations according to the clock rhythm, enabling sequential communication with multiple devices using the same physical interface.
4Measurement precision
If a timer and over-sampling clock are used for synchronizing data transmissions, then data recovery accuracy is improved, but device complexity and logic requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex timer-based synchronization mechanisms with a simpler edge-triggered sampling approach. Instead of using hardware timers and over-sampling clocks to synchronize data recovery, the system uses the natural rising edge of the clock signal (or corresponding edge on the shared wire) to trigger sampling operations. This substitution of mechanical timer logic with edge-triggered electronic sampling reduces logic complexity while maintaining data recovery accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit comprising a single-wire serial interface (SWSI), a delay module coupled to the SWSI and operable to introduce a delay during a data transmission, the delay being dependent on a local clock (LC) associated with the circuit, wherein the delay enables the circuit to synchronize the data transmission with a device coupled to the SWSI based on the LC.