Synchronizing Data Converters via Bidirectional Link
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed data converters, such as ADCs and DACs, face challenges in synchronizing multiple devices due to significant distances between them, leading to transport delay effects when relying on synchronization signals.
Innovation Solution
Synchronization is achieved by exchanging counter states between devices through a bidirectional link, allowing devices to capture time offsets and adjust their clocks to align phases, using a symmetrical bidirectional link to account for delay and offset.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a synchronization signal is sent to all devices, then synchronization is achieved, but transport delay effects occur due to significant distance between devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where each device measures the arrival time of synchronization signals and reports timing information back to the master device. The master device then adjusts the synchronization signal timing based on this feedback, compensating for transport delays and achieving accurate synchronization across all devices despite significant distances.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical approach of sending unidirectional synchronization signals with a bidirectional communication system that exchanges timing information between devices. This substitution allows for dynamic adjustment of synchronization timing based on actual measured delays, eliminating the transport delay problem inherent in one-way signal transmission.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple devices are separated by significant distance, then system scalability is improved, but transport delay effects worsen synchronization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the synchronization system into multiple independent devices that each autonomously measure and report their timing information. This segmentation allows devices to be distributed over large distances while maintaining synchronization accuracy, as each device independently compensates for its own transport delay rather than relying on a centralized timing distribution system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustment of synchronization timing based on real-time measurements of transport delays. The system continuously adapts to changing conditions and varying distances between devices, allowing scalable deployment while maintaining synchronization accuracy through dynamic compensation rather than static timing arrangements.
Data Source
AI summary
Synchronizing multiple-phase data converters by exchanging terminal count pulses via a bidirectional link. Multiple-phase data converters such as analog to digital converters (ADCs) or digital to analog converters (DACs) are synchronized to operate at the same phase by exchanging terminal count (TC) pulses and capturing counter state, representing a time offset from TC. Time offset and the symmetrical delay introduced by the link are used to solve for the delay introduced by the link and the off-set between devices. The offset information is used to align the devices. The process may be repeated to correct for drift.