Synchronous Strobe Transmission with Receiver Delay Equalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Source synchronous systems face misalignment issues due to inaccuracies in clock generation circuits and varying propagation paths within receiving devices, leading to suboptimal data reception conditions.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method utilizing a resistor network, core clock generator, and synchronous strobe driver to advance the data strobe clock and equalize delay paths within the receiving device, ensuring phase alignment of data strobes and data signals for improved reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If data strobe and data signals are routed along equal propagation paths on the system board, then signal alignment is improved, but additional propagation lengths within the receiving device cause delay and phase skewing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by advancing the data strobe clock phase before transmission to compensate for the known additional propagation delay that will occur within the receiving device. The core clock generator提前 adjusts the strobe timing so that when the strobe arrives at the receiver after traveling through the equal-length path and internal distribution network, it arrives at the optimal sampling point. This pre-compensation approach resolves the contradiction by anticipating and counteracting the inevitable internal propagation delay.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temporal parameter of the strobe signal by adjusting its phase through the core clock generator. By modifying the phase parameter of the data strobe clock, the system compensates for the propagation delay introduced by the receiving device's internal distribution network, maintaining optimal signal alignment despite the additional path length.
2Productivity
If clock generation circuits operate at high speeds, then data transmission rate is improved, but inaccuracies in phase locked loops cause skewing of data signals and strobes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using the ratio signal from the resistor network to continuously adjust the phase of the data strobe clock in the core clock generator. The feedback mechanism monitors the relative timing of data and strobe signals and dynamically corrects phase alignment, allowing the system to maintain precision even at high transmission rates where PLL inaccuracies would otherwise cause significant skewing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts the phase parameter of the strobe clock dynamically based on the ratio signal to compensate for PLL inaccuracies. By changing the phase parameter in response to timing measurements, the system maintains optimal alignment between data and strobe signals despite operating at high speeds that exacerbate clock generation errors.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the strobe signal is distributed to all internal synchronous receivers, then all receivers can access the strobe, but the additional propagation lengths add delay and skew the phase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-advancing the strobe clock phase to account for the varying propagation delays that will occur when distributing the strobe to multiple receivers. By anticipating the delay differences caused by different path lengths to various receivers, the system compensates in advance, ensuring that all receivers receive properly aligned strobe signals despite the necessary distribution network.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus that compensates for misalignment on a synchronous data bus, including a resistor network, a transmitting device, and a receiving device. The resistor network indicates an amount to advance a synchronous data strobe associated with a data group. The transmitting device has a core clocks generator and a synchronous strobe driver. The core clocks generator advances a data strobe clock by the amount. The synchronous strobe driver employs the data strobe clock to generate the synchronous data strobe, where the synchronous data strobe is advanced also by the amount. The receiving device has a composite delay element and delay-locked loops (DLLs). The composite delay element equalizes delay paths within the receiving device, where the delay paths correspond to the synchronous data strobe that is received from the transmitting device.