T-Shaped Transmission Line Termination on Printed Circuit Boards
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing termination methods for T-shaped signal lines on printed circuit boards require additional integrated circuits or resistors, leading to increased costs and space requirements due to the need for middle voltage generation and multiple resistors.
Innovation Solution
An asymmetrical termination method where terminating resistors connect to the supply voltage at one end and ground at the other, eliminating the need for additional integrated circuits and reducing the number of required resistors, with termination voltage generated by voltage dividers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an additional integrated circuit is used to generate the middle voltage for termination, then the signal termination effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the additional integrated circuit IC4 that was previously required for generating the middle voltage UM. Instead, the termination voltage is generated directly by voltage dividers formed by the terminating resistors themselves, removing the complex voltage generation circuitry while maintaining effective signal termination.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminating resistors R1 and R2 serve dual functions: they provide signal termination to match the line impedance and simultaneously generate the required termination voltage UM through their voltage divider configuration. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate voltage generation circuit.
2Reliability
If an additional integrated circuit is used to generate the middle voltage for termination, then the signal termination effectiveness is improved, but the area occupied on the printed circuit board increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the additional integrated circuit IC4 from the circuit board, eliminating the space it occupied. The termination function is achieved using only the necessary resistors R1 and R2 configured as voltage dividers, significantly reducing the board area required for termination components.
3Device complexity
If twice as many resistors are used to generate termination voltage without an additional integrated circuit, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an asymmetrical termination configuration where the terminating resistors R1 and R2 have different resistance values relative to the line impedance. Specifically, R1 = 2*ZL and R2 = ZL/2, creating an unbalanced voltage divider that generates the middle voltage UM while using fewer total resistors compared to symmetric configurations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces manufacturing costs and saves space on the printed circuit board by eliminating the need for extra components, while maintaining effective signal termination.
Implementation Method 1
the termination voltage of 0.9V is generated by a voltage divider from a supply voltage UB of 1.8V for the two integrated circuits IC2 and IC3
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
Printed circuit board with termination of a T-shaped signal line with at least two line ends, wherein one line end is terminated with a terminating resistor to a supply voltage and the other line end is terminated to the reference potential (ground) of the supply voltage.