TDM Ethernet Link Master-Slave Clock Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems, particularly in automotive and industrial applications, face challenges in achieving high data rate communication over short distances using Ethernet links, often requiring complex echo cancellation circuitry and hybrid combiners, which increase size, cost, and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) protocol over point-to-point Ethernet links, where each link has a master and slave device, with the master setting a clock signal and TDM timing, allowing for simplified communication devices and increased instantaneous data rate without the need for hybrid combiners and echo cancellation circuitry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If echo cancellation circuitry and hybrid combiners are used to achieve full-duplex communication, then communication capability is improved, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) to alternate between master-to-slave and slave-to-master transmission periods. During master-to-slave periods, the master transmits while the slave receives; during slave-to-master periods, the roles reverse. This periodic switching enables full-duplex communication over a single link without requiring complex echo cancellation circuitry or hybrid combiners, thereby reducing device size and complexity while maintaining bidirectional communication capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If echo cancellation circuitry and hybrid combiners are used to achieve full-duplex communication, then communication capability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) to alternate between master-to-slave and slave-to-master transmission periods. During master-to-slave periods, the master transmits while the slave receives; during slave-to-master periods, the roles reverse. This periodic switching enables full-duplex communication over a single link without requiring complex echo cancellation circuitry or hybrid combiners, thereby reducing device size and complexity while maintaining bidirectional communication capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If echo cancellation circuitry and hybrid combiners are used to achieve full-duplex communication, then communication capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) to alternate between master-to-slave and slave-to-master transmission periods. During master-to-slave periods, the master transmits while the slave receives; during slave-to-master periods, the roles reverse. This periodic switching enables full-duplex communication over a single link without requiring complex echo cancellation circuitry or hybrid combiners, thereby reducing device size and complexity while maintaining bidirectional communication capability.
4Device complexity
If TDM protocol with master-slave synchronization is used, then device complexity is reduced, but synchronization precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The slave device locks its local oscillator to the master's clock signal during master-to-slave transmission periods, creating a feedback-based synchronization mechanism. This ensures that both devices operate on the same time base, enabling precise coordination of transmission and reception periods without requiring overly complex synchronization protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The clock signal acts as an intermediary that mediates synchronization between master and slave devices. By using a shared clock reference that the slave locks onto, the system achieves precise timing coordination without requiring complex inter-device communication protocols, thus reducing overall system complexity while maintaining synchronization precision.
Data Source
AI summary
An automotive communication system includes multiple communication devices and a processor. The communication devices are configured to be installed in a vehicle and to communicate with one another over point-to-point Ethernet links. In each Ethernet link, a first communication device serves as a link master that is configured to set a clock signal for the link, and a second communication device serves as a slave that is configured to synchronize to the clock signal set by the first communication device. The communication devices are configured to receive data from sensors and to transmit the data over the Ethernet links. The processor is configured to receive the data from the communication devices over the Ethernet links, to synchronize the data originating from the multiple sensors to a common time-base based on link-specific clock-signal synchronization achieved on each of the links by each link master, and to process the synchronized data.