Thermometer Code Arithmetic Circuits Without Binary Recoding Delay
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Solution Overview
Problem
In high-speed data transfer applications, existing technologies face challenges in efficiently processing thermometer code outputs from ADCs due to the complexity and delay introduced by the need to convert them into binary codes for further processing, which is undesirable in high-speed SerDes environments.
Innovation Solution
The method involves performing arithmetic operations directly on N-bit thermometer code data samples without recoding, using a sequence of operations that compare magnitudes to thresholds and increment or decrement based on sign bits, implemented using cascaded multiplexers to simplify logic paths and reduce delay.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If thermometer code outputs from ADCs are converted into binary codes for further processing, then the compatibility with standard arithmetic operations is improved, but the logic depth and processing delay increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the recoding conversion step from the processing pipeline, eliminating the intermediate binary conversion stage. Thermometer code samples are processed directly through arithmetic operations by applying the invention's specific processing method that natively handles thermometer code format, thereby removing the source of conversion delay while maintaining full arithmetic functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of converting thermometer code to binary code following the traditional approach, the patent inverts the processing paradigm by designing arithmetic operations that work directly on thermometer code. This inversion eliminates the need for recoding conversion and its associated delay, achieving both goals simultaneously.
2Ease of operation
If recoding of thermometer code data samples is performed, then the data format compatibility is improved, but the logic path complexity and delay increase
Solution Approach 1:
The recoding conversion stage is extracted and removed from the processing pipeline. The patent implements arithmetic operations that natively process thermometer code format without requiring conversion to binary code, thereby eliminating the complex recoding logic while maintaining full data format compatibility for arithmetic operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of arithmetic operations to work natively with thermometer code format rather than requiring binary code. By modifying how arithmetic operations are performed to accommodate thermometer code characteristics, the need for recoding conversion is eliminated, reducing logic path complexity while maintaining compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to data manipulation and in particular incrementing, decrementing and comparing binary coded numbers, notably the manipulation of thermometer codes and the performance of arithmetic operations thereon. A method of processing data is provides which comprises receiving a series of data samples, each sample being represented as an N-bit thermometer code, wherein the most significant bit thereof represents the sign of the data sample value Y(n) and the remaining N−1 bits represent the magnitude of the data sample and executing a predetermined sequence of arithmetic operations directly on the series of N-bit thermometer code data samples to determine one of two values for each data sample, without any recoding of the thermometer code data samples.