Multi-Stage Three-State Driver Circuit With Feedback Pulse Extension

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Solution Overview

Problem

In semiconductor integrated circuits, three-state drivers experience significant variations due to manufacturing processes, voltage, and temperature changes, leading to short output drive times and incomplete data transmission, causing data confusion and errors.

Innovation Solution

A multi-level drive data transmission circuit with feedback mechanisms, where the original control signal is sent to the next-level driving module and then fed back to the current level, generating a new control signal with a wider effective signal width using signal generating units like RS latches or D flip-flops, ensuring complete data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a three-state driver is used to drive the bus transmission, then the device can disconnect from the connected circuit when not in use, but the control signal may undergo large changes due to manufacturing processes, voltage and temperature changes, resulting in too short output drive time and incomplete output signal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoidoutput drive time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a feedback mechanism where the control signal is fed back to the current driving module after being sent to the next-level driving module. This feedback allows the system to monitor the actual transmission status and adjust the control signal duration accordingly, ensuring sufficient drive time for complete data transmission even under varying conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a signal generating unit as an intermediary component between the control signal source and the three-state driver. This unit generates an extended control signal by combining the original control signal with its feedback, effectively mediating the control process to ensure adequate drive time without directly modifying the original control logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If the control signal width is kept narrow to maintain fast switching, then the switching speed is improved, but the data transmission may be incomplete causing data confusion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveswitching speedVSAvoiddata transmission completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The feedback mechanism monitors whether data transmission is complete by detecting the status at the next level. If transmission is incomplete, the feedback extends the control signal duration, ensuring complete data transfer while maintaining fast switching when conditions allow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control signal duration is made dynamic rather than fixed. The signal generating unit adjusts the control signal width in real-time based on feedback from the transmission status, allowing the system to optimize between switching speed and transmission completeness for each operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If signal generating units like RS latches or D flip-flops are added to extend the control signal width, then data transmission completeness is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission completenessVSAvoidcircuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The signal generating unit serves multiple functions: it acts as a buffer, a signal extender, and a feedback processor. By making this component multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated circuits for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity while achieving complete data transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If the control signal is extended to ensure complete data transmission, then transmission reliability is improved, but the switching speed and response time decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoidsignal response time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control signal is applied in a periodic manner with an extended effective period. The signal generating unit creates a control signal that remains active longer than the original, ensuring complete transmission while using periodic activation patterns that minimize overall time loss compared to continuously extended signals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3934102B1Multi-stage drive data transmission circuit and data transmission method
Publication Date: 2023.07.05 CHANGXIN MEMORY TECH INC
  • EP3934102B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3934102B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3934102B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present disclosure disclosed multi-level drive data transmission circuit and operating method include: a first driving module, including a first signal generating unit and a first three-state driver, and a second driving module, including a second three-state driver. A first input terminal of the second three-state driver is coupled to an output terminal of the first three-state driver. The first signal generating unit includes a first input terminal, a second input terminals, and an output terminal. The output terminal of the first signal generating unit is coupled to a second input terminal of the first three-state driver. The first signal generating unit is configured to receive a first signal through the first input terminal and receive a first feedback signal of the first signal from the second driving module through the second input terminal. The first control signal has an effective signal width wider than the first signal. The first control signal is provided to the first three-state driver.