Timing Signal Synchronization for Phase-Aligned Audio
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communication buses, secondary devices connected to a common host device often generate timing signals by frequency dividing the host's timing signal, leading to phase misalignment across multiple secondary devices, which is undesirable in applications requiring synchronized reactions, such as stereo audio processing.
Innovation Solution
A device with a timing signal generator that aligns the phase of a secondary timing signal with an event in the data signal, using a frequency divider and a resync signal generated from the data signal to ensure phase alignment without additional synchronization signals or wires, allowing multiple secondary devices to initiate timing signal division based on the data signal's events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If secondary devices frequency divide the host timing signal to operate at lower frequencies, then power consumption is reduced, but phase alignment between multiple secondary devices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses feedback from the data signal to resynchronize the timing signal generator. The timing signal generator monitors the data signal and adjusts its output timing based on detected events (transitions to non-zero frames), creating a closed-loop system that maintains phase alignment despite frequency division operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the timing parameter dynamically by adjusting the phase of the timing signal based on events in the data signal. The timing signal generator modifies its output timing parameters in response to detected data signal transitions, allowing it to compensate for phase drift introduced by frequency division.
2Use of energy by moving object
If multiple secondary devices use similar frequency division to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency improves, but synchronized reaction capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Each secondary device uses feedback from the shared data signal to resynchronize its timing generator independently. This feedback mechanism ensures that even though devices operate at different frequencies through frequency division, they can still achieve phase-aligned timing signals for synchronized reactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The data signal serves multiple functions: it carries audio data, provides timing information, and enables resynchronization of secondary devices. By making the data signal multi-functional, the system achieves synchronized reaction without requiring separate synchronization signals or additional wiring.
3Manufacturing precision
If additional synchronization signals or wires are added to maintain phase alignment, then phase alignment improves, but device complexity and wiring requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing data signal multi-functional by using it for both data transmission and timing synchronization. The timing signal generator extracts timing information from the data signal itself, eliminating the need for separate synchronization signals or additional wiring while maintaining phase alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The timing signal generator uses the data signal to resynchronize itself without requiring external synchronization inputs. The system is self-sufficient, using the existing data communication infrastructure to achieve timing alignment, thereby avoiding additional complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A device comprising: a data interface comprising: a data input for receiving a data signal; a clock input for receiving a clock signal for clocking the data signal; and a timing input for receiving a first timing signal having a first frequency; and a timing signal generator configured to generate, based on the first timing signal and the data signal, a second timing signal having a second frequency, the first frequency being a integer multiple of the second frequency, a phase of the second timing signal being aligned with an event in the data signal.