Transceiver Waveform Calibration via Built-In Self-Test
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current transceiver designs lack a mechanism to optimize power consumption in high-speed clock signal waveforms, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs due to overdesign and the need for extensive testing for regulatory compliance, particularly in the PA driver and RX divider buffer blocks.
Innovation Solution
A fully on-chip built-in-self-test calibration mechanism measures spectral components of down-converted signals to adjust high-frequency signal processing blocks for optimized current consumption, using self-biased class AB amplifiers and programmable regulators to achieve efficient power management and harmonic performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If transceiver designs use fixed waveform parameters without optimization, then device complexity is reduced, but power consumption increases due to overdesign
Solution Approach 1:
The transceiver performs waveform calibration during manufacturing or initialization using a built-in self-test mechanism to pre-determine optimal waveform parameters. This preliminary action stores calibration data that guides subsequent power-efficient operation without requiring complex real-time adjustments, thus reducing power consumption while avoiding excessive device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration mechanism uses feedback from measured spectral components of transmitted and received signals to adjust waveform parameters. By monitoring harmonic content and signal quality, the system optimizes waveform shape dynamically or semi-dynamically, achieving better power efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity through simple feedback loops.
2Reliability
If extensive testing is performed for regulatory compliance, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases due to manufacturing delays
Solution Approach 1:
The transceiver incorporates a built-in self-test mechanism that performs regulatory compliance testing during manufacturing or initialization. By conducting these tests preliminarily using the device's own transmission and reception capabilities, the system ensures reliability and regulatory compliance without requiring extensive external testing equipment and time, thus reducing manufacturing delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The transceiver uses its own transmission and reception blocks to perform self-testing and calibration. The device generates test signals, measures its own spectral components, and validates compliance autonomously without external testing equipment. This self-service approach ensures reliability while significantly reducing manufacturing time and equipment requirements.
3Measurement precision
If waveform calibration is performed using external testing equipment, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The transceiver uses its own transmission and reception blocks to perform waveform calibration autonomously. The device generates test signals through its transmitter, measures the spectral components using its receiver, and determines optimal waveform parameters without external equipment. This self-service approach maintains measurement precision while avoiding additional external components that would increase device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission and reception blocks serve dual purposes: normal communication operations and waveform calibration measurements. By making these existing components multi-functional, the system achieves precise waveform measurement without adding dedicated calibration hardware, thus maintaining measurement precision while minimizing device complexity.
4Use of energy by moving object
If fixed gain settings are used in amplifiers, then device complexity is reduced, but power consumption increases due to inability to optimize for different signal conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The amplifier gain is pre-calibrated during manufacturing or initialization based on measured signal conditions and spectral components. This preliminary determination of optimal gain settings allows the amplifier to operate at fixed, optimized values during normal operation, reducing current consumption without requiring complex real-time gain adjustment mechanisms, thus balancing power efficiency with acceptable device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The amplifier gain is made adjustable through programmable regulators that can be configured based on calibration data. This dynamic capability allows the system to optimize current consumption for different operating conditions and signal levels. The gain can be adjusted semi-dynamically based on pre-determined calibration parameters, achieving power efficiency without requiring overly complex real-time control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A system on a chip (SoC) includes a transceiver comprising a transmitter having a power amplifier and a receiver having a signal buffer. At least one of the transmitter and receiver has a configurable portion that can be configured to produce a range of waveforms (both in waveshape as well as duty cycle). A low cost built in self test (BIST) logic is coupled to the transceiver. The BIST logic is operable to calibrate the configurable portion of the transceiver to produce a waveform that has a selected harmonic component that has an amplitude that is less than a threshold value. Current consumed by the transceiver may be dynamically reduced by selecting an optimized waveform that has low harmonic components.