Transmitter Multiplexer for High-Speed Data and Low-Speed Command Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional signal transmission systems face challenges in efficiently transmitting low-speed command signals and high-speed data signals, often requiring additional channels or hardware, which increases complexity and cost, and may result in unsuccessful reception of high-speed command signals due to incomplete initialization of receiver circuit blocks.
Innovation Solution
A signal transmission system that employs a serializer and a multiplexer to transmit command signals and data signals through the same channel, with the serializer generating series of data signals and the multiplexer selectively outputting them, and uses a clock signal embedded in the command signals via Manchester-like encoding to simplify receiver initialization, reducing hardware requirements and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If command signals are transmitted with the same signal rate as high speed data, then high speed serial transmission is realized, but the receiver may not be set up to receive the high speed command signals normally
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by transmitting command signals at a lower speed before high-speed data transmission begins. This allows the receiver to initialize and configure its circuit blocks (such as equalizers and CDR circuits) before receiving high-speed signals, ensuring reliable reception. The lower-speed command phase prepares the receiver in advance for the subsequent high-speed data phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission process is segmented into two distinct phases: a first phase for transmitting command signals at a lower signal rate, and a second phase for transmitting data signals at a higher signal rate. This segmentation allows the receiver to complete initialization during the first phase before transitioning to high-speed operation in the second phase, resolving the contradiction between speed and reliability.
2Ease of operation
If command signals are transmitted independently, then command and data signals can be transmitted separately, but the number of paths and hardware implementations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the command signal transmission and data signal transmission into a single physical path. Both command signals and data signals share the same transmission channel, with the receiver switching between receiving commands and receiving data based on a control signal. This eliminates the need for separate hardware paths while maintaining the functional separation of commands and data.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission path is designed to be universal, serving dual purposes: transmitting command signals during the initialization phase and transmitting data signals during the operational phase. The receiver's switching mechanism enables this single path to fulfill multiple functions, reducing hardware complexity while maintaining operational flexibility.
3Device complexity
If the slave device is given with a fixed setting, then the device configuration is simplified, but the setting cannot be configured or adjusted flexibly under different situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic configuration by allowing the receiver's operational parameters to be adjusted based on received command signals. Rather than being fixed, the receiver can modify its settings (such as equalizer coefficients and CDR parameters) in response to commands transmitted during the initialization phase, enabling flexible adaptation to different transmission conditions and scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where the receiver monitors the transmitted signals and adjusts its configuration accordingly. Command signals contain instructions that enable the receiver to optimize its performance parameters based on the actual transmission environment, providing adaptability while maintaining a relatively simple fixed architecture as a baseline.
Data Source
AI summary
A transmitter is configured to transmit a series of command signals and a series of data signals. The transmitter includes a serializer and a multiplexer. The serializer is configured to generate the series of data signals. The multiplexer, coupled to the serializer, is configured to selectively output the series of command signals or the series of data signals.