USB Integrated Circuit Signaling with Notch for EMI Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
The standardized electrical signaling of USB connectors often causes Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) that degrades the functionality of nearby wireless connections due to its high frequency, which cannot be adequately addressed by existing USB specifications.
Innovation Solution
An integrated circuit with a signaling circuit and interface that allows for signaling with a frequency lower than the wireless band, using a different interconnect scheme such as PCIe 1.x, which operates at 2.5 GHz instead of the USB SuperSpeed interconnect's 5 GHz, thereby avoiding EMI by notching near common RF bands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If USB SuperSpeed interconnect signaling at 5 GHz is used, then data transfer rate is improved, but electromagnetic interference is generated that degrades wireless connection functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the signaling frequency parameter from USB SuperSpeed's 5 GHz to a lower frequency (e.g., 2.5 GHz as mentioned in the summary). This parameter change maintains high data transfer capability while avoiding the electromagnetic interference problems associated with the 5 GHz band, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and harmful electromagnetic effects
Solution Approach 2:
The patent copies the mechanical USB connector interface and basic signaling structure but implements a different electrical signaling scheme (non-USB protocol) that operates at a different frequency. This allows maintaining USB mechanical compatibility and high-speed data transfer capability while eliminating the specific EMI issues of USB SuperSpeed signaling
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a different interconnect scheme such as PCIe 1.x is used, then electromagnetic interference is avoided, but compatibility with USB specification is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the USB connection standard into mechanical interface (connector, pins, physical layout) and electrical signaling (protocol, frequency, data encoding). By separating these two aspects, the invention maintains USB mechanical compatibility while implementing a different electrical signaling scheme that avoids EMI, thus resolving the contradiction between avoiding harmful factors and maintaining adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal interface that can mechanically accept USB connectors while supporting multiple signaling protocols. The interface circuitry is designed to be protocol-agnostic, allowing it to work with USB, PCIe 1.x, or other signaling schemes, thus achieving both EMI avoidance and broad compatibility
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides integrated circuit and apparatus having USB connector; the integrated circuit includes a signaling circuit and an interface for relaying signal between the USB connector and the signaling circuit, wherein an interconnect scheme of the signaling circuit is different from USB interconnect defined by USB specification; for example, a frequency adopted for signaling can be programmable, be lower than wireless band and/or be different from a frequency of USB SuperSpeed interconnect.