USB Type-C SBU Interface Multi-Protocol Link Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The evolution of USB interfaces, particularly the transition to USB Type-C, presents opportunities for enhanced connectivity in mobile communication devices, but existing technologies do not fully leverage the potential of the USB Type-C interface for expanded data transmission and flexible architectural designs, limiting performance and increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
Configuring both USB hosts and clients with USB Type-C interfaces to utilize a sideband use (SBU) interface for transmitting and receiving protocol-specific data, enabling the selection and configuration of communication circuits to support various communication protocols, thereby expanding data transmission capabilities and allowing for more flexible architectural designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If USB Type-C interface is used for miniaturized form factor, then device size is reduced, but data transmission capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The SBU interface is configured to support multiple communication protocols including USB 3.1, I2C, and MIPI I3C, allowing a single physical interface to perform multiple data transmission functions. This enables the miniaturized USB Type-C interface to maintain compact form factor while achieving expanded data transmission capabilities through protocol flexibility.
2Reliability
If traditional USB interfaces are used for data transmission, then protocol compatibility is ensured, but architectural flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically configures the SBU interface to operate in different modes depending on the required communication protocol. The interface can switch between USB 3.1 mode, I2C mode, and MIPI I3C mode, allowing the architecture to adapt to different communication needs while maintaining reliable protocol-specific performance through dedicated circuit paths for each protocol type.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple communication circuits are included for protocol support, then protocol versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple communication circuits supporting different protocols (USB 3.1, I2C, MIPI I3C) are merged into a unified SBU interface structure. The shared physical interface reduces the number of separate connection paths needed, while protocol-specific processing is handled through configurable circuit paths that multiplex resources, thereby reducing overall device complexity compared to implementing separate dedicated interfaces for each protocol.
Data Source
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AI summary
Enhanced communications over a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Type-C cable are disclosed. In one aspect, a link control circuit is provided in a USB host to enable one or more communication circuits in the USB host to transmit and receive protocol-specific data over a sideband use (SBU) interface according to communication protocols that may or may not be USB compliant. In another aspect, the link control circuit is provided in a USB client to enable one or more communication circuits in the USB client to transmit and receive protocol-specific data over the SBU interface according to communication protocols that may or may not be USB compliant. By configuring the USB host and the USB client to support multi-protocol communications via the SBU interface, it is possible to enable more flexible architectural design in mobile communication devices for enhanced performance and reduced costs.