Intel Corporation

Kenneth Drottar

David Stewart Dunning

Richard S Jensen

Chamath Abhayagunawardhana

Conventional receiver architectures are based on either frequency/phase tracking or oversampling. Both receiver types typically employ sensitive analog circuits, which create noise, consume power and utilize valuable space in their implementation. The invention adopts a novel approach to phase/frequency tracking that utilizes the edges or zero crossings of the input data waveform to effectively track the remote transmitter clock phase/frequency. This methodology minimizes the use of analog circuitry, thereby reducing the noise domain and the substrate space required for implementation of a tracking device.

Method and apparatus for receiving data based on tracking zero crossings

When signaling over cables or other media having significant return impedance, it is generally more efficient to use two conductors to carry two simultaneous bi-directional signals differentially, rather than utilizing unidirectional communications. Bi-directional communications increases the aggregate bandwidth of a pair of conductors. A conversion circuit converts unidirectional signaling between an edge-based receiver and a transmitter to simultaneous differential bi-directional signaling. A receiver for receiving data includes an edge processor operative to make decisions using edges of a received data stream and a communication circuit coupled to the edge processor. The communication circuit is operative to convert communications with the edge processor from a first format, such as unidirectional signaling, to a second format, such as differential bi-directional signaling.

Differential simultaneous bi-directional receiver

A method of recovering data from a modulated data signal includes tracking a transmitted clock with a plurality of locally-generated clock phases, estimating an average phase of previously detected edges, registering a pulse edge in the received stream of data at a transition phase corresponding to one of the plurality of locally-generated clock phases, determining whether a first symbol was received multiple times consecutively prior to the registered pulse edge, and using the determination of whether the first symbol was received multiple times consecutively in a receiver decision process.

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Portland, OR, United States of America

Kenneth Drottar