Edge-sensitive, state-based single flux quantum (SFQ) based circuitry and related methods convert return-to-zero (RZ) or non-return-to-zero (NRZ) encoded SFQ-pulse-based signals to bilevel NRZ phase signals that can subsequently be converted to bilevel voltage signals by an output amplifier (OA). The SFQ-based circuitry can be integrated with a current amplification stage of a driver that can be coupled to a stage of the OA. The SFQ-based circuitry can be made to be compatible with RQL-encoded input signals that can be either RZ or NRZ. The SFQ-based circuitry can thus be compatible with both wave-pipelined (WPL) and phase-mode (PML) RQL circuitry. Because the SFQ-based circuitry and related methods are edge-sensitive and state-based, they can function at system clock rates in excess of 1 GHz with reduced glitches and improved bit error rates as compared to other superconducting RZ-NRZ conversion circuitry and methods.

Methods are described allowing a vector signaling code to encode multi-level data without the significant alphabet size increase known to cause symbol dynamic range compression and thus increased noise susceptibility. By intentionally restricting the number of codewords used, good pin efficiency may be maintained along with improved system signal-to-noise ratio.

Encoding devices, methods and programs that encode with high transmission efficiency by controlling a running disparity are disclosed. In one example, an encoding device includes a scrambling circuit that scrambles an input data string, a calculation circuit that calculates a first running disparity of the scrambled data string, a determination circuit that determines whether or not to invert the scrambled data string on the basis of a first running disparity calculated by the calculation circuit and a second running disparity calculated at a time point before the first running disparity, and an addition circuit that inverts or non-inverts the scrambled data string on the basis of a determination result by the determination circuit, adds a flag indicating the determination result, and outputs the data string. The technology can be applied to devices that perform SLVS-EC standard communication.

A method for encoding may include receiving, at an encoder, a series of data bits, performing, at the encoder, first transition encoding on the data bits to generate an encoded series of data bits based on a key, performing, at the encoder, protection encoding on the key to generate key protection data, performing, at the encoder, second transition encoding on the key protection data to generate encoded key protection data, and transmitting an encoded series of transmission bits to a receiver, the encoded series of transmission bits including the encoded series of data bits and the encoded key protection data.

Disclosed herein are techniques to provide forward error correction for a high-speed interconnect symbol stream, such as, DisplayPort. The symbol stream may be split into FEC blocks and parity bits generated for each of the FEC blocks. The parity bits may be interleaved, encoded, and transmitted over an interconnect along with the symbol stream to provide forward error correction for the symbol stream.

The technology relates to an encoding device, an encoding method, a decoding device, a decoding method, and a program enabling encoding with favorable transmission efficiency with a controlled running disparity.

A calculation section divides inputted data into N or M bits to calculate a first running disparity of an N or M bit data string. A determination section determines whether the data string is inverted based on the first running disparity calculated by the calculation section and a second running disparity calculated therebefore. An addition section inverts or non-inverts the data string based on a determination result by the determination section to add a flag indicating the determination result for outputting. The determination section determines not to perform inversion when the data string is a control code. The addition section adds the flag assigned to the control code. The technology is applicable to a device communicating in an SLVS-EC specification.

A method for encoding may include receiving, at an encoder, a series of data bits, performing, at the encoder, first transition encoding on the data bits to generate an encoded series of data bits based on a key, performing, at the encoder, protection encoding on the key to generate key protection data, performing, at the encoder, second transition encoding on the key protection data to generate encoded key protection data, and transmitting an encoded series of transmission bits to a receiver, the encoded series of transmission bits including the encoded series of data bits and the encoded key protection data.

The energy consumed by data transfer in a computing device may be reduced by transferring data that has been encoded in a manner that reduces the number of one “1” data values, the number of signal level transitions, or both. A data destination component of the computing device may receive data encoded in such a manner from a data source component of the computing device over a data communication interconnect, such as an off-chip interconnect. The data may be encoded using minimum Hamming weight encoding, which reduces the number of one “1” data values. The received data may be decoded using minimum Hamming weight decoding. For other computing devices, the data may be encoded using maximum Hamming weight encoding, which increases the number of one “1” data values while reducing the number of zero “0” values, if reducing the number of zero values reduces energy consumption.

The energy consumed by data transfer in a computing device may be reduced by transferring data that has been encoded in a manner that reduces the number of one “1” data values, the number of signal level transitions, or both. A data destination component of the computing device may receive data encoded in such a manner from a data source component of the computing device over a data communication interconnect, such as an off-chip interconnect. The data may be encoded using minimum Hamming weight encoding, which reduces the number of one “1” data values. The received data may be decoded using minimum Hamming weight decoding. For other computing devices, the data may be encoded using maximum Hamming weight encoding, which increases the number of one “1” data values while reducing the number of zero “0” values, if reducing the number of zero values reduces energy consumption.

Disclosed herein are techniques to provide forward error correction for a high-speed interconnect symbol stream, such as, DisplayPort. The symbol stream may be split into FEC blocks and parity bits generated for each of the FEC blocks. The parity bits may be interleaved, encoded, and transmitted over an interconnect along with the symbol stream to provide forward error correction for the symbol stream.