Method and Apparatus for a Segmented On-Chip Digital Interface Block

Abstract

A method and architecture for operating with distributed (or segmented) on-chip digital interfaces such as the Inter-Integrated Circuit protocol and a Serial Peripheral Interface protocol. This method and architecture, illustratively, divides the available address space of the digital interface register arrays of a device into one or more segments referred to as a fundamental digital interface circuit. Such segmentation allows for each fundamental digital interface circuit to be placed in proximity of the digitally controlled circuit(s) (e.g., analog circuit(s)) which share some operational connection and for exchanging communication in accordance with a plurality of inputs to the device.

Claims

1. A communications device, comprising: a plurality of functional blocks; and a plurality of fundamental digital interface circuits for routing a plurality of inputs of the communications device between the plurality of fundamental digital interface circuits and the plurality of functional blocks, each fundamental digital interface circuit having a unique memory address, and being associated with a particular one segment of a plurality of non-overlapping segments of a digital address space of the communications device, and wherein each fundamental digital interface circuit having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, the plurality of outputs being greater than or equal to the plurality of inputs and the plurality of outputs connecting to inputs of a corresponding one of the functional blocks.

2. The communications device of claim 1 wherein each one of the fundamental digital interface circuits includes an input port, the input port capable of being operated to set the unique memory address of the one of the fundamental digital interface circuits.

3. The communications device of claim 1 wherein particular ones of the plurality of functional blocks are an analog circuit.

4. The communications device of claim 3 wherein each functional block is located proximally to and inter-operably connected with the corresponding one of the fundamental digital interface circuits.

5. The communications device of claim 1 further comprising: a communications bus connected to the plurality of inputs of the fundamental digital interface circuits.

6. The communications device of claim 3 wherein the digital address space is associated with a digital interface register array.

7. The communications device of claim 1 wherein the communications device is an integrated circuit and the plurality of functional blocks are connected in a daisy chain configuration.

8. The communications device of claim 5 wherein the communications bus operates in accordance with one of an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I.sup.2C) protocol and a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) protocol.

9. The communications device of claim 2 further comprising: a memory integrated with at least one fundamental digital interface circuit for storing data that is operable in adjusting at least one operation of the at least one fundamental digital interface circuit.

10. A method for communicating data to a plurality of functional blocks in a device having a digital interface register array, the method comprising: routing a plurality of inputs to the device to a plurality of functional blocks by utilizing a plurality of fundamental digital interface circuits, each functional block being connected to a corresponding fundamental digital interface circuit; and wherein a digital address space of the digital interface register array is segmented between the fundamental digital interface circuits, each fundamental digital interface circuit having a unique address of the digital address space, and being associated with a particular one segment of a plurality of non-overlapping segments of the digital interface register array, and each fundamental digital interface circuit having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs wherein the plurality of outputs being greater than or equal to the plurality of inputs and the plurality of outputs connecting to inputs of a corresponding one of the functional blocks.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising: assigning the unique memory address using an input port associated with the fundamental digital interface circuit.

12. The method claim 10 wherein particular ones of the functional blocks are located proximally to and inter-operably connected with a respective different one fundamental digital interface circuit of the plurality of fundamental digital interface circuits.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising: adjusting at least one operation of at least one fundamental digital interface using data from a memory integrated with the at least one fundamental digital interface circuit.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the routing is performed in accordance with one of an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I.sup.2C) protocol and a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) protocol.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the plurality of functional blocks are connected in a daisy chain configuration.

16. A system comprising: a communications bus configured with a plurality of fundamental digital interface circuits, each fundamental digital interface circuit having a unique memory address, and being associated with a particular one segment of a plurality of non-overlapping segments of a digital address space of a digital interface register array, and each fundamental digital interface circuit having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs wherein the plurality of outputs being greater than or equal to the plurality of inputs.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising: a plurality of functional blocks; and wherein each functional block is located proximally to and inter-operably connected with the corresponding one of the fundamental digital interface circuits.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the communications bus operates in accordance with one of an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I.sup.2C) protocol and a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) protocol.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the plurality of inputs are associated with an integrated circuit.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein particular ones of the plurality of functional blocks are an analog circuit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 shows a prior art distributed architecture for an integrated circuit configuration having a digital interface circuit;

[0014] FIG. 2 shows an illustrative distributed architecture for an integrated circuit configuration having a segmented digital interface block in accordance with an embodiment;

[0015] FIG. 3 shows an illustrative distributed architecture for an integrated circuit configuration having a segmented digital interface block in accordance with a further embodiment;

[0016] FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of illustrative operations for providing distributed on-chip communications employing a digital interface circuit in accordance with an embodiment; and

[0017] FIG. 5 is a high-level block diagram of an exemplary computer in accordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] In accordance with various embodiments, an enhanced method and architecture is provided for operating with distributed on-chip digital interfaces such as I.sup.2C or SPI. This method and architecture, illustratively, divides the available address space of the digital interface register arrays into one or more segments (i.e., each fundamental digital interface circuit representing a segment). Such segmentation allows for, in accordance with an embodiment, each fundamental digital interface circuit to be placed in proximity of the digitally controlled circuit(s) (e.g., analog circuit(s)) which share some operational connection across a common communications bus.

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a prior art distributed architecture for an integrated circuit configuration having a digital interface circuit. As will be appreciated, distributed architecture 100 may by utilized with either of the I.sup.2C or SPI protocols. The distributed architecture 100 is illustratively shown for integrated circuit 105 having digital interface circuit 110 having multiple inputs, namely, input 130-1 through 130-N (forming “B” inputs, as shown) and multiple outputs, namely, output 140-1, 140-2, 140-3, 140-4 through 140-N (forming “A” outputs, as shown). Such outputs being internally connected to several analog circuits, namely, analog circuit 120-1, analog circuit 120-2, and analog circuit 120-3, respectively. As will be appreciated, distributed architecture 100 may suffer from routing issues and/or signal interference with analog circuits 120-1, 120-2, or 120-3. For example, global integrated circuit routing consumes valuable IC footprint in terms of layout which can be used for other purposes, and long digital interconnects on mixed signal integrated circuits are known to inject unwanted noise into sensitive analog and RF circuits. Also, high-speed RFIC circuits typically have stringent spacing and routing requirements which may prevent additional long digital routing throughout the IC footprint. As such, short distance connection of digital is typically preferred.

[0020] FIG. 2 shows an illustrative distributed architecture for an integrated circuit configuration having a segmented digital interface block in accordance with an embodiment. In particular, distributed architecture 200 can be utilized with either of the I.sup.2C or SPI protocols (or other protocols and systems operating in substantially the same way). The distributed architecture 200 is illustratively shown for integrated circuit 205 having a plurality of fundamental digital interface circuits, namely, fundamental digital interface circuit 210-1, fundamental digital interface circuit 210-2, and fundamental digital interface circuit 210-3, having multiple inputs, namely, input 230-1 through 230-N. As shown in FIG. 2, input 230-1 through 230-N forming a set of “N” input lines, where N is an integer value, communicated over and forming bus 215. As will be appreciated, such input lines can be command/address lines, assert lines, clock lines, data response lines, and flag lines, to name just a few. Each respective fundamental digital interface circuit has a set of respective outputs. Illustratively, fundamental digital interface circuit 210-1 has a plurality of outputs, namely, output 240-1, 240-2, 230-3 through 240-N, fundamental digital interface circuit 210-2 has a plurality of outputs, namely, output 250-1, 250-2, 250-3 through 250-N multiple outputs, and fundamental digital interface circuit 210-3 has a plurality of outputs, namely, output 260-1, 260-2, 260-3 through 260-N.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, each of these plurality of outputs from the respective fundamental digital interface circuit (i.e., fundamental digital interface circuit 210-1, fundamental digital interface circuit 210-2, and fundamental digital interface circuit 210-3) form a set of “M” output lines where M is an integer value. Thus, integrated circuit 205 is configured with a plurality of fundamental digital interface circuits wherein each such fundamental digital interface circuit has a set of inputs (e.g., a set of N inputs such as input 230-1 through input 230-N) and a set of outputs (e.g., a set of M outputs such as output 240-1 through 240-N) where N and M are integers and M is greater than or equal to N, and a plurality of signal paths (i.e., input 230-1 through input 230-N) are routed from a particular externally accessible location on the integrated circuit to the corresponding input (or inputs) of a particular one (or ones) fundamental digital interface circuit of the plurality of fundamental digital interface circuits. For example, inputs 280-1 through 280-N of fundamental digital interface circuit 210-1, inputs 285-1 through 285-N of fundamental digital interface circuit 210-2, and inputs 290-1 through 290-N of fundamental digital interface circuit 210-3. In accordance with the embodiment, it will be noted, that the selection of the integers M and N, respectively, must be such that the M number of outputs is greater than or equal to the N number of inputs.

[0022] Importantly, in accordance with the embodiment, distributed architecture 200 is, illustratively, divided such that the available address space is divided into the individual segments represented by fundamental digital interface circuit 210-1, fundamental digital interface circuit 210-2, and fundamental digital interface circuit 210-3. Further, each of the fundamental digital interface circuits has an individual input port associated therewith, namely input port 270-1 associated with fundamental digital interface circuit 210-1, input port 270-2 associated with fundamental digital interface circuit 210-2, and input port 270-3 associated with fundamental digital interface circuit 210-3 whereby a unique value is applied to define a unique memory address space associated with the respective fundamental digital interface circuit. As such, in accordance with the embodiment, the localized digital blocks are in close proximity of the final block with which they must interface, and this interface to all the digital blocks employs a standard SPI or I.sup.2C interface. Such segmentation allows for, in accordance with the embodiment, each fundamental digital interface circuit to be placed proximal to and in close proximity of the digitally controlled circuit(s), that is, analog circuits 220-1 through 220-3 which are individual functional blocks of integrated circuit 205, which share an operational connection. Also, in accordance with the embodiment, the configuration allows for such fundamental digital interface circuits and analog circuits to be internally daisy-chained. It will be appreciated that while FIG. 2 illustratively shows distributed architecture 200 with three fundamental digital interface circuits and three analog circuits, any number of such circuits can be configured in accordance with the distributed architecture and bus protocol as described herein for operating with distributed (or segmented) on-chip digital interfaces such as I.sup.2C or SPI.

[0023] FIG. 3 shows an illustrative distributed architecture for an integrated circuit configuration having a segmented digital interface block in accordance with a further embodiment. In particular, distributed architecture 300 can again be utilized with either of the I.sup.2C or SPI protocols (or other protocols or systems operating in substantially the same way). The distributed architecture 300 is illustratively shown for integrated circuit 305 having a plurality of fundamental digital interface circuits, namely, fundamental digital interface circuit 310-1, fundamental digital interface circuit 310-2, and fundamental digital interface circuit 310-3 having multiple inputs, namely, input 330-1 through 330-N. As shown in FIG. 3, input 330-1 through 330-N forming a set of “N” input lines, where N is an integer value, communicated over and forming bus 315. As will be appreciated, such input lines can be command/address lines, assert lines, clock lines, data response lines, and flag lines, to name just a few. Each respective fundamental digital interface circuit has a set of respective outputs. Illustratively, fundamental digital interface circuit 310-1 has a plurality of outputs, namely, output 340-1, 340-2, 340-3 through 340-N, fundamental digital interface circuit 310-2 has a plurality of outputs, namely, output 350-1, 350-2, 350-3 through 350-N, and fundamental digital interface circuit 310-3 has a plurality of outputs, namely, output 360-1, 360-2, 360-3 through 360-N. In accordance with this further embodiment, each such fundamental digital interface circuit is further configured with a local memory, namely, memory 395-1, memory 395-2, and memory 395-3 which may be any type of well-known memory such as a random access memory. This localized memory allows for the storage of certain data useful in adjusting in operating the parameters of their respective fundamental digital interface circuit. For example, this localized memory can hold calibration data for analog circuits which may be unique to each integrated circuit and thus must be updated during normal integrated circuit operation. Localized memory can also hold dynamic configuration data which may be adjusted and may differ depending upon the operational mode of the integrated circuit.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 3, each of these plurality of outputs from the respective fundamental digital interface circuit (i.e., fundamental digital interface circuit 310-1, fundamental digital interface circuit 310-2, and fundamental digital interface circuit 310-3) again form a set of “M” lines where M is an integer value. Thus, integrated circuit 305 is configured with a plurality of fundamental digital interface circuits wherein each such fundamental digital interface circuit has a set of inputs (e.g., a set of N inputs such as input 330-1 through input 330-N) and a set of outputs (e.g., a set of M outputs such as output 350-1 through 350-N) where N and M are again integers and M is greater than or equal to N, and a plurality of signal paths (i.e., input 330-1 through input 330-N) are routed from a particular externally accessible location on the integrated circuit to the corresponding input (or inputs) of a particular one (or ones) fundamental digital interface circuit of the plurality of fundamental digital interface circuits. For example, inputs 380-1 through 380-N of fundamental digital interface circuit 310-1, inputs 385-1 through 385-N of fundamental digital interface circuit 310-2, and inputs 390-1 through 390-N of fundamental digital interface circuit 310-3. In accordance with the embodiment, it will be noted, that the selection of the integers M and N, respectively, must be such that the M number of outputs is greater than or equal to the N number of inputs.

[0025] Importantly, in accordance with this further embodiment, distributed architecture 300 is, illustratively, divided such that the available address space is divided into the individual segments represented by fundamental digital interface circuit 310-1, fundamental digital interface circuit 310-2, and fundamental digital interface circuit 310-3. Further, each of the fundamental digital interface circuits has an input port associated therewith, namely input port 370-1 associated with fundamental digital interface circuit 310-1, input port 370-2 associated with fundamental digital interface circuit 310-2, and input port 370-3 associated with fundamental digital interface circuit 310-3 whereby a unique value is applied to define a unique memory address space associated with the respective fundamental digital interface circuit. Such segmentation allows for, in accordance with the embodiment, each fundamental digital interface circuit to be placed proximal to and in close proximity of the digitally controlled circuit(s), that is, analog circuits 320-1, 320-2, and 320-3 which are individual functional blocks of integrated circuit 305, which share an operational connection. Also, in accordance with the embodiment, the configuration allows for such fundamental digital interface circuits and analog circuits to be internally daisy-chained. It will be appreciated that while FIG. 3 illustratively shows distributed architecture 300 with three fundamental digital interface circuits and three analog circuits, any number of such circuits can be configured in accordance with the distributed architecture and bus protocol as described herein for operating with distributed (or segmented) on-chip digital interfaces such as I.sup.2C or SPI.

[0026] FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of illustrative operations 400 for providing distributed on-chip communications employing a digital interface circuit in accordance with an embodiment. In accordance with this embodiment, the segmenting of an address space of a digital interface register array is undertaken using a plurality of fundamental digital interface circuits (step 410), as detailed herein above. Each fundamental digital interface circuit is assigned a unique memory address, in step 420, utilizing the respective input port associated with that fundamental digital interface circuit. In accordance with the embodiment, the routing of a plurality of inputs to a device (e.g., an IC) between a plurality of functional blocks of such device, at step 430, is done using the plurality of fundamental digital interface circuits. Further, if any adjusting (step 440) of one or more of the fundamental digital interface circuits is necessary this is done utilizing, illustratively, local stored data as detailed herein above. Advantageously, the segmentation allows for, in accordance with the embodiment, each fundamental digital interface circuit to be placed proximal to and in close proximity of the digitally controlled circuit(s), for example, analog circuits which are individual functional blocks of an integrated circuit, which share an operational connection and common communications bus, for example the analog circuits shown in either FIG. 2 or FIG. 3.

[0027] As detailed above, the various embodiments herein can be embodied in the form of methods and apparatuses for practicing those methods. The disclosed methods may be performed by a combination of hardware, software, firmware, middleware, and computer-readable medium (collectively “computer”) installed in and/or communicatively connected to a user device or network node, for example. FIG. 5 is a high-level block diagram of an exemplary computer 500 that may be used for implementing a method for providing distributed on-chip communications employing a digital interface circuit in accordance with the various embodiments herein. Computer 500 comprises a processor 510 operatively coupled to a data storage device 520 and a memory 530. Processor 510 controls the overall operation of computer 500 by executing computer program instructions that define such operations. Communications bus 560 facilitates the coupling and communication between the various components of computer 500. The computer program instructions may be stored in data storage device 520, or a non-transitory computer readable medium, and loaded into memory 530 when execution of the computer program instructions is desired. Thus, the steps of the disclosed method (see, e.g., FIG. 4 and the associated discussion herein above) can be defined by the computer program instructions stored in memory 530 and/or data storage device 520 and controlled by processor 510 executing the computer program instructions. For example, the computer program instructions can be implemented as computer executable code programmed by one skilled in the art to perform the illustrative operations defined by the disclosed method. Accordingly, by executing the computer program instructions, processor 510 executes an algorithm defined by the disclosed method. Computer 500 also includes one or more communication interfaces 550 for communicating with other devices via a network (e.g., a wireless communications network) or communications protocol (e.g., Bluetooth®). For example, such communication interfaces may be a receiver, transceiver or modem for exchanging wired or wireless communications in any number of well-known fashions. Computer 500 also includes one or more input/output devices 540 that enable user interaction with computer 500 (e.g., camera, display, keyboard, mouse, speakers, microphone, buttons, etc.).

[0028] Processor 510 may include both general and special purpose microprocessors, and may be the sole processor or one of multiple processors of computer 500. Processor 510 may comprise one or more central processing units (CPUs), for example. Processor 510, data storage device 520, and/or memory 530 may include, be supplemented by, or incorporated in, one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and/or one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).

[0029] Data storage device 520 and memory 530 each comprise a tangible non-transitory computer readable storage medium. Data storage device 520, and memory 530, may each include high-speed random access memory, such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR RAM), or other random access solid state memory devices, and may include non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices such as internal hard disks and removable disks, magneto-optical disk storage devices, optical disk storage devices, flash memory devices, semiconductor memory devices, such as erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disc read-only memory (DVD-ROM) disks, or other non-volatile solid state storage devices.

[0030] Input/output devices 540 may include peripherals, such as a camera, printer, scanner, display screen, etc. For example, input/output devices 540 may include a display device such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), plasma or liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor for displaying information to the user, a keyboard, and a pointing device such as a mouse or a trackball by which the user can provide input to computer 500.

[0031] It should be noted that for clarity of explanation, the illustrative embodiments described herein may be presented as comprising individual functional blocks or combinations of functional blocks. The functions these blocks represent may be provided through the use of either dedicated or shared hardware, including, but not limited to, hardware capable of executing software. Illustrative embodiments may comprise digital signal processor (“DSP”) hardware and/or software performing the operation described herein. Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the block diagrams herein represent conceptual views of illustrative functions, operations and/or circuitry of the principles described in the various embodiments herein. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flowcharts, flow diagrams, state transition diagrams, pseudo code, program code and the like represent various processes which may be substantially represented in computer readable medium and so executed by a computer, machine or processor, whether or not such computer, machine or processor is explicitly shown. One skilled in the art will recognize that an implementation of an actual computer or computer system may have other structures and may contain other components as well, and that a high level representation of some of the components of such a computer is for illustrative purposes.

[0032] The foregoing Detailed Description is to be understood as being in every respect illustrative and exemplary, but not restrictive, and the scope of the invention disclosed herein is not to be determined from the Detailed Description, but rather from the claims as interpreted according to the full breadth permitted by the patent laws. It is to be understood that the embodiments shown and described herein are only illustrative of the principles of the present invention and that various modifications may be implemented by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Those skilled in the art could implement various other feature combinations without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.