Low latency transmission systems and methods for long distances in soundwire systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016337741-A1
Application number	US-201615145089-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 3, 2016
Priority date	May 11, 2015
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Low latency transmission systems and methods for long distances in SOUNDWIRE systems are disclosed. In an exemplary aspect, a SOUNDWIRE sub-system is coupled to a long cable through a bridge. The bridge converts SOUNDWIRE signals to signals for transmission over the long cable and converts the signals from the long cable to the SOUNDWIRE signals for transmission in the SOUNDWIRE sub-system. Conversion between signal types may include concatenating signals of a similar type into a group that is serially transmitted over the long cable. Concatenation of bit slots in this manner consumes minimal overhead in bus turnaround, thereby reducing latency. In further aspects, the functionality of the bridge may be incorporated into a headset or a mobile terminal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A bridge comprising:
a first interface configured to be coupled to a digital audio cable; a second interface configured to be coupled to a SOUNDWIRE communication bus; and a control system configured to:
receive SOUNDWIRE compliant signals from the second interface and concatenate bit slots from a single source;
transmit the concatenated bit slots through the first interface onto the digital audio cable;
receive second concatenated bit slots from the digital audio cable; and
split the second concatenated bit slots for transmission on the SOUNDWIRE communication bus.

2 . The bridge of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to concatenate into respective groups bit slots from plural sources.

3 . The bridge of claim 1 integrated into a headset.

4 . The bridge of claim 1 , further comprising the digital audio cable.

5 . The bridge of claim 4 , wherein the digital audio cable is longer than fifty centimeters (50 cm).

6 . The bridge of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to determine a number of lanes used on the SOUNDWIRE communication bus.

7 . The bridge of claim 6 , wherein the control system is further configured to determine a number of rows and columns used in a frame on the SOUNDWIRE communication bus.

8 . The bridge of claim 7 , wherein the control system is further configured to define a number of rows in signals transmitted on the digital audio cable equal to the number of rows used on the SOUNDWIRE communication bus.

9 . The bridge of claim 8 , wherein the control system is further configured to define a number of columns in signals transmitted on the digital audio cable equal to the number of columns used on the SOUNDWIRE communication bus multiplied by the number of lanes used on the SOUNDWIRE communication bus.

10 . The bridge of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor interface configured to be coupled to a sensor cable.

11 . A mobile terminal comprising:
an audio cable receptacle; an interface associated with the audio cable receptacle; and a control system configured to:
receive SOUNDWIRE compliant signals from one of an application processor and a codec;
concatenate into respective groups bit slots for plural channels;
transmit the respective groups through the interface onto a digital audio cable;
receive second concatenated bit slots from the digital audio cable; and
split the second concatenated bit slots for processing by the one of the application processor and the codec.

12 . The mobile terminal of claim 11 , wherein the control system is further configured to concatenate into respective groups bit slots from plural sources.

13 . The mobile terminal of claim 11 , wherein the control system is further configured to determine a number of lanes used by the SOUNDWIRE compliant signals.

14 . The mobile terminal of claim 13 , wherein the control system is further configured to determine a number of rows and columns used in a frame by the SOUNDWIRE compliant signals.

15 . The mobile terminal of claim 14 , wherein the control system is further configured to define a number of rows in signals transmitted on the digital audio cable equal to the number of rows used by the SOUNDWIRE compliant signals.

16 . The mobile terminal of claim 15 , wherein the control system is further configured to define a number of columns in signals transmitted on the digital audio cable equal to the number of columns used by the SOUNDWIRE compliant signals multiplied by the number of lanes used by the SOUNDWIRE compliant signals.

17 . A headset comprising:
a plurality of microphones; a plurality of speakers; an audio cable receptacle; an interface associated with the audio cable receptacle; and a control system configured to:
receive concatenated bit slots from a digital audio cable;
split the concatenated bit slots for processing by one of the plurality of microphones or one of the plurality of speakers; and
concatenate into respective groups bit slots received from the plurality of microphones and the plurality of speakers.

18 . The headset of claim 17 , further comprising a SOUNDWIRE communication bus coupling the control system to the plurality of microphones and the plurality of speakers.

19 . The headset of claim 17 , wherein the control system is further configured to transmit the concatenated bit slots from the plurality of speakers onto the digital audio cable.

20 . A method comprising:
concatenating a SOUNDWIRE compliant frame into a serial signal; transmitting the serial signal over a digital audio bus greater than fifty centimeters (50 cm) long; expanding the serial signal into a second SOUNDWIRE signal; and transmitting the second SOUNDWIRE signal over a multi-wire bus.

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Amarilio Lior
• Remple Terrence Brian

Classifications

• H04R3/005

  for combining the signals of two or more microphones (specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407) · CPC title

• G06F13/4045 Primary

  where the bus bridge performs an extender function · CPC title

• H04R1/1033 Primary

  Cables or cables storage, e.g. cable reels (cord reels per se H02G11/02; arrangements for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of conductors or cables B65H75/34; extensible conductors or cables, e.g. self-coiling cords H01B7/06) · CPC title

• H04B1/3833

  Hand-held transceivers · CPC title

• G06F3/162

  Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs · CPC title