Methods for discovery, configuration, and coordinating data communications between master and slave devices in a communication system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9875152-B2
Application number	US-201514666116-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2015
Priority date	Oct 5, 2011
Publication date	Jan 23, 2018
Grant date	Jan 23, 2018

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention methods for discovery, configuration, and coordinating data communications between master and slave devices in a communication system. Exemplary embodiments are described with reference to a two-wire point-to-point bus system, although the method can be used in other communication systems. Provisions are included for controlling the sequential powering of the bus and slave devices.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device configured for low latency communication on a communication bus, comprising:
first circuitry to:
communicate with at least one upstream device over a communication bus, wherein the at least one upstream device includes a master device,
periodically receive a synchronization control frame communicated downstream on the communication bus from the master device, and
transmit a synchronization response frame upstream on the communication bus, wherein the synchronization response frame originates at a last downstream device on the communication bus;

second circuitry to derive timing information from the synchronization control frame; and
third circuitry to, when a downstream device is coupled to the communication bus:
transmit the synchronization control frame downstream to the downstream device, and
receive the synchronization response frame from the downstream device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the second circuitry is to generate the synchronization response frame when the electronic device is the last downstream device on the communication bus.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first circuitry is to:
transmit data upstream on the communication bus, wherein the data is transmitted in at least one designated time interval following the synchronization control frame.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein:
the data is first data;
the third circuitry is to, when the downstream device is coupled to the communication bus, receive second data from the downstream device; and
the first circuitry is to selectively transmit the second data upstream on the communication bus.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein:
the third circuitry is to, when the downstream device is coupled to the communication bus, receive third data from the downstream device;
the second circuitry is to process the third data; and
the first circuitry is to not transmit the third data upstream.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the third circuitry is to:
transmit data downstream on the communication bus, wherein the data is transmitted in at least one designated time interval following the synchronization control frame.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein:
the data is first data;
the first circuitry is to receive second data from the at least one upstream device; and
the third circuitry is to, when the downstream device is coupled to the communication bus, selectively transmit the second data downstream on the communication bus.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first circuitry is to receive data from the at least one upstream device, the data including an identifier of the electronic device;
the second circuitry is to process the data; and
the third circuitry is to, when the downstream device is coupled to the communication bus, not transmit the data downstream based on the identifier.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the second circuitry is to generate data; and
the third circuitry is to, when the downstream device is coupled to the communication bus, transmit the data downstream.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the data includes an identifier of a downstream device that is to consume the data.

11. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the second circuitry includes a phase locked loop (PLL), and the second circuitry is to, as part of derivation of timing information from the synchronization control frame, recover a clock signal from the synchronization control frame and provide that signal to the PLL.

12. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is a first electronic device, and wherein the first circuitry is to receive data from an upstream device and the second circuitry is to transmit the data to a second electronic device communicatively coupled to the first electronic device via an I2C bus.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein:
the data is first data;
the first circuitry is to receive second data from the upstream device; and
the second circuitry is to transmit the second data to the second electronic device via an I2S bus.

14. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device includes or is communicatively coupled to a sensor in a vehicle, and the electronic device is to provide data from the sensor over the communication bus for hands-free control of an in-vehicle function.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the sensor includes a microphone.

16. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device includes or is communicatively coupled to a microphone in a vehicle, and the electronic device is to provide data from the microphone over the communication bus for voice control of an in-vehicle function.

17. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device includes or is communicatively coupled to a sensor in a vehicle, and the electronic device is to provide data from the sensor over the communication bus to signal an emergency assistance system.

18. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device includes or is communicatively coupled to a microphone, and the electronic device is to provide data from the microphone over the communication bus for active noise cancellation.

19. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device includes or is communicatively coupled to a microphone, and the electronic device is to provide data from the microphone over the communication bus to provide an intercom function, a passenger-to-passenger communication function, or a driver-to-passenger communication function.

20. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device includes or is communicatively coupled to a sensor in a vehicle, and the electronic device is to provide data from the sensor over the communication bus for beam-forming or beam-steering.

21. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device includes or is communicatively coupled to a touchscreen device.

22. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device includes or is communicatively coupled to a user input device in a vehicle, and the electronic device is to provide data from the user input device over the communication bus for push-to-talk or audio mute functionality.

23. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is disposed in a seatbelt or a seat of a vehicle.

24. The electronic device of claim 23 , wherein the electronic device is disposed in a stopper button of a seatbelt.

25. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first and third circuitry share a chip with a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) microphone.

26. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising circuitry to perform time domain reflectometry (TDR) for line diagnostics upstream via the first circuitry or downstream via the third circuitry.

27. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switch to pass power downstream from the electronic device.

28. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first and third circuitry is included in a die that is included in a stack of dies.

29. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a digital isolator to isolate the electronic device from another

Assignees

• Analog Devices Inc

Inventors

• Kessler Martin

Classifications

• G06F11/0754 Primary

  by exceeding limits · CPC title

• G06F13/4295

  using an embedded synchronisation · CPC title

• H04B2203/547

  via DC power distribution · CPC title

• H04L2012/40273

  the transportation system being a vehicle · CPC title

• G06F13/364

  using independent requests or grants, e.g. using separated request and grant lines · CPC title