Coded data generation or conversion – Digital code to digital code converters
Reexamination Certificate
2003-06-12
2004-06-08
Young, Brian (Department: 2819)
Coded data generation or conversion
Digital code to digital code converters
C341S106000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06747580
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention pertains to methods and apparatus for encoding data in accordance with an NB/(N+1)B block code for transmission and to methods and apparatus for decoding the encoded data. The invention is particularly useful in communication environments in which the spectrum of the transmitted signal is significantly constrained, e.g., in high-speed, wired data transmission systems which require the spectrum of the transmitted signal to be restricted to as a narrow a band of high frequencies as possible, and to be free of a DC component.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Throughout the disclosure, including in the claims, the notation “nB/mB” code (or “n-bit-to-m-bit” code) is used to denote a block code in which n-bit symbols (input words) are encoded as m-bit code words, where m>n. For example, in a class of well-known conventional block codes are 8B/10B codes in wich 8-bit input words are encoded as 10-bit code words.
Throughout the disclosure, including in the claims, the term “symbol” is used synonymously and interchangeably with the expression “input word.”
Throughout the disclosure, including in the claims, the expression “table lookup” denotes a mapping operation that is implemented in any manner (not necessarily by searching a ROM or CAM type memory for an output value in response to an input value). For example, table lookup can be implemented using a memory-based lookup table or a logic-based lookup table, as a complex logic function (that performs the equivalent of a memory-based table lookup), as a logic truth table/Karnaugh map, or in any other suitable manner.
A digital communication channel imposes restrictions on the nature of the data it can carry. For example, during serial data transmission (transmission of a signal indicative of a bit sequence), sufficient transitions must be present to enable accurate clock and data recovery at the receiver, the DC component of the transmitted signal should be eliminated to prevent baseline wander, and the pass band frequency range should be minimized to reduce design complexity. To meet these requirements, conventional high-speed serial communication often transmits data that have been encoded using a conventional 8B/ 10B block code (e.g., the conventional code, sometimes referred to as the “IBM” 8B/10B code, described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,739, issued on Dec. 4, 1984). The IBM 8B/10B block code is DC-free, guarantees 3 transitions per code word, and ensures that the maximum run without a transition is 4 bits. However, an 8B/10B block code provides low channel utilization (only 80% of the channel capacity is available for application use). Communication protocols layered above this channel code further reduce channel capacity for carrying useful data.
To encode data using a block code, a sequence of user data bits is encoded as a larger number of bits according to a predetermined table or function. The added bits of overhead preferably ensure a high transition density to facilitate clock/data recovery, and accomplish DC balancing to maintain running disparity near zero, which enables the use of AC-coupling. Since the code space is larger than the data space, a modest error detection capability is also afforded.
Various serial links for transmitting data and clock signals are well known. One conventional serial link, used primarily for high-speed transmission of video data from a host processor (e.g., a personal computer) to a monitor, is known as a transition minimized differential signaling interface (“TMDS” link). The characteristics of a TMDS link include the following:
1. video data are encoded using an 8B/10B block code and transmitted as encoded words (each 8-bit word of digital video data is converted to an encoded 10-bit word before transmission):
a. the encoding determines a set of “in-band” words and a set of “out-of-band” words (the encoder can generate only “in-band ” words in response to video data, although it can generate “out-of-band” words in response to control or sync signals. Each in-band word is an encoded word resulting from encoding of one input video data word. All words transmitted over the link that are not in-band words are “out-of-band” words);
b. the encoding of video data is performed such that the in-band words are transition minimized (a sequence of in-band words has a reduced or minimized number of transitions);
c. the encoding of video data is performed such that the in-band words are DC balanced (the encoding prevents each transmitted voltage waveform that is employed to transmit a sequence of in-band words from deviating by more than a predetermined threshold value from a reference potential. Specifically, the tenth bit of each “in-band” word indicates whether eight of the other nine bits thereof have been inverted during the encoding process to correct for an imbalance between running counts of ones and zeroes in the stream of previously encoded data bits);
2. the encoded video data and a video clock signal are transmitted as differential signals (the video clock and encoded video data are transmitted as differential signals over conductor pairs);
3. three conductor pairs are employed to transmit the encoded video, and a fourth conductor pair is employed to transmit the video clock signal; and
4. signal transmission occurs in one direction, from a transmitter (typically associated with a desktop or portable computer, or other host) to a receiver (typically an element of a monitor or other display device).
A use of the TMDS serial link is the “Digital Visual Interface” interface (“DVI” link) adopted by the Digital Display Working Group. A DVI link can be implemented to include two TMDS links (which share a common conductor pair for transmitting a video clock signal) or one TMDS link, as well as additional control lines between the transmitter and receiver.
A typical DVI link includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a cable comprising conductors connected between the transmitter and receiver. The conductors include a conductor pair for transmitting serialized data over one channel (Channel 0) from an encoder (in the transmitter) to a decoder (in the receiver), a conductor pair for transmitting serialized data over another channel (Channel 1) from another encoder in the transmitter to another decoder in the receiver, a conductor pair for transmitting serialized data over another channel (Channel 2) from a third encoder in the transmitter to third decoder in the receiver, and a conductor pair for transmitting a video clock over a fourth channel (Channel C) from the transmitter to the receiver. The conductors also include wires for a Display Data Channel (“DDC”) channel (which can be used for bidirectional I2C communication between the transmitter and receiver), a Hot Plug Detect (HPD) line (on which a monitor associated with the receiver transmits a signal that enables a processor associated with the transmitter to identify the monitor's presence), “Analog” lines for analog video transmission from the transmitter to the receiver, and “Power” lines for provision of power from the transmitter to the receiver.
Each encoder in the transmitter encodes the data to be transmitted over one of Channels 0, 1, and 2, and serializes the encoded bits to be transmitted over the relevant channel. Each encoder responds to a control signal (an active high binary control signal referred to as a “data enable” or “DE” signal) by selectively encoding either digital video words (in response to DE having a high value) or a control or synchronization signal pair (in response to DE having a low value). Each of the encoders receives a different pair of control or synchronization signals: a first encoder receives horizontal and vertical synchronization signals (HSYNC and VSYNC); a second encoder receives control bits CTL
0
and CTL
1
; and a third encoder receives control bits CTL
2
and CTL
3
. Thus, each encoder generates in-band words indicative of video data (in response to DE having a high value), the first encoder generates out-of-band words indicative of the values of
Girard & Equitz LLP
Silicon Image Inc.
Young Brian
LandOfFree
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