Time-division multiplexer and signal transmission apparatus

1. A time-division multiplexer for multiplexing a first group of n (where n is an integer more than 1) input signals, and a second group of n input signals, thereby generating n multiplexed signals, comprising:

n signal transition detection sections, each of which is configured to receive a corresponding one of the first group of n input signals, or a corresponding one of the second group of n input signals, and to detect a signal transition of at least one of the corresponding one of the first group of n input signals, or the corresponding one of the second group of n input signals;

a time-division control section configured to output a control pulse according to a system clock when a signal transition is detected by at least one of the n signal transition detection sections; and

n output switching sections, each of which is configured to receive a corresponding one of the first group of n input signals, or a corresponding one of the second group of n input signals, and to output either the corresponding one of the first group of n input signals or the corresponding one of the second group of n input signals as one of the n multiplexed signals according to the control pulse.

2. The time-division multiplexer of claim 1 , wherein

the control pulse includes two types of control pulses, one of which is a first control pulse output in synchronization with the system clock, and the other of which is a second control pulse output after the first control pulse, and

the n output switching sections each outputs the one of the first group of n input signals coupled thereto as the one of the n multiplexed signals in a period during which the first control pulse is output, and outputs the one of the second group of n input signals coupled thereto as the one of the n multiplexed signals in a period during which the second control pulse is output.

3. The time-division multiplexer of claim 1 , wherein the n output switching sections each includes a selector configured to select the one of the first group of n input signals coupled to the n output switching section as the one of the n multiplexed signals in a period during which the control pulse is not output, and to select the one of the second group of n input signals coupled to the n output switching section as the one of the n multiplexed signals in a period during which the control pulse is output.

4. The time-division multiplexer of claim 1 , further comprising:

a timing generation section,

wherein

the time-division control section outputs a permit pulse and the control pulse according to the system clock when a signal transition is detected by at least one of the n signal transition detection sections,

the timing generation section outputs a frequency-multiplied clock having a higher frequency than that of the system clock as a timing clock in a period during which the permit pulse is output, and

the n output switching sections each includes:

a selector configured to select the one of the first group of n input signals coupled to the n output switching section in a period during which the control pulse is not output, and to select the one of the second group of n input signals coupled to the n output switching section in a period during which the control pulse is output, and

a flip-flop configured to load an input signal selected by the selector in synchronization with the timing clock, and to output the loaded input signal as the one of the n multiplexed signals.

5. The time-division multiplexer of claim 1 , further comprising:

a decode-clock generation section,

wherein

the time-division control section outputs a permit pulse and the control pulse according to the system clock when a signal transition is detected by at least one of the n signal transition detection sections, and

the decode-clock generation section generates a decode clock used for demultiplexing the n multiplexed signals according to definition clocks corresponding to the system clock in a period during which the permit pulse is output.

6. The time-division multiplexer of claim 5 , further comprising:

a clock generation section configured to adjust a phase of the system clock and to output resultant clocks as the definition clocks.

7. A signal transmission apparatus, comprising:

a time-division multiplexer for multiplexing a first group of n (where n is an integer more than 1) input signals, and a second group of n input signals, thereby generating n multiplexed signals, comprising:

n signal transition detection sections, each of which is configured to receive a corresponding one of the first group of n input signals, or a corresponding one of the second group of n input signals, and to detect a signal transition of at least one of the corresponding one of the first group of n input signals, or the corresponding one of the second group of n input signals;

a time-division control section configured to output a control pulse according to a system clock when a signal transition is detected by at least one of the n signal transition detection sections; and

n output switching sections, each of which is configured to receive a corresponding one of the first group of n input signals, or a corresponding one of the second group of n input signals, and to output either the corresponding one of the first group of n input signals or the corresponding one of the second group of n input signals as one of the n multiplexed signals according to the control pulse; and

a decode-clock generation section;

a demultiplexer configured to demultiplex the n multiplexed signals generated by the time-division multiplexer into n first output signals and n second output signals according to a decode clock,

wherein the time-division control section outputs a permit pulse and the control pulse according to the system clock when a signal transition is detected by at least one of the n signal transition detection sections, and

the decode-clock generation section generates the decode clock used for demultiplexing the n multiplexed signals according to definition clocks corresponding to the system clock in a period during which the permit pulse is output.