IP Library Granted Patent US 9,490,999
Granted Patent B2
US 9,490,999 · App. 14/607,456 · Granted Nov 8, 2016

Single-wire communications using iterative baud learning

Inventors: Danut Manea (Saratoga, CA); Jeffrey P. Kotowski (Nevada City, CA)
Assignee: Atmel Corporation
H04L12/40032H04L12/40136
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,490,999
App. No.
14/607,456
Granted
Nov 8, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and techniques for single-wire communications are described. A described technique includes detecting transitions on a single-wire bus that are produced by a host device; determining an estimated baud rate of the host device based on the transitions by approximating a bit transition rate associated with the transitions by iteratively adjusting a charging rate of a capacitor to match the bit transition rate; and communicating with the host device based on the estimated baud rate.

Claims (31)

1. A method comprising: detecting transitions on a single-wire bus that are produced by a host device; determining an estimated baud rate of the host device based on the transitions by approximating a bit transition rate associated with the transitions by iteratively adjusting a charging rate of a capacitor to match the bit transition rate; and communicating with the host device based on the estimated baud rate, wherein determining the estimated baud rate comprises: resetting the capacitor in response to a detection of a first transition of the transitions; charging the capacitor based on the charging rate; determining, in response to a detection of a second transition of the transitions, a comparison result based on whether a capacitor voltage associated with the capacitor is less than a reference voltage; and adjusting the charging rate based on the comparison result.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the charging rate based on the comparison result comprises:

increasing the charging rate if the capacitor voltage is less than the reference voltage; and

decreasing the charging rate if the capacitor voltage is not less than the reference voltage.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein resetting the capacitor comprises switching on a transistor to discharge the capacitor.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the estimated baud rate comprises:

controlling the charging rate of the capacitor based on a control register comprising a plurality of bits arranged from a most significant bit to a least significant bit,

wherein iteratively adjusting the charging rate comprises determining bit-by-bit each of the bits of the control register through successive ones of the transitions by starting with the most significant bit and ending with the least significant bit.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

using digital logic circuitry to sample a comparator output that is responsive to a reference voltage and a capacitor voltage associated with the capacitor, wherein the digital logic circuitry is configured to sample the comparator output based on detection of one of the transitions.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transitions comprise falling edge transitions.

7. A device comprising: a detector operable to detect transitions on a single-wire bus that are produced by a host; a timing estimator configured to determine an estimated baud rate of the host based on the transitions by approximating a bit transition rate associated with the transitions by iteratively adjusting a charging rate of a capacitor to match the bit transition rate; and circuitry operable to communicate with the host based on the estimated baud rate, wherein the timing estimator is configured to (i) reset the capacitor in response to a detection of a first transition of the transitions, (ii) charge the capacitor based on the charging rate, (iii) determine, in response to a detection of a second transition of the transitions, a comparison result based on whether a capacitor voltage associated with the capacitor is less than a reference voltage, and (iv) adjust the charging rate based on the comparison result.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the timing estimator is configured to adjust the charging rate by increasing the charging rate if the capacitor voltage is less than the reference voltage, and wherein the timing estimator is configured to adjust the charging rate by decreasing the charging rate if the capacitor voltage is not less than the reference voltage.

9. The device of claim 7 , comprising:

a transistor coupled with the capacitor,

wherein the timing estimator is configured to reset the capacitor by switching on the transistor to discharge the capacitor.

10. The device of claim 7 , wherein the timing estimator is configured to determine the estimated baud rate by controlling the charging rate of the capacitor based on a control register comprising a plurality of bits arranged from a most significant bit to a least significant bit, and wherein iteratively adjusting the charging rate comprises determining bit-by-bit each of the bits of the control register through successive ones of the transitions by starting with the most significant bit and ending with the least significant bit.

11. The device of claim 7 , comprising:

digital logic circuitry configured to sample a comparator output that is responsive to a reference voltage and a capacitor voltage associated with the capacitor, wherein the digital logic circuitry is configured to sample the comparator output based on detection of one of the transitions.

12. The device of claim 7 , wherein the transitions comprise falling edge transitions.

13. The device of claim 7 , comprising:

a non-volatile memory structure; and

a processor configured to perform an operation responsive to a command received over the single-wire bus, wherein the operation comprises retrieving data from the non-volatile memory structure in response to the command, and wherein the processor is configured to cause the data to be transmitted to the host based on the estimated baud rate.

14. A system comprising: a host device; and a slave device coupled with the host device via a single-wire bus, wherein the slave device is configured to perform operations comprising: detecting transitions on a single-wire bus that are produced by the host device; determining an estimated baud rate of the host device based on the transitions by approximating a bit transition rate associated with the transitions by iteratively adjusting a charging rate of a capacitor to match the bit transition rate; and communicating with the host device based on the estimated baud rate, wherein determining the estimated baud rate comprises: resetting the capacitor in response to a detection of a first transition of the transitions; charging the capacitor based on the charging rate; determining, in response to a detection of a second transition of the transitions, a comparison result based on whether a capacitor voltage associated with the capacitor is less than a reference voltage; and adjusting the charging rate based on the comparison result.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein adjusting the charging rate based on the comparison result comprises:

increasing the charging rate if the capacitor voltage is less than the reference voltage; and

decreasing the charging rate if the capacitor voltage is not less than the reference voltage.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein resetting the capacitor comprises switching on a transistor to discharge the capacitor.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein determining the estimated baud rate comprises:

controlling the charging rate of the capacitor based on a control register comprising a plurality of bits arranged from a most significant bit to a least significant bit,

wherein iteratively adjusting the charging rate comprises determining bit-by-bit each of the bits of the control register through successive ones of the transitions by starting with the most significant bit and ending with the least significant bit.

Assignments (16)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 060894/0437 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059363/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059863/0400 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059358/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059262/0105 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059333/0222 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2021
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057935/0474 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055671/0612 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 053468/0705 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 053466/0011 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 053311/0305 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047103/0206 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 046426/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2017
From: ATMEL CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 041715/0747 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2015
From: MANEA, DANUT; KOTOWSKI, JEFFREY P
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036547/0369 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 16, 2015
From: ATMEL CORPORATION
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ISSUING BANK AND SWINGLINE LENDER
Reel/Frame 035918/0451 →
Continuity (1)
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