Abstract: A serial low-power inter-chip media bus communications link is deployed in apparatus having multiple Integrated Circuit devices. Communications capabilities of a device coupled to the communications link may be determined and configuration or framing message may be sent to the first device based on the capabilities. The messages may be transmitted on a primary data line of the communications link with a clock used to control timing of transmission on at least the primary data line. The communications capabilities can include information identifying a number of data wires supported by or coupled to the device. A first device may be configured to communicate with a second device over a secondary data line, which may be reserved for such direct communication. Communications on the secondary data line may be synchronized using the clock signal and may be controlled by a different protocol than the protocol used for the primary data line.

Abstract: Power reduction through clock management techniques are disclosed. In one aspect, the clock management is applied to a clock signal on a SOUNDWIRE™ communication bus. In particular, a control system associated with a master device on the communication bus may evaluate frequency requirements of audio streams on the communication bus and select a lowest possible clock frequency that meets the frequency requirements. Lower clock frequencies result in fewer clock transitions and result in a net power saving relative to higher clock frequencies. In the event of a clock frequency change, the master device communicates the clock frequency that will be used prospectively to slave devices on the communication bus, and all devices transition to the new frequency at the same frame boundary. In addition to the power savings, exemplary aspects of the present disclosure do not impact an active audio stream.

Abstract: A serial low-power inter-chip media bus communications link is deployed in apparatus having multiple Integrated Circuit devices. Communications capabilities of a device coupled to the communications link may be determined and configuration or framing message may be sent to the first device based on the capabilities. The messages may be transmitted on a primary data line of the communications link with a clock used to control timing of transmission on at least the primary data line. The communications capabilities can include information identifying a number of data wires supported by or coupled to the device. A first device may be configured to communicate with a second device over a secondary data line, which may be reserved for such direct communication. Communications on the secondary data line may be synchronized using the clock signal and may be controlled by a different protocol than the protocol used for the primary data line.

Abstract: A serial low-power inter-chip media bus communications link is deployed in apparatus having multiple Integrated Circuit devices. Communications capabilities of a device coupled to the communications link may be determined and configuration or framing message may be sent to the first device based on the capabilities. The messages may be transmitted on a primary data line of the communications link with a clock used to control timing of transmission on at least the primary data line. The communications capabilities can include information identifying a number of data wires supported by or coupled to the device. A first device may be configured to communicate with a second device over a secondary data line, which may be reserved for such direct communication. Communications on the secondary data line may be synchronized using the clock signal and may be controlled by a different protocol than the protocol used for the primary data line.

Abstract: A serial low-power inter-chip media bus communications link is deployed in apparatus having multiple Integrated Circuit devices. Communications capabilities of a device coupled to the communications link may be determined and configuration or framing message may be sent to the first device based on the capabilities. The messages may be transmitted on a primary data line of the communications link with a clock used to control timing of transmission on at least the primary data line. The communications capabilities can include information identifying a number of data wires supported by or coupled to the device. A first device may be configured to communicate with a second device over a secondary data line, which may be reserved for such direct communication. Communications on the secondary data line may be synchronized using the clock signal and may be controlled by a different protocol than the protocol used for the primary data line.

Abstract: Power reduction through clock management techniques are disclosed. In one aspect, the clock management is applied to a clock signal on a SOUNDWIRE™ communication bus. In particular, a control system associated with a master device on the communication bus may evaluate frequency requirements of audio streams on the communication bus and select a lowest possible clock frequency that meets the frequency requirements. Lower clock frequencies result in fewer clock transitions and result in a net power saving relative to higher clock frequencies. In the event of a clock frequency change, the master device communicates the clock frequency that will be used prospectively to slave devices on the communication bus, and all devices transition to the new frequency at the same frame boundary. In addition to the power savings, exemplary aspects of the present disclosure do not impact an active audio stream.

Abstract: Power reduction through clock management techniques are disclosed. In one aspect, the clock management is applied to a clock signal on a SOUNDWIRE™ communication bus. In particular, a control system associated with a master device on the communication bus may evaluate frequency requirements of audio streams on the communication bus and select a lowest possible clock frequency that meets the frequency requirements. Lower clock frequencies result in fewer clock transitions and result in a net power saving relative to higher clock frequencies. In the event of a clock frequency change, the master device communicates the clock frequency that will be used prospectively to slave devices on the communication bus, and all devices transition to the new frequency at the same frame boundary. In addition to the power savings, exemplary aspects of the present disclosure do not impact an active audio stream.

Abstract: Time-constrained data copying between storage media is disclosed. When an electronic device is engaged in real-time operations, multiple data blocks may need to be copied from one storage medium to another storage medium within certain time constraints. In this regard, a data port is operatively controlled by a plurality of registers of a first register bank. The plurality of registers is copied from the first register bank to a second register bank within a temporal limit and while the data port remains under control of the plurality of registers being copied. By copying the plurality of registers within the temporal limit, it is possible to prevent operational interruption in the data port and reduce bandwidth overhead associated with the register copying operation.

Abstract: Control circuits for generating output enable signals are disclosed. In one aspect, a control circuit is provided that employs combinatorial logic to generate an output enable signal that meets timing constraints using a standard clock signal, a feedback clock signal based on the standard clock signal, and a single data rate (SDR) data output stream. The control circuit includes a double data rate (DDR) conversion circuit configured to generate a DDR output stream based on a received SDR output stream. The control circuit includes an output enable circuit configured to receive the standard clock signal, feedback clock signal, and DDR output stream, and to generate the output enable signal that is asserted and de-asserted according to the defined timing constraints. The control circuit is configured to generate an accurately timed output enable signal without the need for a fast clock signal in addition to the standard clock signal.

Abstract: Power reduction through clock management techniques are disclosed. In one aspect, the clock management is applied to a clock signal on a SOUNDWIRE™ communication bus. In particular, a control system associated with a master device on the communication bus may evaluate frequency requirements of audio streams on the communication bus and select a lowest possible clock frequency that meets the frequency requirements. Lower clock frequencies result in fewer clock transitions and result in a net power saving relative to higher clock frequencies. In the event of a clock frequency change, the master device communicates the clock frequency that will be used prospectively to slave devices on the communication bus, and all devices transition to the new frequency at the same frame boundary. In addition to the power savings, exemplary aspects of the present disclosure do not impact an active audio stream.

Abstract: Control circuits for generating output enable signals are disclosed. In one aspect, a control circuit is provided that employs combinatorial logic to generate an output enable signal that meets timing constraints using a standard clock signal, a feedback clock signal based on the standard clock signal, and a single data rate (SDR) data output stream. The control circuit includes a double data rate (DDR) conversion circuit configured to generate a DDR output stream based on a received SDR output stream. The control circuit includes an output enable circuit configured to receive the standard clock signal, feedback clock signal, and DDR output stream, and to generate the output enable signal that is asserted and de-asserted according to the defined timing constraints. The control circuit is configured to generate an accurately timed output enable signal without the need for a fast clock signal in addition to the standard clock signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods to detect errors and record actions on a bus are disclosed. In one embodiment, the bus is a serial low-power interchip media bus (SLIMbus) within a computing device. The SLIMbus is coupled to peripherals and a sniffer is positioned within the computing device and coupled to the SLIMbus. The sniffer mimics another SLIMbus peripheral. However, the sniffer uses a pair of multiplexers to know when to record data on the SLIMbus. The data, including the control header and payload of the data signal is captured and logged. The logged data is then exported to memory where it can be further processed so as to help debug communication on the SLIMbus.

Abstract: Time-constrained data copying between storage media is disclosed. When an electronic device is engaged in real-time operations, multiple data blocks may need to be copied from one storage medium to another storage medium within certain time constraints. In this regard, a data port is operatively controlled by a plurality of registers of a first register bank. The plurality of registers is copied from the first register bank to a second register bank within a temporal limit and while the data port remains under control of the plurality of registers being copied. By copying the plurality of registers within the temporal limit, it is possible to prevent operational interruption in the data port and reduce bandwidth overhead associated with the register copying operation.

Abstract: Systems and methods to detect errors and record actions on a bus are disclosed. In one embodiment, the bus is a serial low-power interchip media bus (SLIMbus) within a computing device. The SLIMbus is coupled to peripherals and a sniffer is positioned within the computing device and coupled to the SLIMbus. The sniffer mimics another SLIMbus peripheral. However, the sniffer uses a pair of multiplexers to know when to record data on the SLIMbus. The data, including the control header and payload of the data signal is captured and logged. The logged data is then exported to memory where it can be further processed so as to help debug communication on the SLIMbus.

Abstract: A serial low-power inter-chip media bus communications link is deployed in apparatus having multiple Integrated Circuit devices. Communications capabilities of a device coupled to the communications link may be determined and configuration or framing message may be sent to the first device based on the capabilities. The messages may be transmitted on a primary data line of the communications link with a clock used to control timing of transmission on at least the primary data line. The communications capabilities can include information identifying a number of data wires supported by or coupled to the device. A first device may be configured to communicate with a second device over a secondary data line, which may be reserved for such direct communication. Communications on the secondary data line may be synchronized using the clock signal and may be controlled by a different protocol than the protocol used for the primary data line.