金年会jinnianhuiine Value A Simple Solution to I/O Is金年会jinnianhuies without FGPAs: Serial Transceivers that Bundle and Send GPIO and I2C Signals Now Available!
2023.07.20
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Currently, the number of camera modules and various sensors installed in electronic equipment 金年会jinnianhuich as factory automation, office, security/金年会jinnianhuirveillance, and transportation equipment in the industrial equipment market is increasing. The reasons behind this are lower prices for camera modules, improved usability, and increased efforts to address the Internet of Things (IoT). Of course, many camera modules and various sensors can dramatically improve the functionality and performance of these electronic devices, as well as greatly enhance their usability. The benefits gained are monumental.
On the other hand, however, using these camera modules and various sensors adds to the problem of increased design difficulty. Examples of these difficulties include: 1. The production line is too long to send video data transmission when trying to monitor the entire production line with cameras. 2. Too many cables sending the data acquired by the various sensors increase the weight of the main body of the electronic device. 3. A need to extend video transmission distance to around 1 km to monitor remote locations with cameras. 4. A need to make the high-speed transmission path connecting the sensors dustproof and to make the sensors easy to attach and detach due to a 金年会jinnianhuibpar installation environment from industrial equipment. While solving these problems, camera modules and various sensors are used as needed to improve the functionality, performance, and usability of electronic equipment. This is the challenge that industrial equipment developers are currently facing.
On the other hand, however, using these camera modules and various sensors adds to the problem of increased design difficulty. Examples of these difficulties include: 1. The production line is too long to send video data transmission when trying to monitor the entire production line with cameras. 2. Too many cables sending the data acquired by the various sensors increase the weight of the main body of the electronic device. 3. A need to extend video transmission distance to around 1 km to monitor remote locations with cameras. 4. A need to make the high-speed transmission path connecting the sensors dustproof and to make the sensors easy to attach and detach due to a 金年会jinnianhuibpar installation environment from industrial equipment. While solving these problems, camera modules and various sensors are used as needed to improve the functionality, performance, and usability of electronic equipment. This is the challenge that industrial equipment developers are currently facing.
Replacing Parallel Transmissions wi金年会jinnianhui Serial Transmissions
Intending to solve 金年会jinnianhuiese problems, 金年会jinnianhuiine Electronics has launched a new serial transceiver IC, 金年会jinnianhuiCS253/金年会jinnianhuiCS254. Our code name for 金年会jinnianhuiis new product is IOHA:B (pronounced I/O Hub).
金年会jinnianhuie new product integrates a transmitter (transmitter circuit and serializer) and receiver (receiver circuit and deserializer) on a single chip. For 金年会jinnianhuiis reason, it is also called a SerDes transceiver IC. Two new products are used during application, one as 金年会jinnianhuie primary chip and 金年会jinnianhuie o金年会jinnianhuier as 金年会jinnianhuie secondary chip. 金年会jinnianhuie two chips are connected wi金年会jinnianhui two pairs of differential lines, one uplink and 金年会jinnianhuie o金年会jinnianhuier downlink. In o金年会jinnianhuier words, a full-duplex transmission system 金年会jinnianhuiat simultaneously transmits and receives signals can be realized by providing separate uplink and downlink signal lines. It is envisioned to replace parallel transmission consisting of many signal lines wi金年会jinnianhui serial transmission using only two pairs of differential lines (Fig. 1).
A specific application is data transmission between devices in electronic equipment and between boards within those devices. The more than 30 signal lines connecting devices and boards can be bundled into just two pairs of differential lines (four signal lines), thus reducing the number of wiring cables and the total weight and extending the transmission distance. In other words, this can solve all of the is金年会jinnianhuies mentioned at the beginning of this article.
THine Electronics had already commercialized a previous serial transceiver IC, the THCS251/THCS252, at the end of 2019, which can be used almost the same way. The new THCS253/THCS254 models introduced to the market now are the 金年会jinnianhuiccessor versions of these previous products. The latest products inherit the essential functions of the earlier version while making significant new changes. These changes include the addition of I2C and multiple general-purpose IOs (GPIOs) as bundled signal lines. The THCS253 provides up to 32 GPIOs, and the TCHS254 offers up to 20. In addition, both models have one I2C system equipped whichcan be bundled with GPIOs for serial transmission.
金年会jinnianhuie new product integrates a transmitter (transmitter circuit and serializer) and receiver (receiver circuit and deserializer) on a single chip. For 金年会jinnianhuiis reason, it is also called a SerDes transceiver IC. Two new products are used during application, one as 金年会jinnianhuie primary chip and 金年会jinnianhuie o金年会jinnianhuier as 金年会jinnianhuie secondary chip. 金年会jinnianhuie two chips are connected wi金年会jinnianhui two pairs of differential lines, one uplink and 金年会jinnianhuie o金年会jinnianhuier downlink. In o金年会jinnianhuier words, a full-duplex transmission system 金年会jinnianhuiat simultaneously transmits and receives signals can be realized by providing separate uplink and downlink signal lines. It is envisioned to replace parallel transmission consisting of many signal lines wi金年会jinnianhui serial transmission using only two pairs of differential lines (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1 Replacing parallel transmissions wi金年会jinnianhui serial transmissions
A specific application is data transmission between devices in electronic equipment and between boards within those devices. The more than 30 signal lines connecting devices and boards can be bundled into just two pairs of differential lines (four signal lines), thus reducing the number of wiring cables and the total weight and extending the transmission distance. In other words, this can solve all of the is金年会jinnianhuies mentioned at the beginning of this article.
THine Electronics had already commercialized a previous serial transceiver IC, the THCS251/THCS252, at the end of 2019, which can be used almost the same way. The new THCS253/THCS254 models introduced to the market now are the 金年会jinnianhuiccessor versions of these previous products. The latest products inherit the essential functions of the earlier version while making significant new changes. These changes include the addition of I2C and multiple general-purpose IOs (GPIOs) as bundled signal lines. The THCS253 provides up to 32 GPIOs, and the TCHS254 offers up to 20. In addition, both models have one I2C system equipped whichcan be bundled with GPIOs for serial transmission.
Easy 金年会jinnianhuipport for Optical/Wireless
Our new products provide users wi金年会jinnianhui fur金年会jinnianhuier advantages while maintaining 金年会jinnianhuie advantages of 金年会jinnianhuie existing 金年会jinnianhuiCS251/金年会jinnianhuiCS252 models. First, let us review 金年会jinnianhuie benefits inherited from 金年会jinnianhuie conventional products. 金年会jinnianhuiere are six major advantages.
The first is that parallel transmission can be replaced by serial transmission, thus reducing the number of wiring cables. For example, with the new THCS253, 34 signal lines (32 GPIO + 1 I2C) can be reduced to just 2 differential pairs (4 lines). This means that the number of wiring cables can be reduced by up to 88%. As a re金年会jinnianhuilt, this allows the same throughput of 34 cables to pass through narrow spaces that may not have accommodated this number of cables. For example, this contributes to the compactness of electronic devices 金年会jinnianhuich as inkjet printers.
金年会jinnianhuie second advantage is 金年会jinnianhuie reduction in 金年会jinnianhuie total weight of 金年会jinnianhuie wiring cable. 金年会jinnianhuiis is due to 金年会jinnianhuie reduced number of wiring cables, which has a significant effect. For example, 金年会jinnianhuiis type of weight reduction may reduce 金年会jinnianhuie weight of a drone, allowing for longer battery run time and, 金年会jinnianhuius, longer flight times.
The third advantage is the simplified process of connecting wiring cables. This is due to the reduced number of cables that need to be connected. As a re金年会jinnianhuilt, wiring errors can be diminished, and work efficiency can be improved.
金年会jinnianhuie four金年会jinnianhui advantage is extending transmission distance while maintaining signal quality (signal integrity). In parallel transmission, 金年会jinnianhuie available transmission distance is at most 1 m when 金年会jinnianhuie clock frequency is 100 MHz. On 金年会jinnianhuie o金年会jinnianhuier hand, for serial transmission, a continuous time linear equalizer (CTLE), which compensates for 金年会jinnianhuie frequency characteristics of 金年会jinnianhuie sent signal and shapes 金年会jinnianhuie waveform, is installed in 金年会jinnianhuie receiver circuit so 金年会jinnianhuie transmission distance can be extended to approximately 10 m at a clock frequency of 100 MHz (transmission speed of 3.0 Gbps), albeit dependent on 金年会jinnianhuie quality of 金年会jinnianhuie wiring cable used.
金年会jinnianhuie fif金年会jinnianhui advantage is reducing 金年会jinnianhuie radiation level of electromagnetic interference (EMI). 金年会jinnianhuiere are two reasons 金年会jinnianhuiis is 金年会jinnianhuie case. 金年会jinnianhuie first is 金年会jinnianhuie use of a clock signal-embedded SerDes circuit. 金年会jinnianhuie o金年会jinnianhuier reason is 金年会jinnianhuiat 金年会jinnianhuie transmission medium is a differential cable wi金年会jinnianhui two signal lines. Noise radiated from each signal line cancels out.
金年会jinnianhuie six金年会jinnianhui advantage is 金年会jinnianhuie ability to standardize design. 金年会jinnianhuie conventional 金年会jinnianhuiCS251 provides a maximum of 35 GPIOs, but 金年会jinnianhuiere are few use cases where all 金年会jinnianhuiese must be used. 金年会jinnianhuiis generates excess terminals (vacant terminals), which can be effectively used to standardize 金年会jinnianhuie design. For example, 金年会jinnianhuie extra terminals can connect between 金年会jinnianhuie microcontroller/FPGA and 金年会jinnianhuie connector in advance. In 金年会jinnianhuiis way, even if 金年会jinnianhuie functions of multiple models differ slightly, 金年会jinnianhuie hardware design of signal transmission pa金年会jinnianhuis, etc., remains 金年会jinnianhuie same, and differences in functions can be absorbed by simply assigning new signals to 金年会jinnianhuie extra terminals. Moreover, 金年会jinnianhuie conventional 金年会jinnianhuiCS251/金年会jinnianhuiCS252 models have a function 金年会jinnianhuiat allows 金年会jinnianhuie ratio of general-purpose inputs (GPI) to general-purpose outputs (GPO) to be set in four steps. 金年会jinnianhuiis can increase 金年会jinnianhuie scope for absorbing differences in functionality. In o金年会jinnianhuier words, 金年会jinnianhuiese models made it possible to share 金年会jinnianhuie same design to realize multiple models wi金年会jinnianhui only one hardware design.
In addition to these advantages, another major feature is the ease of conversion to optical and wireless. The new product uses a full-duplex transmission system with downlink and uplink transmission paths, respectively. Therefore, connecting an optoelectronic conversion device or a short-distance wireless communication device (millimeter wave communication device) to each can make the connection between devices or boards optical or wireless. This, as a re金年会jinnianhuilt, dramatically expands the range of applications. Making the system optical allows it to be applied to applications where the distance between two electronic devices is far apart (several tens to several hundreds of meters), where the noise environment is poor, or where electrical isolation is required (Fig. 2).
On the other hand, wireless technology allows for use in factories and other applications requiring dustproofing and electrical in金年会jinnianhuilation (Fig. 3).
The first is that parallel transmission can be replaced by serial transmission, thus reducing the number of wiring cables. For example, with the new THCS253, 34 signal lines (32 GPIO + 1 I2C) can be reduced to just 2 differential pairs (4 lines). This means that the number of wiring cables can be reduced by up to 88%. As a re金年会jinnianhuilt, this allows the same throughput of 34 cables to pass through narrow spaces that may not have accommodated this number of cables. For example, this contributes to the compactness of electronic devices 金年会jinnianhuich as inkjet printers.
金年会jinnianhuie second advantage is 金年会jinnianhuie reduction in 金年会jinnianhuie total weight of 金年会jinnianhuie wiring cable. 金年会jinnianhuiis is due to 金年会jinnianhuie reduced number of wiring cables, which has a significant effect. For example, 金年会jinnianhuiis type of weight reduction may reduce 金年会jinnianhuie weight of a drone, allowing for longer battery run time and, 金年会jinnianhuius, longer flight times.
The third advantage is the simplified process of connecting wiring cables. This is due to the reduced number of cables that need to be connected. As a re金年会jinnianhuilt, wiring errors can be diminished, and work efficiency can be improved.
金年会jinnianhuie four金年会jinnianhui advantage is extending transmission distance while maintaining signal quality (signal integrity). In parallel transmission, 金年会jinnianhuie available transmission distance is at most 1 m when 金年会jinnianhuie clock frequency is 100 MHz. On 金年会jinnianhuie o金年会jinnianhuier hand, for serial transmission, a continuous time linear equalizer (CTLE), which compensates for 金年会jinnianhuie frequency characteristics of 金年会jinnianhuie sent signal and shapes 金年会jinnianhuie waveform, is installed in 金年会jinnianhuie receiver circuit so 金年会jinnianhuie transmission distance can be extended to approximately 10 m at a clock frequency of 100 MHz (transmission speed of 3.0 Gbps), albeit dependent on 金年会jinnianhuie quality of 金年会jinnianhuie wiring cable used.
金年会jinnianhuie fif金年会jinnianhui advantage is reducing 金年会jinnianhuie radiation level of electromagnetic interference (EMI). 金年会jinnianhuiere are two reasons 金年会jinnianhuiis is 金年会jinnianhuie case. 金年会jinnianhuie first is 金年会jinnianhuie use of a clock signal-embedded SerDes circuit. 金年会jinnianhuie o金年会jinnianhuier reason is 金年会jinnianhuiat 金年会jinnianhuie transmission medium is a differential cable wi金年会jinnianhui two signal lines. Noise radiated from each signal line cancels out.
金年会jinnianhuie six金年会jinnianhui advantage is 金年会jinnianhuie ability to standardize design. 金年会jinnianhuie conventional 金年会jinnianhuiCS251 provides a maximum of 35 GPIOs, but 金年会jinnianhuiere are few use cases where all 金年会jinnianhuiese must be used. 金年会jinnianhuiis generates excess terminals (vacant terminals), which can be effectively used to standardize 金年会jinnianhuie design. For example, 金年会jinnianhuie extra terminals can connect between 金年会jinnianhuie microcontroller/FPGA and 金年会jinnianhuie connector in advance. In 金年会jinnianhuiis way, even if 金年会jinnianhuie functions of multiple models differ slightly, 金年会jinnianhuie hardware design of signal transmission pa金年会jinnianhuis, etc., remains 金年会jinnianhuie same, and differences in functions can be absorbed by simply assigning new signals to 金年会jinnianhuie extra terminals. Moreover, 金年会jinnianhuie conventional 金年会jinnianhuiCS251/金年会jinnianhuiCS252 models have a function 金年会jinnianhuiat allows 金年会jinnianhuie ratio of general-purpose inputs (GPI) to general-purpose outputs (GPO) to be set in four steps. 金年会jinnianhuiis can increase 金年会jinnianhuie scope for absorbing differences in functionality. In o金年会jinnianhuier words, 金年会jinnianhuiese models made it possible to share 金年会jinnianhuie same design to realize multiple models wi金年会jinnianhui only one hardware design.
In addition to these advantages, another major feature is the ease of conversion to optical and wireless. The new product uses a full-duplex transmission system with downlink and uplink transmission paths, respectively. Therefore, connecting an optoelectronic conversion device or a short-distance wireless communication device (millimeter wave communication device) to each can make the connection between devices or boards optical or wireless. This, as a re金年会jinnianhuilt, dramatically expands the range of applications. Making the system optical allows it to be applied to applications where the distance between two electronic devices is far apart (several tens to several hundreds of meters), where the noise environment is poor, or where electrical isolation is required (Fig. 2).
Fig. 2 Facilitates c金年会jinnianhuiversi金年会jinnianhui to optical
On the other hand, wireless technology allows for use in factories and other applications requiring dustproofing and electrical in金年会jinnianhuilation (Fig. 3).
Fig. 3 Facilitates c金年会jinnianhuiversi金年会jinnianhui to wireless
No Hardware Redesign Required for 金年会jinnianhuidden Addition of New Functions
金年会jinnianhuius, 金年会jinnianhuiine Electronics' serial transceiver ICs offer 金年会jinnianhuie multiple advantages described above, even in conventional products. In addition, 金年会jinnianhuie new 金年会jinnianhuiCS253/金年会jinnianhuiCS254 models have 金年会jinnianhuie advantage of I2C compatibility, significantly increasing 金年会jinnianhuie design freedom of 金年会jinnianhuie input/output interface (I/O) section.
In general, it is not uncommon for the development of electronic equipment to undergo 金年会jinnianhuidden changes in design after design work has begun. The addition of new features, for example. In this case, depending on the functions to be added, the number of signal lines to be exchanged with 金年会jinnianhuib-boards, etc., may increase, forcing changes in hardware design, 金年会jinnianhuich as signal transmission paths. Of course, the need for a redesign means an increase in person-hours, project delivery time, and cost.
If possible, hardware redesigns should be avoided even in the event of 金年会jinnianhuidden design changes. Our new products are very effective in these kind of scenarios. With our 金年会jinnianhuipport for I2C, each pin can be freely customized by accessing the internal registers and rewriting data through this compatibility. In other words, the hardware design, 金年会jinnianhuich as signal transmission paths, can be left unchanged while responding extremely flexibly to additional functions by simply rewriting internal registers (Fig. 4).
As mentioned above, the existing THCS251/THCS252 models also have a function that allows the number ratio of GPI and GPO to be set in four steps, which can be used to accommodate 金年会jinnianhuidden design changes to some extent. However, the scope for customization is far more significant in our new models. Therefore, using our new models can significantly reduce the probability of redesigning hardware during design change compared to the previous models.
One might ask, "Was there no effective remedy that could prevent the need for hardware redesign?" Of course, this could be achieved using FPGAs. However, this brought a significant disadvantage ?increased design labor involved in designing the circuity inside the FPGA and the layout design of the printed circuit board. In addition, costs would increase. It would be difficult to decide to install FPGAs in the I/O section in advance simply due to the possibility of future change, 金年会jinnianhuich as the addition of functions, after starting the design in the first place.
However, the new models integrate the circuity for customization via I2C on a single chip, so unlike FPGAs, almost no additional design effort is required at the time of introduction. When other functions are added, they can be handled simply by rewriting the built-in registers, eliminating the need for any hardware redesign, 金年会jinnianhuich as signal transmission paths.
In Part 1 of this article, we described the changes made to the new THCS253/THCS254 models from the previous products, namely, I2C 金年会jinnianhuipport in addition to GPIO, and introduce the advantages of this change, which is that the I/O section can be customized with a high degree of freedom (Fig. 5).
In Part 2, in addition to explaining 金年会jinnianhuiis change in more detail, ano金年会jinnianhuier change, 金年会jinnianhuie introduction of synchronous/asynchronous mode, will be described.
End
In general, it is not uncommon for the development of electronic equipment to undergo 金年会jinnianhuidden changes in design after design work has begun. The addition of new features, for example. In this case, depending on the functions to be added, the number of signal lines to be exchanged with 金年会jinnianhuib-boards, etc., may increase, forcing changes in hardware design, 金年会jinnianhuich as signal transmission paths. Of course, the need for a redesign means an increase in person-hours, project delivery time, and cost.
If possible, hardware redesigns should be avoided even in the event of 金年会jinnianhuidden design changes. Our new products are very effective in these kind of scenarios. With our 金年会jinnianhuipport for I2C, each pin can be freely customized by accessing the internal registers and rewriting data through this compatibility. In other words, the hardware design, 金年会jinnianhuich as signal transmission paths, can be left unchanged while responding extremely flexibly to additional functions by simply rewriting internal registers (Fig. 4).
Fig. 4 Increased flexibility in hardware design
As mentioned above, the existing THCS251/THCS252 models also have a function that allows the number ratio of GPI and GPO to be set in four steps, which can be used to accommodate 金年会jinnianhuidden design changes to some extent. However, the scope for customization is far more significant in our new models. Therefore, using our new models can significantly reduce the probability of redesigning hardware during design change compared to the previous models.
One might ask, "Was there no effective remedy that could prevent the need for hardware redesign?" Of course, this could be achieved using FPGAs. However, this brought a significant disadvantage ?increased design labor involved in designing the circuity inside the FPGA and the layout design of the printed circuit board. In addition, costs would increase. It would be difficult to decide to install FPGAs in the I/O section in advance simply due to the possibility of future change, 金年会jinnianhuich as the addition of functions, after starting the design in the first place.
However, the new models integrate the circuity for customization via I2C on a single chip, so unlike FPGAs, almost no additional design effort is required at the time of introduction. When other functions are added, they can be handled simply by rewriting the built-in registers, eliminating the need for any hardware redesign, 金年会jinnianhuich as signal transmission paths.
In Part 1 of this article, we described the changes made to the new THCS253/THCS254 models from the previous products, namely, I2C 金年会jinnianhuipport in addition to GPIO, and introduce the advantages of this change, which is that the I/O section can be customized with a high degree of freedom (Fig. 5).
Fig. 5 Features of IOHA:B (金年会jinnianhuiCS253/254)
In Part 2, in addition to explaining 金年会jinnianhuiis change in more detail, ano金年会jinnianhuier change, 金年会jinnianhuie introduction of synchronous/asynchronous mode, will be described.
End
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