# US 2014/0153665 A1 · N-phase phase and polarity encoded serial interface > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0153665 A1 - Document ID: US20140153665A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/090,625 - Filed: 2013-11-26 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2007-03-02 - Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Applicants: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Inventors: George Alan Wiley; Glenn D. Raskin; Chulkyu Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153665A1 ## CPC - H04L 25/0272: {Arrangements for coupling to multiple lines, e.g. for differential transmission} - H04L 5/20: using different combinations of lines, e.g. phantom working - H04L 25/4917: {using multilevel codes} - H04L 25/0282: {Provision for current-mode coupling} - H04L 25/0294: {Provision for current-mode coupling} - H04L 25/0298: {Arrangement for terminating transmission lines} - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract System, methods and apparatus are described that facilitate transmission of data, particularly between two devices within an electronic apparatus. Information is transmitted in N-phase polarity encoded symbols. Data is encoded in multi-bit symbols, and the multi-bit symbols are transmitted on a plurality of connectors. The multi-bit symbols may be transmitted by mapping the symbols to a sequence of states of the plurality of connectors, and driving the connectors in accordance with the sequence of states. The timing of the sequence of states is determinable at a receiver at each transition between sequential states. The state of each connector may be defined by polarity and direction of rotation of a multi-phase signal transmitted on the each connector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for data communications, comprising: encoding data in multi-bit symbols; and transmitting the multi-bit symbols on a plurality of connectors, wherein transmitting the multi-bit symbols includes mapping the multi-bit symbols to a sequence of states of the plurality of connectors, and driving the connectors in accordance with the sequence of states, wherein timing of the sequence of states is determinable at a receiver at each transition between sequential states, wherein the state of each connector is defined by polarity and direction of rotation of a multi-phase signal transmitted on the each connector. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein for each state in the sequence of states, the multi-phase signal carried on each connector is phase-shifted with respect to the multi-phase signal carried on the other connectors. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the state of at least one of the plurality of connectors changes at each transition between the sequence of states. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of connectors include a plurality of wires, and wherein transmitting the multi-bit symbols on the plurality of connectors includes: during a first of two sequential time intervals, leaving a first wire undriven, and providing a voltage differential between a second wire and a third wire; and during a second of the two sequential time intervals, leaving the second wire undriven and providing the voltage differential between the first wire and the third wire. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein during the second of the two sequential time intervals, transmitting the multi-bit symbols on the plurality of connectors includes: reversing the polarity of the voltage differential. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein: at least one of the plurality of wires is undriven during each of the sequential time intervals. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein at least one of a change of polarity of the voltage differential and a change of wire that is undriven occurs at each transition between the sequence of states. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein leaving one of the plurality of wires undriven includes open-circuiting the one wire. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein leaving one of the plurality of wires undriven includes causing the one wire to transition toward a voltage level that lies substantially halfway between voltage levels of a pair of driven wires. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein there is no significant current flow through an undriven wire. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the multi-phase signal transmitted on each connector comprises one of two three-phase signals that have different phase rotation directions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the multi-phase signal transmitted on each connector is a three-phase signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of connectors includes three or more connectors. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of connectors comprises two groups of three connectors, and wherein different symbols are encoded on each group of three connectors. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of connectors comprises four or more connectors, and wherein each symbol is encoded for transmission using the four or more connectors. ### Claim 16 An apparatus, comprising: means for encoding data in multi-bit symbols; and means for transmitting the multi-bit symbols on a plurality of connectors, configured to: map the multi-bit symbols to a sequence of states of the plurality of connectors, and drive the connectors in accordance with the sequence of states, wherein timing of the sequence of states is determinable at a receiver at each transition between sequential states, wherein the state of each connector is defined by polarity and direction of rotation of a multi-phase signal transmitted on the each connector. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein for each state in the sequence of states, the multi-phase signal carried on each connector is phase-shifted with respect to the multi-phase signal carried on the other connectors. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the state of at least one of the plurality of connectors changes at each transition between the sequence of states. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of connectors include a plurality of wires, and wherein the means for transmitting the multi-bit symbols on the plurality of connectors is configured to: leave a first wire undriven and provide a voltage differential between a second wire and a third wire during a first of two sequential time intervals; and leave the second wire undriven and provide the voltage differential between the first wire and the third wire during a second of the two sequential time intervals. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein during the second of the two sequential time intervals, the means for transmitting the multi-bit symbols on the plurality of connectors is configured to: reverse the polarity of the voltage differential. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein: at least one of the plurality of wires is undriven during each of the sequential time intervals. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein at least one of a change of polarity of the voltage differential and a change of wire that is undriven occurs at each transition between the sequence of states. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein leaving one of the plurality of wires undriven includes open-circuiting the one wire. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein leaving one of the plurality of wires undriven includes causing the one wire to transition toward a voltage level that lies substantially halfway between voltage levels of a pair of driven wires. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein there is no significant current flow through an undriven wire. ### Claim 26 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the multi-phase signal transmitted on each connector comprises one of two three-phase signals that have different phase rotation directions. ### Claim 27 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the multi-phase signal transmitted on each connector is a three-phase signal. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the plurality of connectors includes three or more connectors. ### Claim 29 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of connectors comprises two groups of three connectors, and wherein different symbols are encoded on each group of three connectors. ### Claim 30 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of connectors comprises four or more connectors, and wherein each symbol is encoded for transmission using the four or more connectors. ### Claim 31 An apparatus that encodes data, comprising: an encoder configured to encode data in multi-bit symbols; and a mapper configured to map the multi-bit symbols to a sequence of states for transmitting on a plurality of connectors, and one or more drivers configured to transmit the multi-bit symbols on the plurality of connectors, by driving the connectors in accordance with the sequence of states, wherein timing of the sequence of states is determinable at a receiver at each transition between sequential states, and wherein the state of each connector is defined by polarity and direction of rotation of a multi-phase signal transmitted on the each connector. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The apparatus of claim 31, wherein for each state in the sequence of states, the multi-phase signal carried on each connector is phase-shifted with respect to the multi-phase signal carried on the other connectors. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the state of at least one of the plurality of connectors changes at each transition between the sequence of states. ### Claim 34 (depends on 31) The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the plurality of connectors include a plurality of wires, and wherein the multi-bit symbols are transmitted on the plurality of connectors by: leaving a first wire undriven and providing a voltage differential between a second wire and a third wire during a first of two sequential time intervals; and leaving the second wire and providing the voltage differential between the first wire and the third wire during a second of the two sequential time intervals. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The apparatus of claim 34, wherein during the second of the two sequential time intervals, the multi-bit symbols are transmitted by reversing the polarity of the voltage differential. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The apparatus of claim 34, wherein: at least one of the plurality of wires is undriven during each of the sequential time intervals. ### Claim 37 (depends on 34) The apparatus of claim 34, wherein at least one of a change of polarity of the voltage differential and a change of wire that is undriven occurs at each transition between the sequence of states. ### Claim 38 (depends on 34) The apparatus of claim 34, wherein leaving one of the plurality of wires undriven includes open-circuiting the one wire. ### Claim 39 (depends on 34) The apparatus of claim 34, wherein leaving one of the plurality of wires undriven includes causing the one wire to transition toward a voltage level that lies substantially halfway between voltage levels of a pair of driven wires. ### Claim 40 (depends on 34) The apparatus of claim 34, wherein there is no significant current flow through an undriven wire. ### Claim 41 (depends on 31) The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the multi-phase signal transmitted on each connector comprises one of two three-phase signals that have different phase rotation directions. ### Claim 42 (depends on 31) The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the multi-phase signal transmitted on each connector is a three-phase signal. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the plurality of connectors includes three or more connectors. ### Claim 44 (depends on 31) The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the plurality of connectors comprises two groups of three connectors, and wherein different symbols are encoded on each group of three connectors. ### Claim 45 (depends on 31) The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the plurality of connectors comprises four or more connectors, and wherein each symbol is encoded for transmission using the four or more connectors. ### Claim 46 A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon for encoding data, which when executed by at least one processor causes the at least one processor to: encode data in multi-bit symbols; and transmit the multi-bit symbols on a plurality of connectors, wherein the multi-bit symbols are transmitted by: mapping the multi-bit symbols to a sequence of states of the plurality of connectors, and driving the connectors in accordance with the sequence of states, wherein timing of the sequence of states is determinable at a receiver at each transition between sequential states, wherein the state of each connector is defined by polarity and direction of rotation of a multi-phase signal transmitted on the each connector. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The storage medium of claim 46, wherein for each state in the sequence of states, the multi-phase signal carried on each connector is phase-shifted with respect to the multi-phase signal carried on the other connectors. ### Claim 48 (depends on 46) The storage medium of claim 46, wherein the state of at least one of the plurality of connectors changes at each transition between the sequence of states. ### Claim 49 (depends on 46) The storage medium of claim 46, wherein the plurality of connectors include a plurality of wires, and wherein the multi-bit symbols are transmitted on the plurality of connectors by: leaving a first wire undriven and providing a voltage differential between a second wire and a third wire during a first of two sequential time intervals; and leaving the second wire undriven and providing the voltage differential between the first wire and the third wire during a second of the two sequential time intervals. ### Claim 50 (depends on 49) The storage medium of claim 49, wherein during the second of the two sequential time intervals, the multi-bit symbols are transmitted by reversing the polarity of the voltage differential. ### Claim 51 (depends on 49) The storage medium of claim 49, wherein: at least one of the plurality of wires is left undriven during each of the sequential time intervals. ### Claim 52 (depends on 49) The storage medium of claim 49, wherein at least one of a change of polarity of the voltage differential and a change of wire that is undriven occurs at each transition between the sequence of states. ### Claim 53 (depends on 49) The storage medium of claim 49, wherein leaving one of the plurality of wires undriven includes open-circuiting the one wire. ### Claim 54 (depends on 49) The storage medium of claim 49, wherein leaving one of the plurality of wires undriven includes causing the one wire to transition toward a voltage level that lies substantially halfway between voltage levels of a pair of driven wires. ### Claim 55 (depends on 49) The storage medium of claim 49, wherein there is no significant current flow through an undriven wire. ### Claim 56 (depends on 46) The storage medium of claim 46, wherein the multi-phase signal transmitted on each connector comprises one of two three-phase signals that have different phase rotation directions. ### Claim 57 (depends on 46) The storage medium of claim 46, wherein the multi-phase signal transmitted on each connector is a three-phase signal. ### Claim 58 (depends on 57) The storage medium of claim 57, wherein the plurality of connectors includes three or more connectors. ### Claim 59 (depends on 46) The storage medium of claim 46, wherein the plurality of connectors comprises two groups of three connectors, and wherein different symbols are encoded on each group of three connectors. ### Claim 60 (depends on 46) The storage medium of claim 46, wherein the plurality of connectors comprises four or more connectors, and wherein each symbol is encoded for transmission using the four or more connectors.