Noise suppression for MIPI C-PHY | Library | Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Contents

1Introduction
2The meaning of MIPI C-PHY
3Noise filters required in MIPI C-PHY
4Common mode noise filters developed for MIPI C-PHY
5Effectiveness of the NFG0NCN_HL3 series as a noise countermeasure
6Verification of signal waveform
7Skew improvement effectiveness of common mode noise filters
8Summary
9Related Links

1Introduction

Smartphone displays are becoming larger with higher resolutions as the volume of information handled increases. As a result, the data volume of the video signals sent to displays is also increasing.
A differential transfer interface called MIPI D-PHY has been used to efficiently transfer these signals, but use of MIPI C-PHY is increasing recently as an interface that can transfer data at even higher speeds. The MIPI C-PHY transfer system differs from that of the previous one, D-PHY, so different noise filters are needed than before.
This article describes the noteworthy features of MIPI C-PHY noise suppression and the noise suppression products commercialized for MIPI C-PHY.

2The meaning of MIPI C-PHY

MIPI C-PHY is a standard for data transfer inside mobile equipment, established by the standards organization MIPI Alliance.
Whereas D-PHY has a maximum speed of 2.5 Gbps per lane, C-PHY increases the signal speed to 5.7 Gbps.
The M-PHY standard has also been created as a successor to D-PHY, but the C-PHY standard has been created as a bridge standard between D-PHY and M-PHY. D-PHY uses typical differential transfer lines comprising two pins per lane, but C-PHY uses more complex differential transfer lines comprising three pins per lane.

D-PHY ver1.2	Item	C-PHY ver1.0
2pins	Number of pins/lane	3pins
4pins (Data: 1 lane, Clock: 1 lane)	Minimum number of operation pins	3pins(1 lane)
High Speed(HS)mode Low Power(LP)mode	Mode	High Speed(HS)mode Low Power(LP)mode
Camera line Display line	Anticipated locations of use	Camera line Display line
80Mbps～2.5Gbps	Transfer speed/lane(HS)	183Mbps～5.7Gbps (80M～2.5Gsym/s)

■ C-PHY benefits

C-PHY transfers data over 3 lines → Data transfer speed is increased (Signal frequency is the same as D-PHY)
There is no clock line → Space savings over existing designs

■ MIPI C-PHY signal transfer

3 lines of data are transferred as 1 lane
There is no clock line.
The values of the 3 lines (A, B, and C) will become High, Middle, or Low.
The 3 lines will each have different values. (Two or more lines cannot be in the same condition.)
Reception is by the differential of every 2 lines (AB, BC, and CA)
Each line is matched to 50Ω, and 100Ω differentially.

3Noise filters required by MIPI C-PHY

In conventional MIPI D-PHY it is necessary to remove common mode noise to avoid having an adverse effect on the differential signals, so 2-line common mode noise filters are used. However, MIPI C-PHY transmits differential signals using three signal lines, so normal common mode noise filters cannot be used as is.
One possible method is to combine three common mode noise filters as shown in the figure left below, but this has a large effect on the signals, so sufficient common mode noise suppression effects cannot be expected. Therefore, MIPI C-PHY noise suppression requires a common mode noise filter that supports 3-line differential signals.

When using a 3-line common mode noise filter that magnetically couples the 3 lines internally, circuit simulation was used to check whether the signals could be transferred effectively.
Using a 2-line filter, the transfer waveform was disturbed; however, when a 3-line common mode noise filter was used, we found that the signals were transferred without disturbance to the waveform.

■ Waveform verification by simulation

— Comparison of 2-line and 3-line common mode noise filters —

■ Noise filters required in MIPI C-PHY

Must be a 3-line noise filter that supports the 3-line configuration of MIPI C-PHY
Must not have an adverse effect on signal quality
Noise filter must be able to eliminate common mode noise over a wide frequency range

4Common mode noise filters developed for MIPI C-PHY

The NFG0NCN_HL3 series are noise filters that were developed as a countermeasure for common mode noise in MIPI C-PHY.
Within the miniature size of 0.90 x 0.68 mm, 3 lines are magnetically coupled in the configuration of these common mode noise filters.
NFG0NCN162HL3 has a insertion loss peak between 900MHz and 3GHz. This feature make it suitable to prevent noise interference to carrier frequency.

■ Common mode noise filters developed for MIPI C-PHY

NFG0NCN_HL3 series

These filters are of a 3-line configuration for use with MIPI C-PHY.

Product number	Stock Check	Common mode impedance (at 100MHz)	Amount of common mode attenuation（Typ.）			Rated current	Rated voltage
Product number	Stock Check	Common mode impedance (at 100MHz)	800MHz	1GHz	1.6GHz	Rated current	Rated voltage
NFG0NCN162HL3		25Ω±25%	19dB	22dB	29dB	100mA	5Vdc

5Effectiveness of the NFG0NCN_HL3 series as a noise countermeasure

The NFG0NCN_HL3 series was used to check the effectiveness of the noise countermeasures.
The chart below compares the noise spectrum radiating from the transfer lines before and after filter insertion.
By inserting the NFG0NCN162HL3, the conspicuous noise below 2 GHz could be greatly reduced.

■ Noise countermeasure effectiveness of the common mode noise filter for MIPI C-PHY (1)

Next, a near magnetic field probe was used to observe the degree to which the noise distribution on the PCB would change.
In the locations after the filter insertion portion, the distribution of the noise was reduced, and especially the amount of 0.8 GHz or 1 GHz noise reduction was remarkable.

■ Noise countermeasure effectiveness of the common mode noise filter for MIPI C-PHY (2)

Noise countermeasure effectiveness was checked for the NFG0NCN_HL3 series of common mode noise filters for MIPI C-PHY.

6Verification of signal waveform

By inserting the NFG0NCN_HL3 series into the signal lines, we checked whether this had an adverse influence on the signal waveform. We confirmed that for the eye pattern of the signal satisfied the specifications of the template.

■ A check of the signal transfer characteristics of the common mode noise filters for MIPI C-PHY

7Skew improvement effectiveness of common mode noise filters

Common mode noise filters are also effective in improving the skew of differential signal lines.
Skew refers to the shift of the signal propagation time between multiple signal lines. Skew is generated by the asymmetric quality of the circuits and other factors, and this shifting of the respective signals leads to changes of the signal potential difference received at the receiving side which reduces the operating margin of the circuits.
Using a common mode filter in a differential signal circuit that has skew will remove the common mode component that was produced by the skew, and the skew will be improved. An example of skew improvement by common mode noise filters is shown below.

■ Skew improvement effectiveness of common mode noise filters

The use of common mode noise filters can be expected to be effective in improving the skew of transfer signals.
Since the skew (time lag between signals) is propagated by common mode, use of common mode noise filters can improve the skew.

8Summary

MIPI C-PHY uses 3-line transfer that differs from the differential transfer lines used up until now; therefore, the existing 2-line common mode noise filters cannot be used with MIPI C-PHY.
The NFG0NCN_HL3 series is a 3-line common mode noise filter designed with the precondition of use with MIPI C-PHY.
Use of the NFG0NCN_HL3 series permits reduction of the common mode noise that is transferred to MIPI C-PHY, and suppresses to a low level the deterioration of signal quality.
The use of common mode noise filters can also improve the skew of the signals.