Single-track handshake signaling with application to micropipelines and handshake circuits

Abstract

Single-track handshake signaling is using the same wire for request and acknowledge signaling. After each 2-phase handshake the wire is back in its initial state. A sequence of three protocol definitions suggests both a design method for single-track circuits and a trade-off between their robustness and their cost/performance. Single-track handshake signaling is applied to micropipelines and to handshake circuits, including a successful redesign of an existing rate-converter IC. The practical merits are not yet clear, but may include improved performance.