METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EVALUATING AND OPTIMIZING A SIGNALING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A receive circuit comprising:
- a receive data storage element configured to output a receive data output signal based on a receive data input signal received at a receive data input when the receive circuit is operating in a normal mode, the receive data storage element further configured to provide a repeating pattern signal when the receive circuit is operating in a test mode; and
a comparison element configured to perform a comparison of a relationship between the repeating pattern signal and the receive data input signal received at the receive data input and to produce a comparison output signal based on the comparison when the receive circuit is operating in the test mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for evaluating and optimizing a signaling system is described. A pattern of test information is generated in a transmit circuit of the system and is transmitted to a receive circuit. A similar pattern of information is generated in the receive circuit and used as a reference. The receive circuit compares the patterns. Any differences between the patterns are observable. In one embodiment, a linear feedback shift register (LFSR) is implemented to produce patterns. An embodiment of the present disclosure may be practiced with various types of signaling systems, including those with single-ended signals and those with differential signals. An embodiment of the present disclosure may be applied to systems communicating a single bit of information on a single conductor at a given time and to systems communicating multiple bits of information on a single conductor simultaneously.
101 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A receive circuit comprising:
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a receive data storage element configured to output a receive data output signal based on a receive data input signal received at a receive data input when the receive circuit is operating in a normal mode, the receive data storage element further configured to provide a repeating pattern signal when the receive circuit is operating in a test mode; and
a comparison element configured to perform a comparison of a relationship between the repeating pattern signal and the receive data input signal received at the receive data input and to produce a comparison output signal based on the comparison when the receive circuit is operating in the test mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for improving the operation of a digital signaling system comprising the steps of:
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generating a transmit repeating pattern in a transmit circuit;
transmitting the transmit repeating pattern to a receive circuit;
generating a receive repeating pattern in the receive circuit;
comparing the transmitted transmit repeating pattern to the receive repeating pattern in a test mode to obtain a comparison; and
adjusting a parameter affecting reception of the transmit repeating pattern at the receive circuit based at least in part upon the comparison such that the operation of the digital signaling system is improved in a normal mode with the adjusted parameter.
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18. A transmit circuit comprising:
a transmit data storage element configured to receive serial data from a transmit data input and sequentially transmit a serial transmit data output signal when the transmit circuit is operating in a normal mode, the transmit data storage element further configured to provide a repeating pattern signal when the transmit circuit is operating in a test mode, the transmit circuit sequentially transmitting the serial transmit data output signal based on the repeating pattern signal when the transmit circuit is operating in the test mode.
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19. A receive circuit comprising:
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a receive data storage element configured to output a serial receive data output signal based on a serial receive data input signal received at a receive data input when the receive circuit is operating in a normal mode, the receive data storage element further configured to provide a repeating pattern signal when the receive circuit is operating in a test mode; and
a comparison element configured to perform a comparison of a relationship between the repeating pattern signal and the serial receive data input signal received at the receive data input and to produce a comparison output signal based on the comparison when the receive circuit is operating in the test mode.
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Specification