Round-robin updating for high speed I/O parallel interfaces
First Claim
1. A communication system, comprising:
- a plurality of links wherein each link comprises a data line arranged to transmit a data signal and a clock line arranged to transmit a clock signal;
a first latch device arranged to latch a signal on the data line of at least one of the plurality of links; and
a first test circuit operatively connected to the plurality of links, wherein the first test circuit tests at least the one of the plurality of links, the first test circuit comprising;
a first adjustment circuit arranged to generate a first adjustable clock signal from the clock signal of the one of the plurality of links being tested, wherein the first adjustment circuit adjusts a timing of the first adjustable clock signal relative to the data signal of the one of the plurality of links being tested, wherein the first latch device is responsive to the first adjustable clock signal, anda first pattern comparator arranged to compare a first latched test pattern signal to a first test pattern signal, wherein the first latched test pattern signal comprises the first test pattern signal latched from the data line of the one of the plurality of links by the first latch device,wherein the first test circuit is arranged to perform a round-robin testing of the plurality of the links while the communication system is in operation without affecting a designated transmission bandwidth of the communication system,wherein the first test circuit is arranged to output a control signal upon completion of testing the at least one of the plurality of links, andwherein, when the first test circuit tests the at least one of the plurality of links, a transmission bandwidth of the communication system is not affected.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A technique for adjusting a communication system involves a plurality of links where each link includes a data line adapted to transmit a data signal and a clock line adapted to transmit a clock signal. A test circuit connects to the plurality of links where the test circuit tests at least one of the plurality of links. The test circuit includes an adjustment circuit arranged to generate an adjustable clock signal from the clock signal of the one of the plurality of links based on an offset where the adjustment circuit adjusts a timing of the adjustable clock signal relative to the data signal of the one of the plurality of links. The test circuit is adapted to perform a round-robin testing of the plurality of the links.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A communication system, comprising:
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a plurality of links wherein each link comprises a data line arranged to transmit a data signal and a clock line arranged to transmit a clock signal; a first latch device arranged to latch a signal on the data line of at least one of the plurality of links; and a first test circuit operatively connected to the plurality of links, wherein the first test circuit tests at least the one of the plurality of links, the first test circuit comprising; a first adjustment circuit arranged to generate a first adjustable clock signal from the clock signal of the one of the plurality of links being tested, wherein the first adjustment circuit adjusts a timing of the first adjustable clock signal relative to the data signal of the one of the plurality of links being tested, wherein the first latch device is responsive to the first adjustable clock signal, and a first pattern comparator arranged to compare a first latched test pattern signal to a first test pattern signal, wherein the first latched test pattern signal comprises the first test pattern signal latched from the data line of the one of the plurality of links by the first latch device, wherein the first test circuit is arranged to perform a round-robin testing of the plurality of the links while the communication system is in operation without affecting a designated transmission bandwidth of the communication system, wherein the first test circuit is arranged to output a control signal upon completion of testing the at least one of the plurality of links, and wherein, when the first test circuit tests the at least one of the plurality of links, a transmission bandwidth of the communication system is not affected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A communication system updating method, comprising:
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testing a first adjustable clock signal for one of a plurality of links, comprising; transmitting a first test pattern signal on a data line of the one of the plurality of links, latching the first test pattern signal based on the first adjustable clock signal to generate a first latched test pattern signal, comparing the first latched test pattern signal to the first test pattern signal, adjusting a first offset of the first adjustable clock based on the comparing of the first latched test pattern signal to the first test pattern signal; and round-robin testing each of the plurality of links while the communication system is in operation without affecting a designated transmission bandwidth of the communication system, wherein the round-robin testing comprises generating a control signal upon completion of testing the first adjustable clock signal, wherein, when the one of the plurality of links is tested, a transmission bandwidth of the communication system is not affected. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A communication system, comprising:
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means for testing an adjustable clock signal for one of a plurality of links, comprising; means for transmitting a test pattern signal on a data line of the one of the plurality of links, means for latching the test pattern signal based on the adjustable clock signal to generate a latched test pattern signal, means for comparing the latched test pattern signal to the test pattern signal, means for adjusting an offset of the adjustable clock based on the comparing, means for generating a control signal to another means for testing upon completion of testing the adjustable clock signal; and means for round-robin testing each of the plurality of links while the communication system is in operation without affecting a designated transmission bandwidth of the communication system, wherein, when the one of the plurality of links is tested, a transmission bandwidth of the communication system is not affected.
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Specification