Communication channel calibration with nonvolatile parameter store for recovery

• US 7,978,754 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2004
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rambus Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rambus Inc.
• Inventors: Best, Scott C, Yeung, Philip, Perego, Richard E
• Primary Examiner(s): Payne; David C
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LEON VIET Q
• Application Number:
  US10/857,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20050265437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,601 Days
• Field of Search: 375/222, 375/244, 375/257, 375/223, 375/224, 455/73, 455/115.1, 455/562.1, 702/107, 702/130, 714/814
• US Class Current: 375/224
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2029/4402 Internal storage of test result, quality data, chip identification, repair information
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 29/02 Detection or location of defective auxiliary circuits, e.g. defective refresh counters
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 29/022 in I/O circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 29/028 with adaption or trimming of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/20 Memory cell initialisation circuits, e.g. when powering up or down, memory clear, latent image memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/49 using code conversion at the transmitter; using predistortion; using insertion of idle bits for obtaining a desired frequency spectrum; using three or more amplitude levels ; Baseband coding techniques specific to data transmission systems spectral shaping H04L25/03828
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/1438 Negotiation of transmission parameters prior to communication modified according to link quality H04L1/0001
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/0004 Initialisation of the receiver H04L7/0075 and H04L7/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/0091 Transmitter details
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/10 Arrangements for initial synchronisation

Abstract

A communication channel is operated by storing a calibrated parameter value in nonvolatile memory during manufacturing, testing, or during a first operation of the device. Upon starting operation of the communication channel in the field, the calibrated parameter value is obtained from the nonvolatile memory, and used in applying an operating parameter of the communication channel. After applying the operating parameter, communication is initiated on a communication channel. The operating parameter can be adjusted to account for drift immediately after starting up, or periodically. The process of starting operation in the field includes power up events after a power management operation. In embodiments where one component includes memory, steps can be taken prior to a power management operation using the communication channel, such as transferring calibration patterns to be used in calibration procedures.

Claims

1. A method of operation in a system including a communication channel, the communication channel including a first component having a transmitter, a second component having a receiver and a communication link coupling the first and second components, comprising:

after a power up event, executing a calibration process to determine a calibrated parameter value for the communication channel, and storing the calibrated parameter value in nonvolatile memory;

upon restarting the communication channel in the field, accessing the calibrated parameter value in nonvolatile memory, and setting a value for an operating parameter of the communication channel using the calibrated parameter value; and

communicating data on the communication channel using the operating parameter; and

after said restarting, adjusting the value for the operating parameter to account for changes in environmental conditions which have an effect on the communication channel using another calibration process that includes transmitting a calibration pattern from the first component and receiving the calibration pattern in the second component after setting the operating parameter using the calibrated parameter value;

wherein the communication channel has a plurality of operating parameters which drift during operation in response to changes in environmental conditions, and including storing calibrated parameter values for each of the plurality of operating parameters in the nonvolatile memory.

2. The method of claim 1, including upon a second power up event later than said restarting and later than said adjusting, accessing the calibrated parameter value in nonvolatile memory, and setting the value for at least one of the operating parameters of the communication channel using the calibrated parameter value;

and communicating data on the communication channel using the at least one of the operating parameters.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first component comprises an integrated circuit, and the nonvolatile memory is located on the integrated circuit.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first component comprises an integrated circuit, and the nonvolatile memory is located on another integrated circuit.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein an integrated circuit including a host processor is coupled to the first component, and the nonvolatile memory is located on the integrated circuit including the host processor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein an integrated circuit including a host processor is coupled to the first component, and the nonvolatile memory is located on another integrated circuit coupled to the integrated circuit including the host processor.

9. The method of claim 1, including executing the calibration process upon the power up event after assembly of the communication channel during at least one of manufacturing or testing.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication channel is one of a plurality of communication channels in a bus, and including storing calibrated parameter values for each of the communication channels in the bus in the nonvolatile memory.

3. A method of operation in a system including a communication channel, the communication channel including a first component having a transmitter, a second component having a receiver and a communication link coupling the first and second components, comprising:

after a power up event, executing a calibration process to determine a calibrated parameter value for the communication channel, and storing the calibrated parameter value in nonvolatile memory;

upon restarting the communication channel in the field, accessing the calibrated parameter value in nonvolatile memory, and setting a value for an operating parameter of the communication channel using the calibrated parameter value; and

communicating data on the communication channel using the value of the operating parameter, wherein the operating parameter comprises at least one of a drive timing point and a sample timing point for the transmitter and a receiver, respectively, on the first component;

wherein the communication channel is one of a plurality of communication channels in a bus, and including storing calibrated parameter values for each of the communication channels in the bus in the nonvolatile memory.

13. The method of claim 3, wherein the communication channel has a plurality of operating parameters which drift during operation in response to changes in environmental conditions, and including storing calibrated parameter values for each of the plurality of operating parameters in the nonvolatile memory.

4. A method of operation in a system including a communication channel, the communication channel including a first component having a transmitter, a second component having a receiver and a communication link coupling the first and second components, comprising:

after a power up event, executing a calibration process to determine a calibrated parameter value for the communication channel, and storing the calibrated parameter value in nonvolatile memory;

upon restarting the communication channel in the field, accessing the calibrated parameter value in nonvolatile memory, and setting a value for an operating parameter of the communication channel using the calibrated parameter value; and

communicating data on the communication channel using the value of the operating parameter, wherein the operating parameter comprises at least one of a drive timing point and a sample timing point for a transmitter and the receiver, respectively, on the second component;

wherein the communication channel is one of a plurality of communication channels in a bus, and including storing calibrated parameter values for each of the communication channels in the bus in the nonvolatile memory.

10. A method of operation in a system including a communication channel, the communication channel including a first component having a transmitter, a second component having a receiver and a communication link coupling the first and second components, comprising:

after a power up event, executing a calibration process to determine a calibrated parameter value for the communication channel, and storing the calibrated parameter value in nonvolatile memory;

upon restarting the communication channel in the field, accessing the calibrated parameter value in nonvolatile memory, and setting a value for an operating parameter of the communication channel using the calibrated parameter value; and

communicating data on the communication channel using the value of the operating parameter, including adjusting the value of the operating parameter to account for changes in environmental conditions after said restarting, by executing another calibration process which utilizes less resources of the communication channel than said first mentioned calibration process;

wherein the communication channel is one of a plurality of communication channels in a bus, and including storing calibrated parameter values for each of the communication channels in the bus in the nonvolatile memory.

11. A method of operation in a system including a communication channel, the communication channel including a first component having a transmitter, a second component having a receiver and a wire communication link coupling the first and second components, comprising:

after a power up event, executing a calibration process to determine a calibrated parameter value for the communication channel, and storing the calibrated parameter value in nonvolatile memory;

upon restarting the communication channel in the field, accessing the calibrated parameter value in nonvolatile memory, and setting a value for an operating parameter of the communication channel using the calibrated parameter value; and

communicating data on the communication channel using the value of the operating parameter, wherein the first component loses power in a power down event, and the second component includes memory that is protected from power loss, and including after a second power up event subsequent to the power down event, adjusting the value of the operating parameter to account for changes in environmental conditions, by executing a calibration process that includes storing a calibration pattern in the second component before the power down event that precedes the second power up event, and after setting the value of the operating parameter using the calibrated parameter value, transmitting the stored calibration pattern from the second component and receiving the calibration pattern in the first component.

14. A method of operation in a system including a communication channel, the communication channel including a first component having a transmitter, a second component having a receiver and a communication link coupling the first and second components, comprising:

storing a calibrated parameter value in nonvolatile memory;

starting operation of the communication channel, including obtaining the calibrated parameter value in nonvolatile memory, and setting a value for an operating parameter of the communication channel equal to or based on the calibrated parameter value;

communicating data on the communication channel using the value of the operating parameter; and

adjusting the value of the operating parameter to account for changes in environmental conditions which have an effect on the communication channel; and

generating the calibrated parameter value using a first calibration process, and wherein the adjusting of the value of the operating parameter comprises executing a second calibration process, and the second calibration process utilizes less resources of the communication channel than the first calibration process;

wherein the communication channel has a plurality of operating parameters which drift during operation in response to changes in environmental conditions, and including storing calibrated parameter values for each of the plurality of operating parameters in the nonvolatile memory.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein starting operation of the communication is executed in during field operation of the communication channel.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein starting operation of the communication channel includes re-starting after a power down event on the communication channel.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the first component comprises an integrated circuit, and the nonvolatile memory is located on the integrated circuit.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the first component comprises an integrated circuit, and the nonvolatile memory is located on another integrated circuit.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein an integrated circuit including a host processor is coupled to the first component, and the nonvolatile memory is located on the integrated circuit including the host processor.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein an integrated circuit including a host processor is coupled to the first component, and the nonvolatile memory is located on another integrated circuit coupled to the integrated circuit including the host processor.

28. The method of claim 14, wherein the communication channel is one of a plurality of communication channels in a bus, and including storing calibrated parameter values for each of the communication channels in the bus in the nonvolatile memory.

17. A method of operation in a system including a communication channel, the communication channel including a first component having a transmitter, a second component having a receiver and a wire communication link coupling the first and second components, comprising:

storing a calibrated parameter value in nonvolatile memory;

starting operation of the communication channel, including obtaining the calibrated parameter value in nonvolatile memory, and setting a value for an operating parameter of the communication channel equal to or based on the calibrated parameter value;

communicating data on the communication channel using the value of the operating parameter; and

adjusting the value of the operating parameter to account for changes in environmental conditions which have an effect on the communication channel, wherein the operating parameter comprises at least one of a drive timing point and a sample timing point for the transmitter and a receiver, respectively, on the first component.

23. The method of claim 17, including setting the calibrated parameter value based on system configuration.

24. The method of claim 17, including setting the calibrated parameter value based on system configuration during manufacturing.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein the communication channel has a plurality of operating parameters which drift during operation in response to changes in environmental conditions, and including storing calibrated parameter values for each of the plurality of operating parameters in the nonvolatile memory.

18. A method of operation in a system including a communication channel, the communication channel including a first component having a transmitter, a second component having a receiver and a wire communication link coupling the first and second components, comprising:

storing a calibrated parameter value in nonvolatile memory;

starting operation of the communication channel, including obtaining the calibrated parameter value in nonvolatile memory, and setting a value for an operating parameter of the communication channel equal to or based on the calibrated parameter value;

communicating data on the communication channel using the value of the operating parameter; and

adjusting the value of the operating parameter to account for changes in environmental conditions which have an effect on the communication channel, wherein the operating parameter comprises at least one of a drive timing point and a sample timing point for a transmitter and the receiver, respectively, on the second component.

25. A method of operation in a system including a communication channel, the communication channel including a first component having a transmitter, a second component having a receiver and a communication link coupling the first and second components, comprising:

storing a calibrated parameter value in nonvolatile memory;

starting operation of the communication channel, including obtaining the calibrated parameter value in nonvolatile memory, and setting a value for an operating parameter of the communication channel equal to or based on the calibrated parameter value;

communicating data on the communication channel using the operating parameter; and

adjusting the value of the operating parameter to account for changes in environmental conditions which have an effect on the communication channel, wherein the adjusting of the value of the operating parameter comprises executing a calibration process that includes transmitting a calibration pattern from the first component and receiving the calibration pattern in the second component after setting the value of the operating parameter using the calibrated parameter value;

wherein the communication channel has a plurality of operating parameters which drift during operation in response to changes in environmental conditions, and including storing calibrated parameter values for each of the plurality of operating parameters in the nonvolatile memory.

26. A method of operation in a system including a communication channel, the communication channel including a first component having a transmitter, a second component having a receiver and a communication link coupling the first and second components, comprising:

storing a calibrated parameter value in nonvolatile memory;

starting operation of the communication channel, including obtaining the calibrated parameter value in nonvolatile memory, and setting a value for an operating parameter of the communication channel equal to or based on the calibrated parameter value;

communicating data on the communication channel using the operating parameter; and

adjusting the value of the operating parameter to account for changes in environmental conditions which have an effect on the communication channel, wherein the first component loses power in a power down event, and the second component includes memory which does not lose power in the power down event, and the adjusting of the value of the operating parameter comprises executing a calibration process that includes storing a calibration pattern in the second component before the power down event, and after setting the value of the operating parameter to the calibrated parameter value, transmitting the stored calibration pattern from the second component and receiving the calibration pattern in the first component;

wherein the communication channel has a plurality of operating parameters which drift during operation in response to changes in environmental conditions and including storing calibrated parameter values for each of the plurality of operating parameters in the nonvolatile memory.

27. A method of operation in a system including a communication channel, the communication channel including a first component having a transmitter, a second component having a receiver and a communication link coupling the first and second components, comprising:

storing a calibrated parameter value in nonvolatile memory;

starting operation of the communication channel, including obtaining the calibrated parameter value in nonvolatile memory, and setting a value for an operating parameter of the communication channel equal to or based on the calibrated parameter value;

communicating data on the communication channel using the operating parameter; and

adjusting the value of the operating parameter to account for changes in environmental conditions which have an effect on the communication channel, wherein the adjusting of the value of the operating parameter comprises executing a calibration process before communicating data on the communication channel, the calibration process including transmitting a calibration pattern from the first component and receiving the calibration pattern in the second component after setting the operating parameter to the calibrated parameter value;

wherein the communication channel is one of a plurality of communication channels in a bus, and including storing calibrated parameter values for each of the communication channels in the bus in the nonvolatile memory.

30. A system interface, the system including a plurality of communication channels, the channels including a transmitter, a receiver and a communication link coupling the transmitter and the receiver, comprising:

nonvolatile memory storing a plurality of calibrated parameter values;

a plurality of interface modules adapted to be connected to communication links in corresponding communication channels in the system, the interface modules including at least one of a transmitter and a receiver, and being responsive to a value of an operating parameter; and

logic executed on starting field operation of the system, which accesses the calibrated parameter values in the nonvolatile memory, and sets the values of the operating parameters of the interface modules in the plurality of interface modules using the calibrated parameter values;

wherein the operating parameter comprises at least one of a drive timing point and a sample timing point;

wherein the communication channels have a plurality of operating parameters which drift during operation in response to changes in environmental conditions, and including storing calibrated parameter values for each of the plurality of operating parameters for the plurality of communication channels in the nonvolatile memory.

31. The system interface of claim 30, including:

logic which adjusts the values of the operating parameters to account for current environmental conditions which affect the communication channels.

32. The system interface of claim 30, wherein the logic executed on starting field operation of the communication channel is executed on re-starting after a power down event on the system.

33. The system interface of claim 30, wherein the plurality of interface modules are located on an integrated circuit, and the nonvolatile memory is located on said integrated circuit.

34. The system interface of claim 30, wherein the plurality of interface modules are located on an integrated circuit, and the nonvolatile memory is located on another integrated circuit.

35. The system interface of claim 30, including an integrated circuit including a host processor coupled to the plurality of interface modules, and the nonvolatile memory is located on the integrated circuit including the host processor.

36. The system interface of claim 30, including an integrated circuit including a host processor coupled to the plurality of interface modules, and the nonvolatile memory is located on another integrated circuit coupled to the integrated circuit including the host processor.

37. The system interface of claim 30, including resources to set the calibrated parameter values in the nonvolatile memory based on system configuration.

38. The system interface of claim 30, including resources to set the calibrated parameter values in the nonvolatile memory based on system configuration during manufacturing.

39. A system interface, the system including a plurality of communication channels, the channels including a transmitter, a receiver and a wire communication link coupling the transmitter and the receiver, comprising:

nonvolatile memory storing a plurality of calibrated parameter values;

a plurality of interface modules adapted to be connected to communication links in corresponding communication channels in the system, the interface modules including at least one of a transmitter and a receiver, and being responsive to a value of an operating parameter; and

logic executed on starting field operation of the system, which accesses the calibrated parameter values in the nonvolatile memory, and sets the values of the operating parameters of the interface modules in the plurality of interface modules using the calibrated parameter values, where the calibrated parameter values are generated using a first calibration process, and including logic which adjusts the values of the operating parameters to account for current environmental conditions which affect the communication channels by executing a second calibration process, wherein the second calibration process utilizes less resources of the communication channel than the first calibration process.

40. A system interface, the system including a plurality of communication channels, the channels including a transmitter, a receiver and a wire communication link coupling the transmitter and the receiver, comprising:

nonvolatile memory storing a plurality of calibrated parameter values;

a plurality of interface modules adapted to be connected to communication links in corresponding communication channels in the system, the interface modules including at least one of a transmitter and a receiver, and being responsive to a value of an operating parameter; and

logic executed on starting field operation of the system, which accesses the calibrated parameter values in the nonvolatile memory, and sets the values of the operating parameters of the interface modules in the plurality of interface modules using the calibrated parameter values, including logic which adjusts the values of the operating parameters to account for current environmental conditions which affect the communication channels by executing a calibration process that includes one of transmitting and receiving a calibration pattern after setting the values of the operating parameters using the calibrated parameter values.

41. A system interface, the system including a plurality of communication channels, the channels including a transmitter, a receiver and a wire communication link coupling the transmitter and the receiver, comprising:

nonvolatile memory storing a plurality of calibrated parameter values;

a plurality of interface modules adapted to be connected to communication links in corresponding communication channels in the system, the interface modules including at least one of a transmitter and a receiver, and being responsive to a value of an operating parameter; and

logic executed on starting field operation of the system, which accesses the calibrated parameter values in the nonvolatile memory, and sets the values of the operating parameters of the interface modules in the plurality of interface modules using the calibrated parameter values, wherein the plurality of interface modules lose power in the power down event, and a component coupled to the bus includes memory that does not lose power in the power down event, and including logic which adjusts the values of the operating parameters to account for current environmental conditions which affect the communication channels by executing a calibration process that includes storing a calibration pattern in the memory protected from power loss before the power down event, and after setting the values of the operating parameters to the calibrated parameter values, receiving the calibration pattern transmitted from the component that includes the memory.

42. A system interface, the system including a plurality of communication channels, the channels including a transmitter, a receiver and a wire communication link coupling the transmitter and the receiver, comprising:

nonvolatile memory storing a plurality of calibrated parameter values;

a plurality of interface modules adapted to be connected to communication links in corresponding communication channels in the system, the interface modules including at least one of a transmitter and a receiver, and being responsive to a value of an operating parameter; and

logic executed on starting field operation of the system, which accesses the calibrated parameter values in the nonvolatile memory, and sets the values of the operating parameters of the interface modules in the plurality of interface modules using the calibrated parameter values, including logic which adjusts the values of the operating parameters to account for current environmental conditions which affect the communication channels by executing a calibration process, the calibration process including one of transmitting and receiving a calibration pattern after setting the values of the operating parameter using the calibrated parameter value.

43. The system interface of claim 42, wherein the communication channels have a plurality of operating parameters which drift during operation in response to changes in environmental conditions, and including storing calibrated parameter values for each of the plurality of operating parameters for the plurality of communication channels in the nonvolatile memory.

44. A method for operating a system in a power down and power up cycle, the system interconnecting a first component and a second component, and including a plurality of communication channels, respective channels in the plurality of channels including a transmitter on the first component, a receiver on the second component, and a wire communication link coupling the transmitter and the receiver, the method comprising:

prior to power down on the first component, transmitting a calibration pattern from the first component to the second component using the plurality of communication channels, and storing the calibration pattern in the second component; and

upon power up on the first component, executing a calibration process including transmitting the calibration pattern from the second component and receiving the calibration pattern on the first component to establish values for operating parameters to be used in the plurality of communication channels use during normal operations.

45. The method of claim 44, including:

storing calibrated parameter values in nonvolatile memory;

upon power up on the first component, accessing the calibrated parameter values in nonvolatile memory, and setting values for operating parameters of the plurality of communication channels for use during the calibration process; and

adjusting the values for operating parameters in response to the calibration process to account for changes in environmental conditions which have an effect on the communication channel.