Data eye monitor method and apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for tracking a data eye window of a capture device receiving a plurality of data bit signals to be captured from a memory storage device, said capture device further receiving a strobe signal for latching the plurality of data bit signals at said capture device, said apparatus comprising:
- a balanced tree network comprising a plurality of inputs, each of the inputs for receiving at least one of said data bit signals input from the memory storage device in coordination with said strobe signal, the balanced tree network generating an output signal associated with said plurality of data bit signals; and
a tapped inverter chain receiving said output signal for generating a persistent data eye signal;
wherein said persistent data eye signal is used to adjust said strobe signal associated with data eye centering of said capture device;
wherein said tapped inverter chain comprises;
a serial connection of n number of inverter devices, each of the inverter devices providing a fixed delay time interval, and each of the inverter devices providing a respective output signal;
n number of latch devices, each latch device being associated with a respective inverter device for latching a respective output signal from each of the inverter devices; and
n−
1 number of comparison devices, each comparison device receiving a respective latched output signal from one of the latch devices, each comparison device receiving a latched output signal of a next latch device, and each comparison device determining a presence or an absence of a transition at a delay element interval resolution;
wherein n is an integer greater than 1.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for providing a data eye monitor. The data eye monitor apparatus utilizes an inverter/latch string circuit and a set of latches to save the data eye for providing an infinite persistent data eye. In operation, incoming read data signals are adjusted in the first stage individually and latched to provide the read data to the requesting unit. The data is also simultaneously fed into a balanced XOR tree to combine the transitions of all incoming read data signals into a single signal. This signal is passed along a delay chain and tapped at constant intervals. The tap points are fed into latches, capturing the transitions at a delay element interval resolution. Using XORs, differences between adjacent taps and therefore transitions are detected. The eye is defined by segments that show no transitions over a series of samples. The eye size and position can be used to readjust the delay of incoming signals and/or to control environment parameters like voltage, clock speed and temperature.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for tracking a data eye window of a capture device receiving a plurality of data bit signals to be captured from a memory storage device, said capture device further receiving a strobe signal for latching the plurality of data bit signals at said capture device, said apparatus comprising:
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a balanced tree network comprising a plurality of inputs, each of the inputs for receiving at least one of said data bit signals input from the memory storage device in coordination with said strobe signal, the balanced tree network generating an output signal associated with said plurality of data bit signals; and a tapped inverter chain receiving said output signal for generating a persistent data eye signal; wherein said persistent data eye signal is used to adjust said strobe signal associated with data eye centering of said capture device; wherein said tapped inverter chain comprises; a serial connection of n number of inverter devices, each of the inverter devices providing a fixed delay time interval, and each of the inverter devices providing a respective output signal; n number of latch devices, each latch device being associated with a respective inverter device for latching a respective output signal from each of the inverter devices; and n−
1 number of comparison devices, each comparison device receiving a respective latched output signal from one of the latch devices, each comparison device receiving a latched output signal of a next latch device, and each comparison device determining a presence or an absence of a transition at a delay element interval resolution;wherein n is an integer greater than 1. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for tracking a data eye window of a capture device receiving a plurality of data bit signals to be captured from a memory storage device, said capture device further receiving a strobe signal for latching the plurality of data bit signals at said capture device, said method comprising:
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receiving, at a balanced tree network, each of the plurality of data bit signals comprising data bits input from the memory storage device, and generating an output signal associated with said plurality of data bit signals; implementing a tapped inverter chain responsive to said output signal for generating a persistent data eye signal; and adjusting said strobe signal associated with data eye centering in accordance with said persistent data eye signal; wherein said tapped inverter chain comprises; a serial connection of n number of inverter devices, each of the inverter devices providing a fixed delay time interval, and each of the inverter devices providing a respective output signal; n number of latch devices, each latch device being associated with a respective inverter device for latching a respective output signal from each of the inverter devices; and n−
1 number of comparison devices, each comparison device receiving a respective latched output signal from one of the latch devices, each comparison device receiving a latched output signal of a next latch device, and each comparison device determining a presence or an absence of a transition at a delay element interval resolution;wherein n is an integer greater than 1. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer program storage device, readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform method steps for tracking a data eye window of a capture device receiving a plurality of data bit signals to be captured from a memory storage device, said capture device further receiving a strobe signal for latching the plurality of data bit signals at said capture device, said method steps comprising:
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receiving, at a balanced tree network, each of the plurality of data bit signals comprising data bits input from the memory storage device, and generating an output signal associated with said plurality of data bit signals; implementing a tapped inverter chain responsive to said output signal for generating a persistent data eye signal; and adjusting said strobe signal associated with data eye centering in accordance with said persistent data eye signal; wherein said tapped inverter chain comprises; a serial connection of n number of inverter devices, each of the inverter devices providing a fixed delay time interval, and each of the inverter devices providing a respective output signal; n number of latch devices, each latch device being associated with a respective inverter device for latching a respective output signal from each of the inverter devices; and n−
1 number of comparison devices, each comparison device receiving a respective latched output signal from one of the latch devices, each comparison device receiving a latched output signal of a next latch device, and each comparison device determining a presence or an absence of a transition at a delay element interval resolution;wherein n is an integer greater than 1. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification