Communication channel calibration with nonvolatile parameter store for recovery

• US 8,488,686 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2011
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rambus Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rambus Inc.
• Inventors: Yeung, Philip, Perego, Richard E, Best, Scott C
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LEON VIET Q
• Application Number:
  US13/152,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20110235727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 375/222, 375/223, 375/244, 375/257, 455/73, 455/115.1, 455/562.1, 702/107, 714/814
• US Class Current: 375/259
• 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 for operating an interface including a transceiver adapted for connection to a communication link, comprising:

after a power up event, executing a calibration process in the interface to determine a calibrated parameter value, and storing the calibrated parameter value in memory accessible by the interface, the calibration process including using the transceiver to at least one of transmit signals to, and receive signals from, the communication link;

upon restarting the interface after a power down event, accessing the calibrated parameter value stored in the memory, and using the calibrated parameter value to determine a value for an operating parameter, and using the value in the interface, or sending the value on the communication link; and

transmitting data on, or receiving data from, the communication after said setting or sending the operating parameter, including executing a portion of a second calibration process in the interface to account for changes in environmental conditions, the portion of the second calibration process including transmitting a calibration pattern from the interface after setting the operating parameter using the calibrated parameter value; and

adjusting the value for the operating parameter in response to the second calibration process.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a connector for an optical fiber link.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a connector for a wired link.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface is part of an integrated circuit, and the memory is located on the integrated circuit.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface is part of an integrated circuit, and the memory is located on another integrated circuit.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface 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 memory.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating parameter is one of a drive timing point and a sample timing point for the transceiver.

8. A method for operating an interface including a transceiver adapted for connection to a communication link, comprising:

after a power up event, executing a calibration process in the interface to determine a calibrated parameter value, and storing the calibrated parameter value in memory accessible by the interface, the calibration process including using the transceiver to at least one of transmit signals to, and receive signals from, the communication link;

upon restarting the interface after a power down event, accessing the calibrated parameter value stored in the memory, and using the calibrated parameter value to determine a value for an operating parameter, and using the value in the interface, or sending the value on the communication link; and

transmitting data on, or receiving data from, the communication after said setting or sending the operating parameter, wherein the interface includes a plurality of transceivers each adapted for connection to a corresponding one of a plurality of communication links in a bus, and including storing calibrated parameter values for each of the communication links in the bus in the memory.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the operating parameter is one of a drive timing point and a sample timing point for the transceiver.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the interface comprises a connector for an optical fiber link.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the interface comprises a connector for a wired link.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the interface is part of an integrated circuit, and the memory is located on the integrated circuit.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the interface is part of an integrated circuit, and the memory is located on another integrated circuit.

14. A method of operation of an interface circuit comprising:

after a power up event, executing a calibration process that includes transmitting a calibration pattern, to determine a calibrated parameter value, and storing the calibrated parameter value in memory;

upon restarting the interface after a power down event, accessing the calibrated parameter value in memory, and setting a value for an operating parameter using the calibrated parameter value;

operating the interface using the set value of the operating parameter; and

after operating the interface using the set value, adjusting the value for the operating parameter to account for changes in environmental conditions, wherein said adjusting the value for the operating parameter to account for changes in environmental conditions includes using a second calibration process that includes transmitting a calibration pattern different than the calibration pattern transmitted in the first mentioned calibration process.