Method and apparatus for evaluating and optimizing a signaling system
First Claim
1. An integrated circuit, comprising:
- circuitry to generate a repeating pattern signal during a test mode;
a receiver to serially receive a signal via at least one electrical conductor from a transmitter, the signal comprising a data signal during a normal mode and a repeating test pattern during the test mode;
circuitry to change during the test mode at least one parameter affecting reception of the signal from the transmitter, such that the repeating test pattern from the transmitter is received using alternate values of the at least one parameter; and
circuitry to compare the repeating pattern signal generated by the circuitry to generate with the repeating test pattern serially received by the receiver during the test mode, to generate a comparison output;
where the circuitry to generate the repeating pattern signal during the test mode is independent of any circuitry used to generate the repeating test pattern received from the transmitter.
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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.
120 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An integrated circuit, comprising:
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circuitry to generate a repeating pattern signal during a test mode; a receiver to serially receive a signal via at least one electrical conductor from a transmitter, the signal comprising a data signal during a normal mode and a repeating test pattern during the test mode; circuitry to change during the test mode at least one parameter affecting reception of the signal from the transmitter, such that the repeating test pattern from the transmitter is received using alternate values of the at least one parameter; and circuitry to compare the repeating pattern signal generated by the circuitry to generate with the repeating test pattern serially received by the receiver during the test mode, to generate a comparison output; where the circuitry to generate the repeating pattern signal during the test mode is independent of any circuitry used to generate the repeating test pattern received from the transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of evaluating a value of at least one parameter affecting receipt of a signal by a receiver in an integrated circuit, the signal transmitted from a transmitter over an electrical conductor, the method comprising:
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generating a repeating pattern signal at the integrated circuit during a test mode; receiving the signal from the transmitter, where the signal comprises a data signal during a normal mode and a repeating test pattern during the test mode; during a first iteration of receiving the repeating test pattern from the transmitter during the test mode, using a first value of the at least one parameter; during a second iteration of receiving the repeating test pattern from the transmitter during the test mode, using a second value of the at least one parameter, the first and second values being alternate values of the at least one parameter, such that in the respective iterations, the repeating test pattern from the transmitter is received using the alternate values of the at least one parameter; and comparing the repeating pattern signal generated at the integrated circuit with the repeating test pattern received by the receiver during the test mode, to generate a comparison output; where generating the repeating pattern signal during the test mode is performed using circuitry of the integrated circuit that is independent of any circuitry used to generate the repeating test pattern received from the transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An integrated circuit, comprising:
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circuitry to generate a repeating pattern signal during a test mode; a receiver to serially and differentially receive a signal from a transmitter via at least one electrical conductor, the signal comprising a data signal during a normal mode and the repeating test pattern during the test mode; circuitry to, in a first iteration, use a first value of at least two alternate values of a parameter to receive the repeating test pattern from the transmitter during the test mode, the parameter affecting receipt of the signal by the receiver, and to, in a second iteration, use a second value of the at least two alternate values of the parameter to receive the repeating test pattern from the transmitter during the test mode, such that the repeating test pattern is received using alternate values of the parameter; circuitry to compare the repeating pattern signal generated by the circuitry to generate with the repeating test pattern received by the receiver during the test mode, to generate a comparison output; and circuitry to set a specific value of the parameter for use by the receiver in receiving the data signal, responsive to the comparison output; where the parameter includes at least one of a timing parameter of the receiver, an equalization parameter or a voltage threshold used by the receiver to distinguish logic levels of the data signal, and where the circuitry to generate the repeating pattern signal during the test mode is independent of any circuitry used to generate the repeating test pattern received from the transmitter.
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Specification