High-speed signaling systems with adaptable pre-emphasis and equalization
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A first integrated circuit comprising:
- a driver to transmit a digital bit stream to a second integrated circuit over a signal path; and
circuitry to equalize the digital bit stream, the circuitry having at least two taps, each tap driven in response to respective bits of the digital bit stream;
wherethe first integrated circuit has two equalization modes, including a first mode where two of the taps are used to equalize the digital bit stream to compensate for interference, a first one of the two taps being used to compensate for pre-tap interference, and a second mode where two of the taps are used to equalize the digital bit stream, the first one of the two taps is not used to compensate for the pre-tap interference, each of the first and the second modes configured to provide a level of operability based on channel characteristics of the signal path, anda selection between the first and the second mode is made based on a relative circuit operating parameter between the first and the second modes and irrespective of the channel characteristics of the signal path.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A signaling system includes a pre-emphasizing transmitter and an equalizing receiver coupled to one another via a high-speed signal path. The receiver measures the quality of data conveyed from the transmitter. A controller uses this information and other information to adaptively establish appropriate transmit pre-emphasis and receive equalization settings, e.g. to select the lowest power setting for which the signaling system provides some minimum communication bandwidth without exceeding a desired bit-error rate.
101 Citations
34 Claims
-
1. A first integrated circuit comprising:
-
a driver to transmit a digital bit stream to a second integrated circuit over a signal path; and circuitry to equalize the digital bit stream, the circuitry having at least two taps, each tap driven in response to respective bits of the digital bit stream; where the first integrated circuit has two equalization modes, including a first mode where two of the taps are used to equalize the digital bit stream to compensate for interference, a first one of the two taps being used to compensate for pre-tap interference, and a second mode where two of the taps are used to equalize the digital bit stream, the first one of the two taps is not used to compensate for the pre-tap interference, each of the first and the second modes configured to provide a level of operability based on channel characteristics of the signal path, and a selection between the first and the second mode is made based on a relative circuit operating parameter between the first and the second modes and irrespective of the channel characteristics of the signal path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A first integrated circuit to transmit a digital bit stream to a second integrated circuit over a signal path, comprising:
-
a driver; and means for equalizing the digital bit stream using at least two taps, each tap driven in response to respective bits of the digital bit stream, the equalizing performed according to an equalization mode; where if the equalization mode is a first equalization mode, two of the taps are used to equalize the digital bit stream to compensate for interference, a first one of the two taps being used to compensate for pre-tap interference, if the equalization mode is a second equalization mode where two of the taps are used to equalize the digital bit stream, each of the first and the second equalization modes configured to provide a level of operability based on channel characteristics of the signal path; where if the equalization mode is the second equalization mode, the first one of the two taps is not used to compensate for the pre-tap interference; and where a selection between the first and the second equalization modes is made based on a relative circuit operating parameter between the first and the second equalization modes and irrespective of the channel characteristics of the signal path.
-
-
17. A method of transmitting a digital bit stream from a first integrated circuit to a second integrated circuit over a signal path, comprising:
-
equalizing the digital bit stream using circuitry having at least two taps, each tap driven in response to respective bits of the digital bit stream, the equalizing performed according to an equalization mode; where if the equalization mode is a first equalization mode, two of the taps are used to equalize the digital bit stream to compensate for interference, a first one of the two taps being used to compensate for pre-tap interference, and if the equalization mode is a second equalization mode where two of the taps are used to equalize the digital bit stream, each of the first and the second equalization modes configured to provide a level of operability based on channel characteristics of the signal path; where if the equalization mode is the second equalization mode, the first one of the two taps is not used to compensate for the pre-tap interference; and where a selection between the first and the second equalization modes is made based on a relative circuit operating parameter between the first and the second equalization modes and irrespective of the channel characteristics of the signal path. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
- 32. An integrated circuit comprising a transmitter to transmit a data signal over a communication channel, the transmitter including a pre-cursor tap, a configurable second tap, each of the pre-cursor tap and the configurable second tap configured to provide a level of operability based on channel characteristics of the communication channel, where the transmitter alternatively configures the second tap as a second pre-cursor tap or a second post-cursor tap based on a relative circuit operating parameter between the configuration of the second tap as the second pre-cursor tap or the second post-cursor tap and irrespective of the channel characteristics of the communication channel.
Specification