Apparatus and methods for tuning a communication link for power conservation
First Claim
1. A method for tuning a communication link from a transmitter to a receiver, the method comprising:
- waiting until a time to tune the communication link so as to adjust power used during operation of the communication link;
determining a bit error rate for the communication link at the receiver;
comparing the bit error rate against a threshold rate;
adjusting control parameters for an analog circuitry of the communication link for the receiver and communicating control parameter adjustments to the transmitter to decrease power used when the bit error rate is below the threshold rate; and
adjusting the control parameters for the analog circuitry of the communication link for the receiver and communicating the control parameter adjustments to the transmitter to increase power used when the bit error rate is above the threshold rate, wherein the transmitter transmits a serial data signal and includesa driver to drive the serial data signal onto a communication channel,a transmitter equalizer to apply pre-emphasis to the serial data signal, anda transmitter tuning controller which adjusts a differential output voltage of the driver and the pre-emphasis applied by the transmitter equalizer, and wherein the receiver receives the serial data signal and includesa receiver buffer which receives the serial data signal from the communication channel,a receiver equalization circuitry which equalizes the serial data signal,a circuit which processes the serial data signal to generate bit error data, anda receiver tuning controller which controls a gain of the receiver buffer, which adjusts equalizations applied by the receiver equalization circuitry based on the bit error data and which communicates adjustments to be made by the transmitter to the transmitter tuning controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure provides apparatus and methods for dynamic analog tuning for power reduction. As disclosed herein, the analog controls on a high-speed serial communication channel are dynamically adjusted in a manner so as to either reduce the total system power or move power dissipation between the transmitter and receiver devices, with little or no negative effect to the bit error rate. One embodiment relates to a method for tuning a communication link. The method includes occasionally determining whether the bit error rate for the communication link is acceptably low. Control parameters for analog circuitry of the communication link are adjusted to decrease power used if the bit error rate is acceptably low and are adjusted to increase power used if the bit error rate is not acceptably low. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.
40 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for tuning a communication link from a transmitter to a receiver, the method comprising:
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waiting until a time to tune the communication link so as to adjust power used during operation of the communication link; determining a bit error rate for the communication link at the receiver; comparing the bit error rate against a threshold rate; adjusting control parameters for an analog circuitry of the communication link for the receiver and communicating control parameter adjustments to the transmitter to decrease power used when the bit error rate is below the threshold rate; and adjusting the control parameters for the analog circuitry of the communication link for the receiver and communicating the control parameter adjustments to the transmitter to increase power used when the bit error rate is above the threshold rate, wherein the transmitter transmits a serial data signal and includes a driver to drive the serial data signal onto a communication channel, a transmitter equalizer to apply pre-emphasis to the serial data signal, and a transmitter tuning controller which adjusts a differential output voltage of the driver and the pre-emphasis applied by the transmitter equalizer, and wherein the receiver receives the serial data signal and includes a receiver buffer which receives the serial data signal from the communication channel, a receiver equalization circuitry which equalizes the serial data signal, a circuit which processes the serial data signal to generate bit error data, and a receiver tuning controller which controls a gain of the receiver buffer, which adjusts equalizations applied by the receiver equalization circuitry based on the bit error data and which communicates adjustments to be made by the transmitter to the transmitter tuning controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for conserving power used to communicate a serial data signal, the system comprising:
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a transmitter which transmits the serial data signal, the transmitter including a driver to drive the serial data signal onto a communication channel, a transmitter equalizer to apply pre-emphasis to the serial data signal, and a transmitter tuning controller which adjusts a differential output voltage of the driver and the pre-emphasis applied by the transmitter equalizer; and a receiver which receives the serial data signal, the receiver including a receiver buffer which receives the serial data signal from the communication channel, a receiver equalization circuitry which equalizes the serial data signal, a circuit which processes the serial data signal to generate bit error data, and a receiver tuning controller which controls a gain of the receiver buffer, which adjusts equalizations applied by the receiver equalization circuitry based on the bit error data and which communicates adjustments to be made by the transmitter to the transmitter tuning controller, wherein the receiver tuning controller determines a bit error rate from the bit error data, compares the bit error rate against a threshold rate, determines control parameter adjustments for the receiver and the transmitter to decrease power used when the bit error rate is below the threshold rate, and determines control parameter adjustments for the receiver and the transmitter to increase power used when the bit error rate is above the threshold rate. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification