Serial Data Interface System and Method Using A Selectively Accessed Tone Pattern Generator

• US 20090119426A1
• Filed: 01/05/2009
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: ENGELEN, Josephus A.E.P. van, Sosnoski, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,024,501 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/1438 Negotiation of transmission parameters prior to communication modified according to link quality H04L1/0001

Abstract

A system and method performs speed and connection handshaking between Beta signal ports and/or Bilingual ports in a serial data interface system. A tone pattern generator (e.g., a flip-flop) can be used to generate a tone pattern signal representing approximately 49 MHz to approximately 62 MHz. A selecting system (e.g., a multiplexer, a digital multiplexer, or the like) selectively transmits either the tone pattern signal or a data input signal. These signals include a driver control signal. A serializer serializes either the tone pattern signal or the data input signal. A clock device (e.g., a clock divider) drives the tone pattern generator and the serializer. A driver receives and differentially transmits, along a twister-wire pair, either the serialized tone pattern signal or the serialized data input signal.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a tone pattern generator; and

a selecting system.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a serializing device, located downstream of the selecting system, operable to serialize either a received tone pattern signal or a received data signal.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a driver, located downstream of the serializing device, operable to transmit the tone pattern signal or the data signal.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the serializing device is operable to go into standby mode when the tone pattern signal is transmitted.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the serializing device is operable to conserve power when the tone pattern signal is transmitted.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the tone pattern generator comprises an oscillator or a flip-flop.

7. A method comprising:

receiving a tone pattern signal;

receiving a data signal; and

differentially transmitting either the tone pattern signal or the data signal.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising generating the tone pattern signal using a tone pattern generating device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving a tone-on signal from a PHY digital core at the tone pattern generating device.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

serializing the data signal prior to transmitting the data signal.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

using a driver control portion of the data signal or the tone pattern signal to place a driver in one of two modes.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the two modes comprise an inactive mode and a normal mode.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the inactive mode is a high-impedance mode.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the driver transmits a high or low signal when the driver is in normal mode.

15. A method comprising:

receiving a tone pattern signal and a tone-on signal at a first driver;

receiving a data signal and a driver control signal at a second driver; and

producing a differential output signal utilizing either the first driver or the second driver.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining whether the first driver is active or inactive using the tone on signal; and

determining whether the second driver is active or inactive using the driver control signal.