Quad pumped bus architecture and protocol
US6601121B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 10, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jul 29, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 10, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F13/4217
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A bidirectional multidrop processor bus is connected to a plurality of bus agents. Bus throughput can be increased by operating the bus in a multi pumped signaling mode in which multiple information elements are driven onto a bus by a driving agent at a rate that is a multiple of the frequency of the bus clock. The driving agent also activates a strobe to identify sampling points for the information elements. Information elements for a request can be driven, for example, using a double pumped signaling mode in which two information elements are driven during one bus clock cycle. Data elements for a data line transfer can be driven, for example, using a quad pumped signaling mode in which four data elements are driven during one bus clock cycle. Multiple strobe signals can be temporarily activated in an offset or staggered arrangement to reduce the frequency of the strobe signals. Sampling symmetry can be improved by using only one type of edge (e.g., either the rising edges or the falling edges) of the strobe signals to identify the sampling points.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.