Programmable measurement mode for a serial point to point link
US7444558B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 31, 2003 |
| Grant date | Oct 28, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 17, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R31/31716
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A serial point to point link that communicatively couples an integrated circuit (IC) device to another IC device is initialized by transferring a training sequence of symbols over the link. Registers of the IC device are programmed, to set a symbol data pattern and configure a lane transmitter for the link. A start bit in a register of the IC device is programmed, to request that the link be placed in a measurement mode. In this mode, the IC device instructs the other IC device to enter a loopback mode for the link. The IC device transmits a sequence of test symbols over the link and evaluates a loopback version of the sequence for errors. The sequence of test symbols have a data pattern, and are transmitted, as configured by the registers. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.