Apparatus and methods for activation of an interface on an integrated circuit

US8188774B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Altera Corporation · US

Inventors

• Gopi Krishnamurthy · Tracy, US
• Binh Ton · San Jose, US
• Ning Xue · Fremont, US
• Tim Tri Hoang · San Jose, US
• Michael Zheng · Beijing, CN
• Weiqi Ding · Fremont, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 9, 2010
• Grant date: May 29, 2012
• Expiry date: Dec 30, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H03K19/1774
• WIPO field: Basic communication processes
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

One embodiment relates to a method for activating an interface on an integrated circuit while a core of the integrated circuit is becoming operational. An offset calibration for a transceiver channel is performed by physical media attachment circuitry. A transmitting frequency is locked onto by a transmitter phase-locked loop for the transceiver channel, and a receiving frequency is locked onto by a receiver phase-locked loop for the transceiver channel. Subsequently, the interface is activated while a core component of the integrated circuit is becoming operational. Another embodiment pertains to an integrated circuit which includes transceiver channel circuits, an interface processor, and a reset control state machine. Another embodiment relates to control circuitry including a reset control state machine, transceiver channel circuits, a channel input steering multiplexer, and a channel output steering multiplexer. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.