Versatile lane configuration using a PCIe PIE-8 interface
US9292460B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 25, 2013 |
| Grant date | Mar 22, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 8, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F13/423
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Each PCIe device may include a media access control (MAC) interface and a physical (PHY) interface that support a plurality of different lane configurations. These interfaces may include hardware modules that support 1×32, 2×16, 4×8, 8×4, 16×2, and 32×1 communication. Instead of physically connecting each of the hardware modules in the MAC interface to respective hardware modules in the PHY interface using dedicated traces, the device may include two bus controllers that arbitrate which hardware modules are connected to a internal bus coupling the two interfaces. When a different lane configuration is desired, the bus controller couples the corresponding hardware module to the internal bus. In this manner, the different lane configurations share the same lanes (and wires) of the bus as the other lane configurations. Accordingly, the shared bus only needs to include enough lanes (and wires) necessary to accommodate the widest lane configuration.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.