Intel Corporation

Dilip K Sampath

Sanjay Dabral

Bindi A Prasad

Peter D MacWilliams

William S Wu

Alper Ilkbahar

Muthurajan Jayakumar

Christopher Cheng

Leonard J Schultz

Manoji Khare

A method and apparatus for transferring data between bus agents in a computer system. The present invention includes transmitting a control signal, from a first agent to a second agent, via a first transfer protocol; and, transmitting data corresponding to the control signal, from the first agent to the second agent, via a second transfer protocol. In one embodiment, the control signals are transmitted from the first agent to the second agent via a synchronous transmission with respect to a bus clock; and, the data is transmitted via an asynchronous transmission with respect to the bus clock, which has a data width greater than the synchronous transmission. In addition, in one embodiment of the present invention, the synchronous transmission is a common clock data transfer protocol, and the asynchronous transmission is a source clock data transfer protocol.

Transmission of signals synchronous to a common clock and transmission of data synchronous to strobes in a multiple agent processing system

Method and apparatus for transferring data in source-synchronous protocol and transferring signals in common clock protocol in multiple agent processing system

A source synchronous interface between a master device and slave device is described. A master device having a plurality of deskew latches is coupled to a slave device via a bus. The master device communicates commands and first timing information to the slave device via the bus. In response, the slave device communicates data and second timing information to the master device via the bus. When data is communicated from the slave device to the master device, the data is stored in one of the plurality of deskew latches until accessed by the master device. The plurality of deskew latches ensure that the master device will always read valid data for the full range of skew of the first and second timing information.

Source synchronous interface between master and slave using a deskew latch

A method and apparatus for configuring the pinout of an integrated circuit. An integrated circuit includes an input/output structure including an input/output port. The input/output structure communicates a first signal in a first configuration and a second signal in a second configuration. The first and second signals are parallel signals of a bus.

Method and apparatus for configuring the pinout of an integrated circuit

A computer system with a semi-differential bus-signaling scheme is described. The computer system includes a transmitter coupled to a common bus. The transmitter sends clock signals and a data signal to logic-comparing devices within a receiver. The logic-comparing devices compare the data signal to a reference voltage while comparing the clock signals to each other. After the comparison, the clock signals can be used to capture the data into a retiming circuit.

Computer system with a semi-differential bus signaling scheme

A buffer for enabling a signal to be applied to a bus. The buffer includes a first transistor coupled to a bus and a voltage supply. The logic buffer includes a first logic circuit which has an input coupled to receive a data signal and adapted to charge a terminal of the transistor at a first rate in response to a transition in the data signal. A second logic circuit charges the terminal at a faster rate during an initial transition period, until a first preselected condition is met. The buffer also includes a third logic circuit to charge the terminal at a second faster rate during a final transition period, after a second preselected condition is met. A method for controlling a voltage level of a signal applied to a terminal of a transistor includes charging the terminal at a fast rate until a first preselected condition is met. The terminal is then charged at a slower rate, until a second preselected condition is met, at which time the terminal is charged at a second fast rate, which is also greater than the slower rate.

Predriver logic circuit

In a microprocessor system having a bus clock running at a bus clock rate, a method for reducing an idle interval between a first data transfer and a second data transfer, the method comprising the steps of:

Mechanism for data strobe pre-driving during master changeover on a

The amount of skew present in a signal delivered over a transmission line is reduced by identifying of the type of data pattern from which a bit of data is being sent and generating a corresponding delay in response to identification of the data pattern is described. The generated delay results in reducing the amount of skew present in the system. In a first configuration, the invention includes first-storage and second-storage mechanisms, a logic gate, first and second delay paths, and a mechanisms for generating an output terminal. The first-storage mechanism stores a first digital signal. The second-storage mechanism stores a second digital signal that occurs in a selected number of clock transitions after the first data signal. The two storage mechanisms are connected to a logic gate. The first storage mechanism is also connected to the first and second delay paths which delay signals sent to them. A generating mechanism is connected to the delay paths and the logic gate and generates an output terminal signal in response to the selection of a digital signal from either the first or second delay path. A second configuration includes bypass circuitry coupled to the generating mechanism and the logic device.

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Dilip K Sampath