Cadence Design Systems, Inc.

Fred Staples Stivers

Loren Blair Reiss

Scott David Huss

Eric Harris Naviasky

Steven Martin Broome

James Dennis Vandersand, Jr

Sathish Kumar Ganesan

Matthew Robert Collin

Scott Gerald Bare

James Lee House

Ramakrishna Kasukurthi

Various embodiments provide for testing a transmitter with interpolation, which can be used with a circuit for data communications, such as serializer/deserializer (SerDes) communications. In particular, some embodiments provide for data transmission test of a transmitter by: generating and outputting a pre-determined data pattern through a serializer of the transmitter; sampling a serialized data output of the serializer over a plurality of different interpolation phase positions of a phase interpolator; and using a pattern checker to error check the sampled data over the plurality of different interpolation phase positions to determine whether the data transmission test passes.

Transmitter test with interpolation

A physical layer (PHY) device comprises a phase interpolator to generate a set of sampler clocks. A sampler of the PHY device samples a calibration data pattern based on the set of sampler clocks. A data alignment system of the PHY device performs a coarse calibration and a fine calibration on the sampler clock signals. During the coarse calibration, the data alignment system moves the sampler clock signals earlier or later in time relative to the sampled data based on a first bit of the sampled data. During the fine calibration, the data alignment system moves the sampler clock signals earlier or later in time relative to the sampled data based on the first bit, a second bit, and a third bit in the sampled data.

Data alignment in physical layer device

A calibration control component within a transmit (TX) or receive (RX) device executes a calibration sequence to ensure reliable data transmission and reception within the device. The calibration sequence comprises a set of calibration functions that are sequentially executed. The calibration control component detects a pause function being enabled based on a pause function configuration register. Based on detecting the pause function being enabled, the calibration control component pauses execution of the calibration sequence.

Pause control for a calibration sequence

A set of encoders within a transmitter (TX) physical layer (PHY) encode incoming data using a predefined encoder scheme by translating multiple data segments into a set of balanced bit sequences. Each data segment comprises a first number of bits and each balanced bit sequence comprises a second number of bits. A data striping component distributes the set of balanced bit sequences to a set of serializers by routing bits from particular bit positions in each balanced bit sequence to a corresponding serializer. The set of serializers generates serialized data based on the set of balanced bit sequences.

Encoding and striping technique for DC balancing in single-ended signaling

Disclosed is an improved approach to implement clock alignments between a test subject and its corresponding controller device. Phase locking is performed for the clocks between the test subject and controller device via a training sequence to obtain the appropriate alignment(s). Alignment logic is included on both the testchip and the controller device to implement alignment.

Method and system for implementing high speed source synchronous clock alignment

The present disclosure relates to a method for use with a serializer/deserializer comprising. The method may include operatively connecting one or more lane modules of an integrated circuit (IC) to form one or more links. The method may further include associating a FIFO reset generator with each of the one or more lane modules and receiving a signal from the FIFO reset generator at a synchronization FIFO. The method may also include aligning, at the synchronization FIFO, one or more enqueue pointers and dequeue pointers.

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Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Fred Staples Stivers