Finisar Corporation

Gayle Loretta Ray Noble

Paul R Gentieu

A serial communications device comprises a controller to obtain digital diagnostic data representative of operational characteristics of the serial communications device, memory to store the digital diagnostic data and at least one interface, including an interface to serially communicate data via a serial cable. The serial communications device also comprises a signal controller configured to encode the digital diagnostic data onto a serial data signal for transmission via the serial cable by adjusting signal levels of the serial data signal while preserving original data in the serial data signal. Encoding the digital diagnostic data includes serializing the digital diagnostic data, determining a series of signal levels for the serialized digital diagnostic data based on a signal encoding map, and adjusting signal levels for the serial data signal based on the determined series of signal levels.

Diagnostics for a serial communications device

The serial communication device includes a first module coupled to a second module via a serial cable. Each of the first and second modules comprise one or more of: a power interface, a controller, memory, a first interface, and a second interface. The power interface is configured to receive operating power for the respective module from an external power source. The controller is configured to obtain digital diagnostic data representative of operational characteristics of at least the respective module. The memory is configured to store the digital diagnostic data. The first interface is configured to allow an external host to read the digital diagnostic data from the memory. The second interface, which is distinct and separate from the first interface, is configured to serially communicate data to the second module via the serial cable.

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Boulder Creek, CA, United States of America

Gayle Loretta Ray Noble