Intel Corporation

Lyonel Renaud

Suneel G Mitbander

David M Puffer

Daren J Schmidt

Sarath Kotamreddy

Sarah Kotamreddy

Theodore Zale Schoenborn

Andrew W Martwick

Cass A Blodgett

Multiple symbol sequences that have been transmitted in parallel using the same transmit clock over a serial point to point link are received. Each symbol sequence includes an instance of a first, non-data symbol. The multiple symbol sequences are buffered and the number of times an instance of a second, non-data symbol that occurs in one of the symbol sequences is changed. A first deskew process is performed, followed by a second deskew process. The first deskew process aligns an instance of the first non-data symbol in every one of the buffered symbol sequences. The second deskew process equalizes the number of instances of the second non-data symbol that follow an instance of the first non-data symbol in every one of the symbol sequences. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Lane to lane deskewing via non-data symbol processing for a serial point to point link

A serial point to point link that communicatively couples an integrated circuit (IC) device to another IC device is initialized by transferring a training sequence of symbols over the link. Registers of the IC device are programmed, to set a symbol data pattern and configure a lane transmitter for the link. A start bit in a register of the IC device is programmed, to request that the link be placed in a measurement mode. In this mode, the IC device instructs the other IC device to enter a loopback mode for the link. The IC device transmits a sequence of test symbols over the link and evaluates a loopback version of the sequence for errors. The sequence of test symbols have a data pattern, and are transmitted, as configured by the registers. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Programmable measurement mode for a serial point to point link

A stream of bits are received in a first integrated circuit (IC) device, where the stream represents a sequence of symbols transmitted by a second IC device over a serial point to point link that couples the two devices. First and second M-bit sections of the stream are compared to a non-data symbol. The second M-bit section is offset by one bit in the stream relative to the first section. If there is a match between the first section and the non-data symbol, then a flag indicating symbol alignment is asserted. Each of multiple, consecutive, non overlapping M-bit sections that follow the first section are then to be treated as separate symbols. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Receiver symbol alignment for a serial point to point link

An integrated circuit (IC) device that has an analog front end with an I/O buffer is reset. The I/O buffer has a driver circuit to transmit a stream of information over a serial point to point link, and a receiver circuit to receive a stream of information over the link. Digitally-controllable transmission line terminations are provided for the driver and receiver circuits, respectively. A digitally-controllable reference signal level is also provided for the I/O buffer. A number of impedance matching compensation values are automatically calibrated against one or more reference resistors, by calibrating a first value and then a second value, and a third value. These calibrated values are automatically applied to set the reference signal level, driver termination, and receiver termination, respectively. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Growing community of inventors

Gilbert, AZ, United States of America

Lyonel Renaud