Altera Corporation

Peter Schepers

Han Hua Leong

Suresh Gordhanlal Andani

Boon Hong Oh

Da Hai Tang

The present disclosure provides a link assist capability that may be added to a compiled design that includes a transceiver. The transceiver with the link assist capability may be dynamically reconfigured to operate in a link assist mode, which is a diagnostic and test mode. The link assist mode may interact with a HSSI link partner, or a design software tool, or a user-defined program. The link assist mode may also facilitate remote debugging. One embodiment relates to an apparatus for serial interface link assist. Another embodiment relates to a method of dynamic reconfiguration of transceiver settings. Another embodiment relates to a method of tuning a bidirectional serial link. Other features, aspects and embodiments are also disclosed.

Methods and apparatus for high-speed serial interface link assist

A circuit includes a receiver circuit, a data valid monitor circuit, a clock signal generation circuit, and a phase shift circuit. The receiver circuit is operable to generate a first periodic signal, a sampled data signal based on an input data signal, and a data valid signal based on a predefined number of bits in the sampled data signal. The data valid monitor circuit is operable to generate a count value by counting periods of the first periodic signal. The data valid monitor circuit is operable to generate a phase error signal based on the data valid signal and the count value. The clock signal generation circuit is operable to generate a second periodic signal. The phase shift circuit is operable to generate a third periodic signal based on the second periodic signal and to adjust a phase of the third periodic signal based on the phase error signal.

Growing community of inventors

Bornem, Belgium

Peter Schepers