Xilinx, Inc.

Mosys, Inc.

Magnalynx, Inc.

Scott Alan Irwin

William C Black

Charles Walter Boecker

Eric Douglas Groen

Aaron Hoelscher

Matthew Shafer

Andrew G Jenkins

Joseph Neil Kryzak

Jerry Chuang

David Black

Bodhisattva Das

Yiqin Chen

Paul O Jennings

A network system includes a first device and a second device coupled to each other that mux and demux data for LSL to HSL transitions. The muxing and demuxing function in the first and second device, respectively, use timing logic from an existing training protocol, such as link training ('LT'). Although LT is used for establishing links between two chips, and has no provision for maintaining port coherency for port-specific input data on one chip to port-specific output data on another chip, the LT does have a uniquely identifiable logic transition in a known data pattern used for LT that can be multi-purposed for syncing the muxing and demuxing of the two interfaced chips, using a predetermined port sequence on both chips to maintain coherency of port-specific data.

Chip-to-chip port coherency without overhead

A method, system and apparatus, for bootstrapping an autonegotiation signal in an intermediate device. The intermediate device initializes using a referenceless clock circuit. The intermediate device then recovers a more accurate clock sourced from a second device via a clock data recovery circuit in the intermediate device. The second device has a physical medium attachment interface within the intermediate device that does not require autonegotiation. The autonegotiation signal is communicated to a first device having a physical medium dependent interface to the intermediate device, thus requiring autonegotiation.

Bootstrapped autonegotiation clock from a referenceless clock chip

A high data rate transceiver for processing high data rate serial data includes circuitry for recovering a clock based on the high data rate input data stream. The transceiver includes a coarse loop of a phase-locked loop that selectively provides a clock having accuracy that is within a specified amount. In a sample mode of operation, only the coarse loop PLL is coupled to provide an error signal from which an oscillation signal and clock may be derived. In a second mode (lock) of operation, the transceiver may lock to the received serial data stream by coupling the fine loop PLL to provide an adjusted error signal. In a third mode of operation, (automatic) the transceiver initially performs coarse loop calibration by de-coupling the fine loop PLL and coupling the coarse loop PLL until a steady state has been reached.

PMA RX in coarse loop for high speed sampling

The present disclosure is generally directed to a method and apparatus to communicate data between two or more semiconductor devices. In an embodiment, a method includes synchronizing a master device with a slave device, where the master device includes a semiconductor device. Synchronizing includes transmitting a first synchronization marker data pattern via a first serial interface from the master device at a first time, and receiving a second synchronization marker data pattern via a second serial interface at the master device at a second time in response to transmitting the first synchronization marker data pattern. Synchronizing also includes determining, based at least in part on the first time and the second time, a third time when a reply is to be received by the master device in response to a request transmitted from the master device to the slave device.

Method and apparatus to encode and synchronize a serial interface

A device and a method for processing high data rate serial data includes circuitry for recovering a clock based on the high data rate input data stream and for providing the recovered clock to a circuit portion, for example, a portion of a field programmable gate array fabric, to enable the circuit portion to use either a reference clock or the recovered clock for subsequent processing. The invention specifically allows for different circuitry portions to utilize different clocks, including different recovered clocks, for corresponding functions that are being performed. Applications for the present invention are many but include multi-gigabit transceiver, switching devices, and protocol translation devices. More generally, the device and method provide for application specific clock references to be utilized in order to minimize or eliminate timing mismatch in serial data processing.

MGT/FPGA clock management system

The present disclosure is generally directed to a method of communicating data between two or more semiconductor devices. Serial interfaces using the method have a reduction in latency compared to conventional serial interfaces. The method enables features needed for a serial interface, such as limited run lengths and recognizable data boundaries to establish alignment. In addition, a method for synchronizing two or more semiconductor devices through serial interfaces has been presented. This is done by passing a marker data pattern through the system.

Method of encoding and synchronizing a serial interface

Method and apparatus for configuring a programmable logic device to perform testing on a signal channel is described. Configurable logic of the programmable logic device is configured for a test mode. Configurable interconnects are configured for communication from or to the configurable logic to or from transceivers coupled to the configurable input/output interconnect to communicate test signals.

Communication signal testing with a programmable logic device

A device and a method for processing high data rate serial data includes circuitry for recovering a clock based on the high data rate input data stream. A transceiver includes a coarse loop of a phase-locked loop that selectively provides a clock having accuracy that is within a specified amount. In a sample mode of operation, only the coarse loop PLL is coupled to provide an error signal from which an oscillation signal and clock may be derived. In a second mode (lock) of operation, the transceiver may lock to the received serial data stream by coupling the fine loop PLL to provide an adjusted error signal. In a third mode of operation, (automatic) the transceiver initially performs coarse loop calibration by de-coupling the fine loop PLL and coupling the coarse loop PLL until a steady state has been reached.

A programmable logic device includes a plurality of programmable multi-gigabit transceivers, programmable logic fabric, and a control module. Each of the plurality of programmable multi-gigabit transceivers is individually programmed to a desired transceiving mode of operation in accordance with a plurality of transceiver settings. The programmable logic fabric is operably coupled to the plurality of programmable multi-gigabit transceivers and is configured to process at least a portion of the data being transceived via the multi-gigabit transceivers. The control module is operably coupled to produce the plurality of transceiver settings based on a desired mode of operation for the programmable logic device.

Programmable logic device including programmable multi-gigabit transceivers

A memory device and system are disclosed that may include a serial data interface, a serial address interface, and a reference clock interface. The reference clock interface is configured to receive a signal from a reference clock source that provides a reference clock signal to a memory control device. The serial interfaces are coupled to other memory devices or memory control devices. A method of transferring data within a memory system using serial interfaces is also disclosed. The method includes performing clock multiplication on a reference clock to provide a multiplied clock, using the multiplied clock to serialize and transmit data onto a serial interface, recovering data from the seal interface, using the reference clock to determine an initial frequency for use by clock and data recovery module, using the data recovered from the serial interface to determine a phase and final frequency of a recovered clock, and using the recovered clock to de-serialize received serial data into parallel data words.

Memory system and memory device having a serial interface

Method and apparatus for auto-negotiation of a programmable logic device for any of a plurality of communication protocols is described. The programmable logic device is programmed for auto negotiation to establish a communication session. The programmable logic device has access to transceiver attributes. A portion of the transceiver attributes are selected in response to session information from the auto negotiation. The portion of the transceiver attributes selected are for configuring at least one transceiver for a communication protocol.

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Ames, IA, United States of America

Scott Alan Irwin