Intel Corporation

Serge Bedwani

Vincent Edward Von Bokern

Siang Lin Tan

Eng Hun Ooi

Amber D Huffman

Chai Huat Gan

Fei Deng

Thien Ern Ooi

Soon Seng Seh

Jien Hau Ng

A technique for rate verification of an incoming serial alignment sequence includes receiving an incoming serial stream. A determination is then made as to whether an align sequence is recognized in the incoming serial stream. When an align sequence is recognized, a check is made to determine if an appropriate number of align primitives are received during a predetermined number of clock periods. If the number of received align primitives matches the predetermined number, then a rate-verified align detect signal is asserted.

Rate verification of an incoming serial alignment sequence

An apparatus and method for serial link down detection are described. In one embodiment, the method includes the detection of an initial link down condition of a serial link. In one embodiment, the initial link down condition is detected, for example, when a transition from a normal signaling voltage level to a squelch signaling voltage level is detected at a receiver input. When an initial link down condition is detected, the issuance of a link down signal is delayed for a predetermined period of time from the detection of the squelch voltage over the serial link. In one embodiment, the link down signal is asserted if a data error is detected following the predetermined period of time from the detection of the squelch voltage. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Method and apparatus for serial link down detection

A method, circuit, and system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises sending a step pulse across a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) transmission line, determining the length of time the transmission line takes to charge from common mode voltage to supply voltage, and determining whether a device is connected to the SATA transmission line based on the length of the transmission line charge time.

Serial advanced technology attachment device presence detection and hot-plug in low power mode

One embodiment of a technique for performing impedance compensation update operations without causing potential data corruption problems includes taking advantage of protocol idle periods, where synchronization primitives, filler data, and alignment primitives are being transmitted. For example, a serial interconnect controller may take control of the interconnect by initiating a dummy transaction. The controller can then perform an impedance compensation update operation while it is assured that no data transfers are occurring. After an appropriate settling time and after a transmission of an alignment primitive, the controller can complete the dummy transaction by issuing a no-op. This process may be re-performed periodically.

In-protocol impedance compensation control

An apparatus and method to facilitate validation and/or test of serial interfaces by analyzing error event types based at least in part on a code-stamp, compare engine logic and a memory for error capture.

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Folsom, CA, United States of America

Serge Bedwani