Verifying communication lanes by individually disconnecting transmit wires by wire polarity

摘要

Individual wire defects in a data transfer/communication system that employs differential signaling can be detected during connectivity verification of a link prior to link training by individually disconnecting wires by wire polarity and testing the link. For example, the positive transmit wire of a lane may be verified by disconnecting the negative transmit wire of the lane and performing link connectivity verification. If the link passes connectivity verification, then the positive transmit wire of the lane is functioning normally. Connectivity of the negative transmit wire of the lane may then be verified by disconnecting the positive transmit wire of the lane and determining if the passes the connectivity verification.

主权项

1. A method of verifying functionality of a link connecting integrated circuits, the method comprising:
activating first switches in each full duplex channel of the link,
wherein each full duplex channel includes a pair of transmit wires and a pair of receive wires, each pair of wires having a first wire of a first polarity and a second wire of a second polarity for differential signaling,wherein the first switches are in the first wires of the transmit wires;wherein activating the first switches functionally disconnects the first wires; initiating a first receive detection on the link; associating a failure in the first receive detection with the second polarity; deactivating the first switches; activating second switches in each full duplex channel of the link,
wherein the second switches are in the second wires of the transmit wires;wherein activating the second switches functionally disconnects the second wires; initiating a second receive detection on the link; and associating a failure in the second receive detection with the first polarity.