Method and apparatus for evaluating and optimizing a signaling system

摘要

A method and apparatus for evaluating and optimizing a signaling system is described. A pattern of test information is generated in a transmit circuit of the system and is transmitted to a receive circuit. A similar pattern of information is generated in the receive circuit and used as a reference. The receive circuit compares the patterns. Any differences between the patterns are observable. In one embodiment, a linear feedback shift register (LFSR) is implemented to produce patterns. An embodiment of the present disclosure may be practiced with various types of signaling systems, including those with single-ended signals and those with differential signals. An embodiment of the present disclosure may be applied to systems communicating a single bit of information on a single conductor at a given time and to systems communicating multiple bits of information on a single conductor simultaneously.

主权项

1. An integrated circuit, comprising:
a receiver to serially receive a signal via at least one electrical conductor from a transmitter and to equalize the signal using a set of equalization coefficients, the signal comprising a repeating test pattern during a test mode and a data signal during a normal mode; and circuitry to evaluate the repeating test pattern received by the receiver during the test mode against an expected pattern to generate comparison outputs using first values of the set of equalization coefficients during a first time period and second values of the set of equalization coefficients during a second time period; where the receiver is to equalize the data signal during the normal mode using the first or the second values for the set of equalization coefficients selected in dependence on the comparison outputs.