Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080225933 | PROTOCOL-AGNOSTIC AUTOMATIC RATE NEGOTIATION FOR HIGH-SPEED SERIAL INTERFACE IN A PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC DEVICE - Automatic rate negotiation logic for a high speed serial interface in a programmable logic device determines whether multiple occurrences of a single-bit transition (i.e., a data transition from “0” to “1” to “0” or from “1” to “0” to “1”) occur within a predetermined time interval on a data channel of a high-speed serial interface. The interval preferably is selected such that multiple occurrences of a single-bit transition mean that the data channel is operating in full-rate mode. The rate negotiation logic may share a phase detector with clock data recovery circuitry in the interface. The phase detector may be a bang-bang phase detector specially adapted to detect single-bit transitions. | 09-18-2008 |
20080246516 | Phase Frequency Detectors Generating Minimum Pulse Widths - A phase frequency detector compares a reference clock signal to a feedback clock signal to generate pulses in one or more output signals. The one or more output signals have a minimum pulse width. The phase frequency detector has a temperature sensing circuit. The phase frequency detector adjusts the minimum pulse width of the one or more output signals using the temperature sensing circuit to compensate for variations in the temperature of the phase frequency detector. | 10-09-2008 |
20080258765 | Low-power transceiver architectures for programmable logic integrated circuit devices - High-speed serial interface or transceiver circuitry on a programmable logic device integrated circuit (“PLD”) includes features that permit the PLD to satisfy a wide range of possible user needs or applications. This range includes both high-performance applications and applications in which reduced power consumption by the PLD is important. In the latter case, any one or more of various features can be used to help reduce power consumption. | 10-23-2008 |
20090011716 | SIGNAL LOSS DETECTOR FOR HIGH-SPEED SERIAL INTERFACE OF A PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC DEVICE - A loss-of-signal detector includes digital and analog monitoring of incoming data. The incoming signal is compared digitally to at least one predetermined pattern that may indicate a loss of signal, and also is monitored by an analog detector that detects transitions in the data. If the digital comparison fails to match any of the at least one predetermined pattern, or if transitions are detected by the analog monitoring, even if the digital comparison produces a pattern match, then loss of signal is not indicated. | 01-08-2009 |
20090154542 | High-speed serial data signal receiver circuitry - Circuitry for receiving a high-speed serial data signal (e.g., having a bit rate in the range of about 10 Gpbs and higher) includes a two-stage, continuous-time, linear equalizer having only two serially connected stages. Phase detector circuitry may be provided for receiving the serial output of the equalizer and for converting successive pairs of bits in that output to successive parallel-form bit pairs. Further demultiplexing circuitry may be provided to demultiplex successive groups of the parallel-form bit pairs to final groups of parallel bits, which can be quite large in terms of number of bits (e.g., 64 parallel bits). Another aspect of the invention relates to multiplexer circuitry for efficiently going in the opposite direction from such relatively large groups of parallel data bits to a high-speed serial data output signal. | 06-18-2009 |
20090154591 | High-speed serial data signal transmitter driver circuitry - Transmitter driver circuitry for outputting a high-speed serial data signal (e.g., in the range of about 10 gigabits per second or higher) includes H-tree driver circuitry having only a main driver stage and a post-tap driver stage. At least one transistor in the H-tree driver circuitry is constructed and connected to provide electrostatic discharge protection. PMOS and NMOS current sources are used for the H-tree driver circuitry to enhance power supply noise rejection. | 06-18-2009 |
20090161738 | Transceiver system with reduced latency uncertainty - A transceiver system with reduced latency uncertainty is described. In one implementation, the transceiver system has a word aligner latency uncertainty of zero. In another implementation, the transceiver system has a receiver-to-transmitter transfer latency uncertainty of zero. In yet another implementation, the transceiver system has a word aligner latency uncertainty of zero and a receiver-to-transmitter transfer latency uncertainty of zero. In one specific implementation, the receiver-to-transmitter transfer latency uncertainty is eliminated by using the transmitter parallel clock as a feedback signal in the transmitter phase locked loop (PLL). In one implementation, this is achieved by optionally making the transmitter divider, which generates the transmitter parallel clock, part of the feedback path of the transmitter PLL. In one implementation, the word aligner latency uncertainty is eliminated by using a bit slipper to slip bits in such a way so that the total delay due to the word alignment and bit slipping is constant for all phases of the recovered clock. This allows for having a fixed and known latency between the receipt and transmission of bits for all phases of parallelization by the deserializer. In one specific implementation, the total delay due to the bit shifting by the word aligner and the bit slipping by the bit slipper is zero since the bit slipper slips bits so as to compensate for the bit shifting that was performed by the word aligner. | 06-25-2009 |
20090257445 | PLD ARCHITECTURE OPTIMIZED FOR 10G ETHERNET PHYSICAL LAYER SOLUTION - An integrated circuit (e.g., a programmable integrated circuit such as a programmable microcontroller, a programmable logic device, etc.) includes programmable circuitry and 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10 GbE) transceiver circuitry. The programmable circuitry and the transceiver circuitry may be configured to implement the physical (PHY) layer of the 10GbE networking specification. This integrated circuit may then be coupled to an optical transceiver module in order to transmit and receive 10 GbE optical signals. The transceiver circuitry and interface circuitry that connects the transceiver circuitry with the programmable circuitry may be hard-wired or partially hard-wired. | 10-15-2009 |
20090302888 | INCREASED SENSITIVITY AND REDUCED OFFSET VARIATION IN HIGH DATA RATE HSSI RECEIVER - Signal offset variation caused by transistor variation/mismatch in integrated circuits may be reduced. In one embodiment, a buffer circuit has variable-valued circuits elements. Offset variation measurements are made and the variable-valued circuit elements are calibrated to reduce the measured offset variation. In another embodiment, each amplifying stage of a multi-stage buffer provides variable gain. The total DC gain of the cascade is distributed unevenly across the stages, with more DC gain being provided by amplifier stages at the beginning of the cascade than at the end. An additional pre-amplifier stage can also be provided at the beginning of the cascade. | 12-10-2009 |
20100073094 | Techniques For Generating Fractional Clock Signals - A circuit includes phase detection circuitry, a clock signal generation circuit, a first frequency divider, and a second frequency divider. The phase detection circuitry compares an input clock signal to a feedback signal to generate a control signal. The clock signal generation circuit generates a periodic output signal in response to the control signal. The first frequency divider divides a frequency of the periodic output signal by a first value to generate a first frequency divided signal. The second frequency divider divides the frequency of the periodic output signal by a second value to generate a second frequency divided signal. The first and the second frequency divided signals are routed to the phase detection circuitry as the feedback signal during different time intervals. | 03-25-2010 |
20100086017 | Automatic calibration in high-speed serial interface receiver circuitry - Circuitry for receiving a serial data signal (e.g., a high-speed serial data signal) includes adjustable equalizer circuitry for producing an equalized version of the serial data signal. The equalizer circuitry may include controllably variable DC gain and controllably variable AC gain. The circuitry may further include eye height and eye width monitor circuitry for respectively producing first and second output signals indicative of the height and width of the eye of the equalized version. The first output signal may be used in control of the DC gain of the equalizer circuitry, and the second output signal may be used in control of the AC gain of the equalizer circuitry. | 04-08-2010 |
20100090774 | Techniques For Providing Option Conductors to Connect Components in an Oscillator Circuit - An oscillator circuit includes transistors that are cross-coupled through routing conductors in a first conductive layer. The oscillator circuit also includes a varactor, a capacitor, and an option conductor in a second conductive layer. The option conductor forms at least a portion of a connection between one of the transistors and the capacitor or the varactor. | 04-15-2010 |
20100109675 | METHOD TO DIGITIZE ANALOG SIGNALS IN A SYSTEM UTILIZING DYNAMIC ANALOG TEST MULTIPLEXER FOR DIAGNOSTICS - An integrated circuit capable of monitoring analog voltages inside an analog block is presented. The integrated circuit has an analog test multiplexer (mux) whose inputs are connected to analog voltages of interest inside an analog block. The analog test multiplexer directs a selected analog voltage from an analog block to the output of the analog test mux. The integrated circuit further includes an analog monitor state machine which provides the selection bits to the analog test multiplexer, enabling random access to the analog voltages inside the analog block. The integrated circuit also includes an analog to digital converter for converting the selected analog voltage from the analog test multiplexer into a digital representation. | 05-06-2010 |
20110188621 | CLOCK AND DATA RECOVERY CIRCUITRY WITH AUTO-SPEED NEGOTIATION AND OTHER POSSIBLE FEATURES - An integrated circuit (“IC”) may include clock and data recovery (“CDR”) circuitry for recovering data information from an input serial data signal. The CDR circuitry may include a reference clock loop and a data loop. A retimed (recovered) data signal output by the CDR circuitry is monitored by other control circuitry on the IC for a communication change request contained in that signal. Responsive to such a request, the control circuitry can change an operating parameter of the CDR circuitry (e.g., a frequency division factor used in either of the above-mentioned loops). This can help the IC support communication protocols that employ auto-speed negotiation. | 08-04-2011 |
20110234331 | INTEGRATED CIRCUITS WITH CONFIGURABLE INDUCTORS - Integrated circuits with phase-locked loops are provided. Phase-locked loops may include an oscillator, a phase-frequency detector, a charge pump, a loop filter, a voltage-controlled oscillator, and a programmable divider. The voltage-controlled oscillator may include multiple inductors, an oscillator circuit, and a buffer circuit. A selected one of the multiple inductors may be actively connected to the oscillator circuit. The voltage-controlled oscillators may have multiple oscillator circuits. Each oscillator circuit may be connected to a respective inductor, may include a varactor, and may be powered by a respective voltage regulator. Each oscillator circuit may be coupled to a respective input transistor pair in the buffer circuit through associated coupling capacitors. A selected one of the oscillator circuits may be turned on during normal operation by supplying a high voltage to the selected one of the oscillator circuit and by supply a ground voltage to the remaining oscillator circuits. | 09-29-2011 |
20110235756 | SIGNAL LOSS DETECTOR FOR HIGH-SPEED SERIAL INTERFACE OF A PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC DEVICE - A loss-of-signal detector includes digital and analog monitoring of incoming data. The incoming signal is compared digitally to at least one predetermined pattern that may indicate a loss of signal, and also is monitored by an analog detector that detects transitions in the data. If the digital comparison fails to match any of the at least one predetermined pattern, or if transitions are detected by the analog monitoring, even if the digital comparison produces a pattern match, then loss of signal is not indicated. | 09-29-2011 |
20110257953 | SIMULATION TOOL FOR HIGH-SPEED COMMUNICATIONS LINKS - A link simulation tool for simulating high-speed communications link systems is provided. Communications links may include link subsystems such as transmit (TX) circuitry, receive (TX) circuitry, oscillator circuits that provide reference clock signals to the TX and RX circuitry, and channels that link the TX and RX circuitry. The link simulation tool may model each of the subsystems using behavioral models. The behavioral models may include characteristic functions such as transfer functions, probability density functions, and eye characteristics. The link simulation tool may have a link analysis engine that is capable of performing two-dimensional (two-variable) convolution operations and in applying dual-domain (frequency-time) transformations on the characteristic functions provided by the behavioral models to simulate the performance of the link system. The link simulation tool may have an input screen that allows a user to specify desired link parameters and a data display screen that display simulated results. | 10-20-2011 |
20110285434 | HETEROGENEOUS PHYSICAL MEDIA ATTACHMENT CIRCUITRY FOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DEVICES - An integrated circuit includes physical media attachment (“PMA”) circuitry that includes two different kinds of transceiver channels for serial data signals. One kind of transceiver channel is adapted for transceiving relatively low-speed serial data signals. The other kind of transceiver channel is adapted for transceiving relatively high-speed serial data signals. A high-speed channel is alternatively usable as phase-locked loop (“PLL”) circuitry for providing a clock signal for use by other high- and/or low-speed channels. A low-speed channel can alternatively get a clock signal from separate low-speed PLL circuitry. | 11-24-2011 |
20120072784 | CIRCUITRY ON AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT FOR PERFORMING OR FACILITATING OSCILLOSCOPE, JITTER, AND/OR BIT-ERROR-RATE TESTER OPERATIONS - An integrated circuit (“IC”) may include circuitry for use in testing a serial data signal. The IC may include circuitry for transmitting the serial data signal with optional jitter, optional noise, and/or controllably variable drive strength. The IC may also include circuitry for receiving the serial data signal and performing a bit error rate (“BER”) analysis in such a signal. The IC may provide output signals indicative of results of its operations. The IC can operate in various modes to perform or at least emulate functions of an oscilloscope, a bit error rate tester, etc., for testing signals and circuitry with respect to jitter-tolerance, noise-tolerance, etc. | 03-22-2012 |
20120072785 | BIT ERROR RATE CHECKER RECEIVING SERIAL DATA SIGNAL FROM AN EYE VIEWER - An IC that includes an eye viewer and a BER checker coupled to the eye viewer, where the BER checker receives a serial data signal from the eye viewer, is provided. In one implementation, the BER checker receives the serial data signal from the eye viewer without the serial data signal passing through a deserializer. In one implementation, the BER checker compares the serial data signal against a reference data signal to determine the BER for the serial data signal. In one implementation, the IC includes an IC core coupled to the eye viewer and the BER checker, where the BER checker is outside the IC core. In one implementation, the BER checker is a dedicated BER checker. In one implementation, the BER checker includes an exclusive OR gate, a programmable delay circuit coupled to the exclusive OR gate, and an error counter coupled to the exclusive OR gate. | 03-22-2012 |
20120126896 | OFFSET CANCELLATION FOR CONTINUOUS-TIME CIRCUITS - One embodiment relates to a continuous-time circuit configured with an offset cancellation loop. The continuous-time circuit includes a multi-stage amplifier chain, including a first amplifier stage and a last amplifier stage, and an offset cancellation loop. The offset cancellation loop is configured to receive an output of the last amplifier stage and to provide an offset correction voltage signal to the first amplifier stage. The offset compensation loop may create one dominant pole and a single consequential parasitic pole so as to have greater stability and may advantageously achieve a second-order roll-off in response magnitude at higher frequencies. Other embodiments, aspects, and features are also disclosed. | 05-24-2012 |
20120251116 | INTEGRATED OPTICAL-ELECTRONIC INTERFACE IN PROGRAMMABLE INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DEVICE - Systems that provide integrated circuit device circuitry having an integrated optical-electronic interface for high-speed off-device communications are provided. An optical-electronic interface may be incorporated into an integrated circuit device, freeing up some or all of the electrical I/O pins of the integrated circuit device. Transceiver I/O channels may be provided on an integrated circuit device that can be switched between electrical and optical transceiver I/O channels. | 10-04-2012 |
20120256670 | Techniques for Reducing Duty Cycle Distortion in Periodic Signals - A transmitter circuit is operable to provide an output signal in response to a first periodic signal. A multiplexer circuit is operable to provide a second periodic signal as a selected signal during a first phase of operation. The multiplexer circuit is operable to provide the output signal of the transmitter circuit as the selected signal during a second phase of operation. A sampler circuit is operable to generate first samples of the selected signal during the first phase of operation. The sampler circuit is operable to generate second samples of the selected signal during the second phase of operation. A duty cycle control circuit is operable to adjust a duty cycle of the first periodic signal based on the first and the second samples. | 10-11-2012 |
20130009279 | INTEGRATED CIRCUITS WITH CONFIGURABLE INDUCTORS - Integrated circuits with phase-locked loops are provided. Phase-locked loops may include an oscillator, a phase-frequency detector, a charge pump, a loop filter, a voltage-controlled oscillator, and a programmable divider. The voltage-controlled oscillator may include multiple inductors, an oscillator circuit, and a buffer circuit. A selected one of the multiple inductors may be actively connected to the oscillator circuit. The voltage-controlled oscillators may have multiple oscillator circuits. Each oscillator circuit may be connected to a respective inductor, may include a varactor, and may be powered by a respective voltage regulator. Each oscillator circuit may be coupled to a respective input transistor pair in the buffer circuit through associated coupling capacitors. A selected one of the oscillator circuits may be turned on during normal operation by supplying a high voltage to the selected one of the oscillator circuit and by supply a ground voltage to the remaining oscillator circuits. | 01-10-2013 |
20130093482 | CLOCK AND DATA RECOVERY CIRCUITRY WITH AUTO-SPEED NEGOTIATION AND OTHER POSSIBLE FEATURES - An integrated circuit (“IC”) may include clock and data recovery (“CDR”) circuitry for recovering data information from an input serial data signal. The CDR circuitry may include a reference clock loop and a data loop. A retimed (recovered) data signal output by the CDR circuitry is monitored by other control circuitry on the IC for a communication change request contained in that signal. Responsive to such a request, the control circuitry can change an operating parameter of the CDR circuitry (e.g., a frequency division factor used in either of the above-mentioned loops). This can help the IC support communication protocols that employ auto-speed negotiation. | 04-18-2013 |
20130114663 | FLEXIBLE RECEIVER ARCHITECTURE - One embodiment relates to a receiver circuit for a data link. The receiver circuit includes at least a first signal path, a second signal path, and a path selector circuit. The first signal path includes first equalization circuitry, and the second signal path includes second equalization circuitry. The path selector circuit is configured to select one signal path of the first and second signal paths. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed. | 05-09-2013 |
20130275071 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR CALIBRATING ANALOG CIRCUITRY IN AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - The present disclosure provides apparatus and methods for the calibration of analog circuitry on an integrated circuit. One embodiment relates to a method of calibrating analog circuitry within an integrated circuit. A microcontroller that is embedded in the integrated circuit is booted up. A reset control signal is sent to reset an analog circuit in the integrated circuit, and a response signal for the analog circuit is monitored by the microcontroller. Based on the response signal, a calibration parameter for the analog circuit is determined, and the analog circuit is configured using the calibration parameter. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed. | 10-17-2013 |
20140107997 | Simulation Tool for High-Speed Communications Links - A link simulation tool for simulating high-speed communications link systems is provided. Communications links may include link subsystems such as transmit (TX) circuitry, receive (TX) circuitry, oscillator circuits that provide reference clock signals to the TX and RX circuitry, and channels that link the TX and RX circuitry. The link simulation tool may model each of the subsystems using behavioral models. The behavioral models may include characteristic functions such as transfer functions, probability density functions, and eye characteristics. The link simulation tool may have a link analysis engine that is capable of performing two-dimensional (two-variable) convolution operations and in applying dual-domain (frequency-time) transformations on the characteristic functions provided by the behavioral models to simulate the performance of the link system. The link simulation tool may have an input screen that allows a user to specify desired link parameters and a data display screen that display simulated results. | 04-17-2014 |
20140133529 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR ADAPTIVE RECEIVER DELAY EQUALIZATION - Disclosed are apparatus and methods for adaptive receiver delay equalization. One embodiment relates to a method for adaptive receiver delay equalization. Filtered positive and negative polarity signals are generated by a first variable-delay filter and a second variable-delay filter, respectively. A delay difference is determined between the filtered positive and negative polarity signals, and a skew-indication signal is generated based on the delay difference. A delay control signal is generated based on the skew-indication signal, and the delay control signal is sent to at least one of the first and second variable-delay filters. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed. | 05-15-2014 |
20140374877 | Integrated Circuits With On-Die Decoupling Capacitors - An integrated circuit includes a decoupling capacitor and an internal circuit. The decoupling capacitor is coupled to a first external terminal of the integrated circuit. The internal circuit in the integrated circuit is coupled to a second external terminal of the integrated circuit. The decoupling capacitor is coupled to provide supply voltage current to the internal circuit through the first and the second external terminals and through external conductors. The external conductors are outside the integrated circuit. | 12-25-2014 |