Device for testing, electronic system and electronic system capable of realizing communication between PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) switch
By using a relay module to connect PCIe switches in the test system, the problem of insufficient real-time communication in the existing technology is solved, and efficient communication between PCIe switches is achieved, making it suitable for more complex test architectures.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- KUNYI ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY (SHANGHAI) CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-03-21
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-15
AI Technical Summary
In the existing test system, the business devices do not use switches for communication, resulting in insufficient real-time communication, especially under Ethernet communication, which makes it difficult to meet high real-time requirements.
A relay module is used to build a communication bridge between PCIe switches, connecting the first and second PCIe switches via a wired communication medium, reducing reliance on Ethernet and improving communication efficiency.
It enables efficient communication between PCIe switches, meets the high real-time requirements of the test system, and provides a communication solution for more complex architectures.
Smart Images
Figure CN224249712U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of testing or communication, and more particularly to a testing apparatus, an electronic system, and an electronic system capable of enabling communication between PCIe switches. Background Technology
[0002] Taking the testing field as an example, it is necessary to use a business device (or describe it as a business device) for testing. The business device may be equipped with a real-time processing module for real-time calculation and processing during the testing process and / or a test communication module (such as a signal generation board, signal acquisition board, bus board, etc.) for communicating with external objects (such as the device under test or test auxiliary devices).
[0003] Internally, the business devices of the test system typically do not use switches for communication, and external communication is usually limited to Ethernet. This communication method is not conducive to improving the real-time performance of communication. Utility Model Content
[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a testing device, an electronic system, and an electronic system capable of communication between PCIe switches to address the aforementioned technical problems.
[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides an apparatus for testing, including a relay module, a first PCIe switch, and a test communication module;
[0006] The relay module has the following features:
[0007] The first port connects to the first PCIe switch;
[0008] The second port is used to connect to an external second PCIe switch via a wired communication medium;
[0009] The first PCIe switch is also connected to a test communication module, which is configured with channel resources or connected to channel resources; the channel resources are used to communicate with external objects, which are at least one of the following: device under test, test auxiliary device.
[0010] Secondly, this application provides an apparatus for testing, including a real-time processing module for performing real-time calculations during testing, and a relay module connected to a first PCIe switch, wherein the real-time processing module is connected to the first PCIe switch.
[0011] The relay module has the following features:
[0012] The first port is connected to the first PCIe switch;
[0013] The second port is used to connect to an external second PCIe switch via a wired communication medium, and channel resources in other devices connected to the second PCIe switch can be accessed through the second PCIe switch. The channel resources are used to communicate with an external object, which is at least one of the following: device under test, test auxiliary device.
[0014] Thirdly, this application provides an electronic system for testing, including a management device and multiple service devices; the service devices are provided with a relay module, a first PCIe switch and a test communication module; the management device is provided with a second PCIe switch; the relay module has a first port and a second port;
[0015] In the service device, both the first port and the test communication module are connected to the first PCIe switch;
[0016] The second port is connected to the second PCIe switch via a wired communication medium;
[0017] The test communication module is configured with channel resources or connected to channel resources; the channel resources are used to communicate with external objects, and the external objects are at least one of the following: the device under test, or a test auxiliary device.
[0018] In a first aspect, this application provides an electronic system capable of enabling communication between PCIe switches, comprising: a relay module, a first PCIe switch, and a second PCIe switch; the host connection of the first PCIe switch and the host connection of the second PCIe switch are respectively connected to their respective processing modules;
[0019] The relay module has the following features:
[0020] The first port is connected to the EP connection port of the first PCIe switch via a wired communication medium.
[0021] The second port connects to the EP connector of the second PCIe switch.
[0022] The testing device, electronic system, and electronic system capable of communication between PCIe switches provided in this application establish a communication bridge between the first PCIe switch and the second PCIe switch through a relay module. This ensures that a module on a PCIe switch can communicate with modules on PCIe switches outside the device, reducing the dependence on Ethernet for external communication. Furthermore, since PCIe switches can achieve higher transmission efficiency compared to Ethernet, this helps improve the real-time performance of communication and meets the high real-time requirements of testing, etc.
[0023] Furthermore, the connection method between the aforementioned relay module and the first PCIe switch and the second PCIe switch provides a paradigm for connecting two PCIe switches via a conversion module. Other PCIe switches can also connect to the PCIe switch via the relay module according to this paradigm to achieve the same function. Therefore, based on this application, it is easy to realize that a module on a PCIe switch can communicate with other modules through multiple PCIe switches, providing a feasible solution for more complex architectures. Attached Figure Description
[0024] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or related technologies, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments of this application or related technologies will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
[0025] Figure 1 These are schematic diagrams illustrating the structure of the service apparatus in some embodiments of this application;
[0026] Figure 2 These are schematic diagrams illustrating the construction of the service apparatus in other embodiments of this application;
[0027] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the construction of the service device in some embodiments of this application;
[0028] Figure 4 These are schematic diagrams illustrating the construction of electronic systems in some embodiments of this application. Detailed Implementation
[0029] To facilitate understanding of this application, a more complete description will be provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate embodiments of the present application. However, the present application can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that the disclosure of this application will be thorough and complete.
[0030] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application.
[0031] It is understood that the terms “first,” “second,” etc., used in this application may be used herein to describe various elements, but these elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another.
[0032] It should be noted that when one element is considered to be "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or connected to the other element through an intermediary element. Furthermore, in the following embodiments, "connection" should be understood as "electrical connection," "communication connection," etc., if there is transmission of electrical signals or data between the connected objects.
[0033] When used herein, the singular forms of “a,” “an,” and “the” may also include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the terms “comprising,” “including,” or “having,” etc., specify the presence of the stated feature, whole, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof, but do not preclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, wholes, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.
[0034] Some embodiments of this application provide an apparatus for testing, for example... Figures 1 to 4 The business unit shown.
[0035] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 1 The service device may include a relay module, a first PCIe switch, and a test communication module;
[0036] The relay module has the following features:
[0037] The first port connects to the first PCIe switch;
[0038] The second port is used to connect to an external second PCIe switch via a wired communication medium;
[0039] The first PCIe switch is also connected to a test communication module.
[0040] Furthermore, in Figure 1 In the embodiments shown, the service device may include a real-time processing module or may not include a test communication module.
[0041] In other embodiments, please refer to Figure 2 The business device may include: a real-time processing module that performs real-time calculations during testing, and may also include a relay module and a first PCIe switch, wherein the real-time processing module is connected to the first PCIe switch;
[0042] The relay module has the following features:
[0043] The first port is connected to the first PCIe switch;
[0044] The second port is used to connect to an external second PCIe switch via a wired communication medium, and the channel resources of other devices connected to the second PCIe switch can be accessed through the second PCIe switch.
[0045] Furthermore, in Figure 2 In the embodiments shown, the service device may or may not include a test communication module.
[0046] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2 Please refer to the business unit shown. Figure 3 The service device may simultaneously include a real-time processing module and a test communication module. Both the real-time processing module and the test communication module are connected to the first PCIe switch.
[0047] Furthermore, any module, such as a memory module or an emulation module, can be connected to the first PCIe switch. Therefore, the test communication module, real-time processing module, memory module, and emulation module can all be understood as service modules of the service device.
[0048] The PCIe switch is used to enable data exchange and communication between modules connected to the PCIe switch. The different modules connected to the PCIe switch refer to modules connected to different ports (or connection ends) of the PCIe switch.
[0049] A PCIe switch may include a HOST connector for connecting a host and an EP connector for connecting an EP (Extended Provider). The HOST connector can be used to connect a processing module (e.g., a processor), meaning the processing module can act as a host. The EP connector can be used to connect an I / O module, such as a test communication module in a testing environment, which can act as an EP.
[0050] EP stands for End Point, which is the terminal node.
[0051] The relay module can be located in the business device, for example, it can be connected to the real-time processing module of the business device through at least one method such as wired connection or plug-in connection.
[0052] The relay module is located between the first PCIe switch and the second PCIe switch, and its main function is to relay information to be relayed.
[0053] In some examples, the relay module can also be configured to convert the information to be relayed into a PCIe switch that is adapted to subsequently receive the information to be relayed through a conversion operation.
[0054] The conversion operation can be any field of the information to be forwarded that cannot be successfully transmitted in the PCIe switch that receives the information before the conversion, but can be successfully transmitted in the PCIe switch after the conversion. All of these operations can be understood as conversion operations here.
[0055] In one example, the translation operation may include an address translation operation of the access address of the access request. Specific examples in this specification will further illustrate the above address translation operation.
[0056] In another example, the conversion operation includes one of the following: an identity conversion operation of the transaction initiator identifier of the write request; an identity conversion operation of the transaction completer identifier of the read request; an identity conversion operation of the transaction initiator identifier of the data to be transferred; and an identity conversion operation of the transaction completer identifier of the data to be transferred.
[0057] In some examples, the relay module includes a first EP unit and a second EP unit, the first EP unit being connected to the first port and the second EP unit being connected to the second port; the first EP unit and the second EP unit are directly connected or indirectly connected via an intermediate processing unit.
[0058] The first EP unit is directly connected to the second EP unit or indirectly connected via an intermediate processing unit.
[0059] The first EP unit is used to communicate with the first PCIe switch to realize the function of the first EP, and can be used to realize the communication and interaction of an EP with the first PCIe switch.
[0060] The second EP unit is used to communicate with the second PCIe switch to implement the second EP, and can be used to realize the back-and-forth interaction of an EP in communication with the second PCIe switch.
[0061] In some examples, the relay module is implemented using FPGA circuitry, with the first EP unit and the second EP unit referring to two parts within the FPGA circuitry. In other examples, the first EP unit and the second EP unit can be two communication chips that can communicate as EPs on a PCIe switch.
[0062] The conversion operation is performed by at least one of the following:
[0063] The first EP unit;
[0064] The second EP unit;
[0065] An intermediate processing unit (which can also be understood as a conversion unit) is connected between the first EP unit and the second EP unit.
[0066] Please refer to Figure 4 In an electronic system used for testing, there may be multiple service devices (or it may be described as containing N service devices, where N is a positive integer), and each service device is provided with a service module. The service module in the service device includes at least one of the following: a real-time processing module, a test communication module, a simulation module, and a memory module.
[0067] Even if not used for testing, embodiments of this application also provide an electronic system capable of enabling communication between PCIe switches, including: a relay module, a first PCIe switch, and a second PCIe switch; the host connection terminals of the first PCIe switch and the second PCIe switch are respectively connected to their respective processing modules; the relay module has: a first port, connected to the EP connection terminal of the first PCIe switch via a wired communication medium; and a second port, connected to the EP connection terminal of the second PCIe switch. This specification mainly uses an electronic system as a test system for description. It should be understood that even if not used for testing, as long as a relay module is set between PCIe switches in an electronic system, it does not depart from the scope of this application.
[0068] The real-time processing module can be understood as any of the following: RTPC, industrial control computer, real-time machine, or processor. It provides computing resources and performs simulation calculations during the testing process. The memory module can be integrated with the real-time processing module or separated from it.
[0069] The test communication module communicates with an external object when used for testing. The external object is at least one of the following: the device under test, or a test auxiliary device.
[0070] The testing auxiliary devices can be, for example, mechanical benches, simulation devices, loads, etc., or actuators in RCP testing.
[0071] The test communication module can be configured with channel resources to communicate with external objects.
[0072] The channel resources can be, for example, resources of at least one of the following channels:
[0073] The signal acquisition channel can be used to acquire one or more of the following signals: digital voltage, analog voltage, digital current, and analog current. For example, it can be a multi-functional signal acquisition channel with switchable functions, with different functions corresponding to the acquisition of different types of signals.
[0074] The signal generation channel can be used to generate one or more of the following signals: digital voltage, analog voltage, digital current, and analog current. For example, it can be a multi-functional signal generation channel with switchable functions, with different functions corresponding to the acquisition of different types of signals.
[0075] The channel resources can also include, for example, bus channels (such as CAN channel, Flexray channel, LIN channel, DSI3 channel, PSI5 channel, automotive Ethernet channel, etc.), simulation channels, and other customized function channels.
[0076] The test communication modules can include, for example, signal acquisition boards, signal generation boards, simulation boards, bus boards, etc.
[0077] Furthermore, the purpose of the information to be conveyed may be, for example:
[0078] It can be used for the real-time processing module of one business device to access the test communication module in another business device across devices (for example, reading data reported by an external object to the test communication module, or sending data to the test communication module and then sending the data to the external object).
[0079] It can also be used to enable data sharing between the real-time processing module of one business device and the real-time processing module of another business device (for example, when multiple real-time processing modules are being tested collaboratively, data generated by interactive simulation is required).
[0080] It can also be used for data sharing between the test communication module of one business device and the test communication module of another business device (for example, when it is necessary to feed back the data reported by the test auxiliary device to the device under test or to feed back the data reported by the device under test to the test auxiliary device).
[0081] Furthermore, a single business unit may contain one or more real-time processing modules, test communication modules, simulation modules, etc.
[0082] In some embodiments, the wired communication medium is optical fiber. This provides a foundation for efficient communication across devices, while also allowing for greater flexibility in the spatial placement of the wiring.
[0083] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 4 The electronic system may also include a management device, which is equipped with a second PCIe switch, and the relay modules of each service device are connected to the second PCIe switch in the management device.
[0084] It is evident that the second PCIe switch is connected to different service devices, and can be described as a public PCIe switch, while the first PCIe switch belongs to the corresponding service device. Different service devices have their own first PCIe switches, and can also be described as non-public PCIe switches.
[0085] The management device and the business device can also communicate via an Ethernet switch to meet some communication needs that do not have high real-time requirements. For example, before testing, communication can be conducted via Ethernet, and the communication results can be used to determine relevant information about the conversion operation (such as how to implement the address conversion operation, information about the identification conversion operation, etc.).
[0086] The management device may include a designated processing module and a designated EP unit. Both the designated EP unit and the designated processing module are connected to the PCIe switch in the management device. The designated processing module is connected to the real-time processing module of each service device through an Ethernet switch.
[0087] For ease of understanding, the following describes the process by which information is transmitted between a business module (described as a first business module, such as a real-time processing module, test processing module, memory module, simulation module, etc.) in one business device (described as a second business device) and a business module (described as a second business module, such as a real-time processing module, test processing module, memory module, simulation module, etc.) in another business device (described as a second business device).
[0088] In the first service device, the first service module sends the information to be forwarded to the first PCIe switch. The forwarding module obtains the information to be forwarded from the first PCIe switch, performs a conversion operation on the information to be forwarded (or may not perform a conversion operation), and then sends it to the second PCIe switch.
[0089] Then, in the second service device, the relay module obtains the information to be relayed from the second PCIe switch, performs another round of conversion operation on the information to be relayed (or may not perform a conversion operation), and then sends it to the first PCIe switch. The first PCIe switch then sends the information to be relayed to the second service module.
[0090] As can be seen, in the testing device and electronic system provided in this application, the communication bridge between the first PCIe switch and the second PCIe switch is realized through the relay module, which ensures that the module on a PCIe switch can communicate with the module of a PCIe switch outside the device, reduces the dependence on Ethernet for external communication, and since the PCIe switch can achieve higher transmission efficiency than Ethernet, it helps to improve the real-time performance of communication and meet the high real-time requirements of testing, etc.
[0091] Furthermore, the connection method between the aforementioned relay module and the first PCIe switch and the second PCIe switch provides a paradigm for connecting two PCIe switches via a conversion module. Other PCIe switches can also connect to the PCIe switch via the relay module according to this paradigm to achieve the same function. Therefore, based on this application, it is easy to realize that a module on a PCIe switch can communicate with other modules through multiple PCIe switches, providing a feasible solution for more complex architectures.
[0092] Based on the architecture of the electronic system in this application embodiment, a service module can access target modules in other domains via multiple PCIe switch domains. For example, the real-time processing module of a service device can access the test communication module of the "other service device" via the PCIe switch of the service device, the PCIe switch of the management device, and the PCIe switch of another service device. The application provides the infrastructure for the implementation of this access. As a result, the device under test (DUT) can be wired more freely without being restricted to which service device it is connected to. At the same time, the resources available to the DUT (such as the channel resources provided by the test communication module, and the computing resources provided by the real-time processing module and the memory module) are no longer limited to a single service device, providing a basis for a richer and more diverse range of resource usage possibilities. This access is based on PCIe, has high communication efficiency, and can meet the high real-time interaction requirements between the real-time processing module and the DUT during the testing process.
[0093] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this application.
[0094] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of this patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this application should be determined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. An apparatus for testing, characterized in that, Includes a relay module, a first PCIe switch, and a test communication module; The relay module has the following features: The first port connects to the first PCIe switch; The second port is used to connect to an external second PCIe switch via a wired communication medium; The first PCIe switch is also connected to a test communication module, which is configured with channel resources or connected to channel resources; the channel resources are used to communicate with external objects, which are at least one of the following: device under test, test auxiliary device.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a real-time processing module, which is connected to the first PCIe switch.
3. An apparatus for testing, comprising a real-time processing module for performing real-time calculations during testing, characterized in that, It also includes a relay module and a first PCIe switch, wherein the real-time processing module is connected to the first PCIe switch; The relay module has the following features: The first port is connected to the first PCIe switch; The second port is used to connect to an external second PCIe switch via a wired communication medium, and channel resources in other devices connected to the second PCIe switch can be accessed through the second PCIe switch. The channel resources are used to communicate with an external object, which is at least one of the following: device under test, test auxiliary device.
4. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The relay module includes a first EP unit and a second EP unit, wherein the first EP unit is connected to the first port and the second EP unit is connected to the second port; The first EP unit is directly connected to the second EP unit or indirectly connected via an intermediate processing unit.
5. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The wired communication medium is optical fiber.
6. An electronic system for testing, characterized in that, It includes a management device and multiple service devices; each service device is equipped with a relay module, a first PCIe switch, and a test communication module; the management device is equipped with a second PCIe switch; the relay module has a first port and a second port; In the service device, both the first port and the test communication module are connected to the first PCIe switch; The second port is connected to the second PCIe switch via a wired communication medium; The test communication module is configured with channel resources or connected to channel resources; the channel resources are used to communicate with external objects, and the external objects are at least one of the following: the device under test, or a test auxiliary device.
7. The electronic system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The real-time processing module in the service device connected to the first PCIe switch and the designated processing module in the management device connected to the second PCIe switch can communicate via Ethernet.
8. An electronic system capable of enabling communication between PCIe switches, characterized in that, include: The system includes a relay module, a first PCIe switch, and a second PCIe switch; the host connection of the first PCIe switch and the host connection of the second PCIe switch are respectively connected to their respective processing modules. The relay module has the following features: The first port is connected to the EP connection port of the first PCIe switch via a wired communication medium. The second port connects to the EP connector of the second PCIe switch.
9. The electronic system according to claim 6 or 8, characterized in that, The relay module includes a first EP unit and a second EP unit, wherein the first EP unit is connected to the first port and the second EP unit is connected to the second port; The first EP unit is directly connected to the second EP unit or indirectly connected via an intermediate processing unit.
10. The electronic system according to claim 6 or 8, characterized in that, The wired communication medium is optical fiber.