Circuit Card With Coherent Interconnect For PCIe

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Solution Overview

Problem

Implementing coherency within PCIe circuit cards is challenging due to legacy approaches requiring both a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) and processor on the motherboard, which complicates coherent communication.

Innovation Solution

A circuit card design with an integrated circuit (IC) featuring a first connector for non-coherent communication and a second connector for coherent communication, allowing backward compatibility through differential edge finger lengths, and incorporating coherency circuitry to support coherent protocols.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If both FPGA and processor are located on the motherboard for coherency, then coherent communication is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoherent communicationVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The circuit card is divided into distinct functional segments: a first connector for non-coherent communication and a second connector for coherent communication. This segmentation allows each connector to be optimized for its specific communication mode, achieving coherency without requiring the entire system to be restructured with FPGA and processor on the motherboard.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The circuit card itself acts as an intermediary device that bridges non-coherent and coherent communication paths. By incorporating both types of connectors on the same card, it mediates between legacy PCIe interfaces and modern coherency requirements, eliminating the need for additional motherboard components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If legacy PCIe approach is used, then backward compatibility is maintained, but coherent communication capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackward compatibilityVSAvoidcoherent communication

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The circuit card is designed with multi-functionality, supporting both non-coherent communication (via the first connector) and coherent communication (via the second connector). This universal design allows the same circuit card to serve both legacy PCIe applications and modern coherency requirements, maintaining backward compatibility while enabling coherent communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The circuit card provides dynamic adaptability by offering multiple communication paths that can be selected based on the specific application requirements. The system can dynamically switch between non-coherent and coherent communication modes depending on the operational context, ensuring both legacy support and modern capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11251576B2Circuit card with coherent interconnect

Publication Date: 2022.02.15 INTEL CORP

AI summary

Apparatuses and systems associated with expansion card design with a coherent connector to provide for coherent communication are disclosed herein. In embodiments, a circuit card may comprise an integrated circuit (IC), a first connector to couple the IC to a processor of a computer device, the first connector to provide for non-coherent communication between the IC and the processor, and a second connector to couple the IC to the processor, the second connector to provide for coherent communication between the IC and the processor. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.