Configurable Multi-Protocol Transceiver Deskew Circuitry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current system interconnect technologies face challenges in flexibility and adaptability to different high-speed communication protocols, as they require specific deskew techniques, buffer depths, and skew handling, which can change during the IC's product life, necessitating a configurable transceiver design.
Innovation Solution
A configurable multi-protocol transceiver with adaptable deskew circuitry that can address static and dynamic skew, control buffer depths, and adjust deskew character insertion frequency, allowing deskew processing to occur before or after clock compensation, depending on the protocol, and enabling selection between logic and routing resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed deskew circuitry is used for a specific protocol, then deskew performance is optimized for that protocol, but the transceiver cannot adapt to other protocols or future protocol variations
Solution Approach 1:
The deskew circuitry is designed to perform multiple functions by supporting different deskew techniques (character-based and non-character-based) and configurable buffer depths, allowing a single circuit to adapt to various communication protocols without requiring separate dedicated circuits for each protocol
Solution Approach 2:
The deskew circuitry incorporates configurable parameters including buffer depth, deskew character insertion frequency, and selectable deskew techniques that can be dynamically adjusted through configuration interfaces, enabling the circuit to adapt its behavior based on the specific protocol requirements
2Adaptability or versatility
If configurable deskew circuitry is implemented to support multiple protocols, then protocol flexibility is improved, but the device complexity and configuration requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The deskew circuitry includes automatic alignment lock detection and configuration capabilities that allow the system to self-configure for different protocols, reducing the manual configuration burden on system designers while maintaining high adaptability
3Productivity
If deskew processing is fixed in a specific position in the data path, then processing efficiency is optimized, but the transceiver cannot accommodate protocols requiring different processing orders
Solution Approach 1:
The transceiver architecture allows dynamic repositioning of deskew processing relative to clock compensation processing based on protocol requirements, with configuration options to place deskew either before or after clock compensation to optimize performance for different protocols
Data Source
AI summary
A configurable multi-protocol transceiver implemented in an integrated circuit (“IC”) includes configurable deskew circuitry. The transceiver has various configurable deskew settings to facilitate effectively adapting transmit and/or receive communications corresponding to a selected one of a plurality of high-speed communication protocols and/or adapt to different implementations in which a deskew block addresses either just static skew or both static and dynamic skew. Configurable circuitry is adapted to control an allowed data depth of a plurality of buffers. Configurable circuitry is adapted to control a deskew character transmit insertion frequency. A programmable state machine is adapted to control read and write pointers in accordance with selectable conditions for achieving an alignment lock condition. Configurable circuitry is adaptable to select between logic and routing resources in the transceiver and logic and routing resources in a core of the IC in which the transceiver is implemented for controlling at least certain deskew operations.