PCIe to Fiber Optic PHY Translator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for transmitting PCI Express (PCIe) compliant signals over copper mediums face limitations due to distance constraints and high costs associated with using PCIe buffers, and existing fiber optic solutions suffer from latency issues due to overlay protocols.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a standardized fiber optic transceiver with a PHY-layer translator to translate and fine-tune low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) for PCIe traffic, enabling signal expansion over fiber optic mediums without latency, using a 2.5 Gbps ×2 Lane Serial PCIe repeater/equalizer IC as a PHY-layer translator to condition signals for wide interface bandwidths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If copper cable is used for PCIe signal transmission, then signal transmission is achieved, but transmission distance is limited due to resistance and inductance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the copper electrical transmission medium with an optical fiber medium. The PCIe signals are converted from electrical signals in copper cables to optical signals in fiber optic cables, eliminating the physical limitations of copper such as resistance and inductance that restrict transmission distance and degrade signal integrity.
2Length of moving object
If PCIe buffers are placed periodically in the signal path to extend distance, then transmission distance is increased, but cost increases and physical placement becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for periodic PCIe buffers by substituting copper transmission with optical fiber transmission. The conversion to optical domain allows signals to travel much longer distances without degradation, removing the requirement for intermediate buffering and the associated complexity of periodic placement.
3Length of moving object
If overlay protocol is used for fiber optic transmission, then PCIe signals can be transmitted over fiber, but latency is introduced reducing throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specialized intermediary device that converts PCIe electrical signals directly to optical signals without using overlay protocols. This dedicated conversion approach maintains the original PCIe signal characteristics and timing, eliminating the latency introduced by protocol overhead while enabling fiber optic transmission.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables robust, scalable, and cost-effective expansion of PCIe signals over fiber optic mediums, mitigating signal loss and jitter, and allowing distances up to 300 meters without introducing latency, surpassing traditional copper solutions.
Implementation Method 1
transmission of PCIe compliant signals over a fiber optic medium
Implementation Method 2
signal buffers to translate and fine-tune standardized PCIe traffic to a level of low voltage differential signaling (LVDS)
Data Source
AI summary
A system for expanding PCI Express (PCIe) compliant signals over a fiber optic medium with no latency. A standardized fiber optic transceiver is adapted to provide an optimal PCIe expansion over a fiber optic medium. Signal buffers are utilized to translate and fine-tune standardized PCIe traffic to a level of low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) that is comprehensible to a wide range of fiber optic transceivers over a wide range of interface bandwidths. The intended use for such a high-speed LVDS buffer is to strengthen and enable PCIe signals over metal (copper) cable or metal printed circuit board (PCB) traces for large PCBs, such as backplanes, server motherboards, etc. By disposing the PCIe buffer used for metal (copper) cable between the PCIe bus and the fiber optic transceiver, one can achieve the signal conditioning and translating required to allow PCIe signals to pass over the fiber optic medium.