Semiconductor Signal Training During Bootup via Side-Band Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing semiconductor devices require a lengthy training operation after bootup, which prolongs the startup time of semiconductor systems, impacting user satisfaction.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor system design that incorporates a controller for in-band communication and a baseboard management controller for side-band communication, enabling a training operation for in-band signals based on side-band signals, utilizing reception, transmission, command decoding, sampling, and comparison circuits to reduce bootup time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a training operation is performed after bootup to adjust signal timing, then signal transmission reliability is improved, but bootup time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the training operation before the bootup sequence completes. The BMC initiates the training operation early in the boot process, allowing signal timing adjustments to be made in advance. This preliminary action ensures that by the time the OS loads, the training is already complete, thus improving reliability without extending the perceived bootup time.
Solution Approach 2:
The Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) acts as an intermediary to manage the training operation independently from the main bootup sequence. The BMC communicates with the semiconductor device through a side-band interface to initiate and monitor the training operation, while the controller continues its bootup process through the in-band interface. This intermediary approach allows both operations to proceed concurrently without interfering with each other.
2Loss of time
If training operation is completed before OS loading, then user satisfaction is improved, but signal timing accuracy may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the BMC monitors the completion status of the training operation and the bootup progress. Based on this feedback, the system can determine when the training is complete and when the OS has loaded. The BMC can then verify that signal timing is accurate by checking training results, ensuring that even though training occurs early, the timing accuracy is maintained and verified before normal operation begins.
Data Source
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AI summary
A semiconductor system may include a semiconductor device, a controller configured to control the semiconductor device through an in-band interface, and a baseboard management controller configured to control the semiconductor device through a side-band interface, wherein the semiconductor device is configured to control a training operation for in-band signals that are received through the in-band interface based on side-band signals that are received through the side-band interface.