Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of scheduling data processing at a pipelined data processing engine, and a command scheduler for scheduling data processing at the pipelined data processing engine. The command scheduler determines whether a first data stream is locked to the pipelined data processing engine based on a status of a current data frame of the first data stream in the pipelined data processing engine. The command scheduler will schedule a next data frame of the first data stream to the data processing engine if the first data stream is not locked to the pipelined data processing engine, or it will postpone the scheduling of the next data frame of the first data stream if the first data stream is locked to the pipelined data processing engine.

Abstract: A power filter circuit is provided for use in a package substrate for integrated circuits. A first power isolation circuit, having a first inductance, is configured to isolate power provided to one or more die connectors for provision to an integrated circuit die. A second power isolation circuit, having a second inductance, is configured to isolate power provided to one or more printed circuit board (PCB) connectors for provision to a PCB. A power plane electrically connects a first end of the first power isolation circuit to a first end of the second power isolation circuit, forming a “?” power filtering structure in some embodiments. A de-coupling capacitor can be provided as a surface-mount capacitor, or as an embedded capacitor in a core layer of an integrated circuit package.

Abstract: A system for implementing variable T BCH encoders includes: a polynomial multiplier for multiplying a message polynomial by a difference polynomial to achieve a first value, wherein the message polynomial comprises data bits as coefficients and the difference polynomial comprises minimal polynomials that are present in a T error correcting code and are absent from a T??T error correcting BCH code; a shifter/zero-padder coupled with the BCH encoder, the shifter/zero-padder for multiplying the first value by xN?{tilde over (K)} to achieve a second value; a BCH encoder coupled with the polynomial multiplier, the BCH encoder for dividing the second value by a generator polynomial of the T error correcting BCH code and calculating a remainder based on the dividing to achieve a third value; and a polynomial divider for dividing the third value by the difference polynomial to achieve a fourth value comprising parity of the T??T error correcting BCH code.

Abstract: A PCIe bus adapted for cross clock compensation of asynchronous clocks includes one or more PHY data ports provided in a PHY layer having a transmit clock (TCLK) for timing data transmitted to a peripheral device and a receive clock (RCLK) for timing data received from the peripheral device, one or more media access control (MAC) ports provided in a MAC layer having an interface clock (PCLK) for timing data transmitted to the PHY layer and data received from the PHY layer, wherein the PCLK and one or both of the TCLK and the RCLK are asynchronous, and one or more backpressure ports at an interface between the PHY layer and the MAC layer for controlling reading and writing of one of the PHY layer and the MAC layer. In some aspects, the PCLK frequency is set to be always greater than a maximum frequency of the RCLK and the TCLK.

Abstract: A circuit and a method for testing for faults in a circuit path. The circuit comprises a memory, a collar flop connected in parallel with the memory, and a feedback path in communication with the output of the memory and the input of the collar flop. The method comprises applying a fault test vector to logic in the circuit path to produce a fault test vector response, propagating the vector or the response through a memory in the circuit path, and capturing the response in a collar flop.

Abstract: A processor-implemented method and integrated circuit package are provided. According to an implementation, a method of producing a chip package includes de-populating solder balls at selected locations in a fine pitch package, and providing test pads at the de-populated solder ball locations. In an example implementation, the method comprises receiving and modifying a package design. In an implementation, a row of test pads in an integrated circuit package is provided in a plurality of concentric annular rows, the row of test pads being adjacent an outer row of via-connected solder balls and adjacent an inner row of via-connected solder balls. In an implementation, test pads are located on a PCB-facing surface of the package at a subset of locations opposing at least one via position on a package-facing surface of the PCB. The test pads maintain a large number of signal pins and do not interfere with the via.

Abstract: A method to decode low-density parity check (LDPC) encoded data using a parity check matrix having a plurality of layers, includes receiving a plurality of values at a decoder. Each value of the plurality of values represents one of a plurality of bits of an LDPC codeword encoded using the parity check matrix. The LDPC codeword is decoded using layered scheduling. A functional adjustment is applied to an approximation of belief propagation used during the decoding. At least one layer specific functional adjustment is used to provide an estimate of the codeword. An apparatus to decode low-density parity check (LDPC) encoded data using a parity check matrix having a plurality of layers includes a decoder. The decoder includes circuitry to decode, layer by layer, the LDPC encoded data utilizing functional adjustments and an algorithmic approximation to belief propagation to provide an estimate of the LDPC codeword.

Abstract: A forward error correction decoder and method of decoding a codeword is provided. The decoder comprises a convergence processor for estimating an expectation of codeword convergence. The convergence processor is configured to calculate a first value of a figure of merit; calculate a second value of the figure of merit; combine the second value of the figure of merit and the first value of the figure of merit to produce a progress value; compare the progress value of the decoding to a progress threshold; and increase a maximum number of iterations of the decoder if the progress value is greater than the progress threshold. The maximum number of iterations may be initially set to a low number beneficial for power consumption and raw throughput. Increasing the maximum number of iterations devotes additional resources to a particular codeword and is beneficial for error rate performance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling SGLs for out of order systems is disclosed. The method involves generating multiple Child IOs from an original IO, each Child IO being at the granularity of a storage side memory; generating separate SG lists for each Child IO; and processing each Child IO independently of other Child IOs and in order with each Child IO for data transfer. As each Child IO is generated at the granularity of the storage side memory, the Child IOs can be processed independently of each other and in-order within each Child IO. Thus, an out-of order IO transfer is transformed into an in-order IO transfer.

Abstract: A method and system of merging one-bit cells in an integrated circuit layout, comprising a database to store the layout, a placer in communication with the database to update the layout, and a merger in communication with the placer. The merger is configured to: identify a set of one-bit cells in the integrated circuit layout; determine a set of merge cells, from among the identified set of one-bit cells, to be merged into a multi-bit register, the determination of the set of merge cells being based on each merge cell being located within a merge distance from each of the other merge cells in the set of merge cells, and each merge cell sharing a clock with the other merge cells in the set of merge cells; and generate instructions to the placer for merging the set of merge cells to form the multi-bit register in the integrated circuit layout.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling a POP stacked package within a small form factor electronic module by configuring the enclosure of the module to come into direct contact with the device on the top surface in addition to the bottom surface to create two thermal conduction paths for the POP device to the enclosure. The enclosure itself then acts as the heat sink to draw heat from the device and into the surrounding air external to the optical module.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to a PCIe switch that includes a selectively transparent bridge that selectively allows transactions to traverse between multiple PCIe domains without the encumbrance of each root complex entity requiring knowledge of the selectively transparent bridge. The bridge that enables the transactions is invisible to the root complex entity in a host and drive switch domain of the PCIe switch. No address translation of the transactions is required because the drive switch domain address map is a subset of the host switch domain address map. The bridge allows for extremely low latency transactions between host systems and storage drives because the bridge allows the storage drive to read the Direct Memory Access (DMA) Scatter-Gather List (SGL) directly from host memory. The bridge also allows I/O data reads and writes from the storage drive directly to the host memory without store and forward within a RAID controller's memory.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically auditing an electronic component design process comprising a plurality of design steps. The method includes: extracting, optionally in parallel and in a single pass, a plurality of non-error data types from obtained electronic component design information to produce one or more summary files; and determining whether an audit failure exists in a current design step of the plurality of design steps based on a comparison of the one or more summary files with one or more stored failure indicators. The one or more stored failure indicators comprising a plurality of non-error triggers associated with later failures. The present disclosure simplifies the organization of the gathered data to prevent the automated electronic design process from generating an inferior design, which wastes time of both human and computing resources.

Abstract: A memory system having non-volatile memory backup with high-speed programming capability. The non-volatile memory, such as flash memory, is pre-aged before first use in a host system. Pre-aging includes execution of a plurality of dummy program and erase cycles as part of the memory system or before assembly as part of the memory system. The memory system can include an NVDIMM having flash memory backup. The pre-aged flash memory programs a page of data in a shorter period of time relative to new flash memory. Fewer flash memory chips are needed in the memory system relative to memory systems using new flash memory chips, thereby reducing cost of the memory system. The NVDIMM may be used to backup data from a volatile memory device such as a DRAM. Programming times may be tracked after each dummy program/erase cycle, and for each programmable page of a memory block.

Abstract: A voltage detector to detect the voltage level of a switched power supply associated with a power gated region of an integrated circuit. The voltage detection circuit, which can be described as a modified Schmitt trigger circuit, comprises PMOS and NMOS transistors, and an added stack of NMOS transistors to set the output to a value of 1 in response to detection of an input voltage at the input greater than an operational voltage of the switched power supply, for example approximately 80% VDD and above. A pull-down circuit actively pulls the circuit output low before the circuit input drops below the low input threshold. Optional additional NMOS transistors provide the capability to adjust the threshold. The voltage detector circuit can be calibrated and used to detect whether or not the switched power supply associated with a power gated design has reached its operational voltage level.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and apparatus for dynamically adjusting the common mode voltage at the LC tank node and/or the power supply voltage of a VCO with an LC resonator in order to force oscillation start-up by temporarily increasing gain. Methods according to certain preferred embodiments may reduce power consumption and/or overcome threshold voltage limitations and/or increase frequency and frequency tuning range during normal (steady-state) operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a quasi-cyclic low density parity check (QC-LDPC) decoder utilizes a parity check matrix (H matrix) having a matrix value for each row and column position in the matrix. Each matrix value is associated with an initial soft information element where, for each one of the matrix values associated with a constrained row, the one of the matrix values is constrained to a set of constraint values associated with a set of initial soft information elements. The set of initial soft information elements excludes a number of soft information elements that immediately precede a first initial soft information element. The first initial soft information element is associated with a selected first matrix value associated with a first row that immediately precedes the constrained row, and with the same column as the one of the matrix values in the constrained row.

Abstract: A frame delineation method for a generic framing procedure (GFP) that includes: searching a serial data stream comprising GFP frames, octet by octet, to identify an eight octet sequence; and delineating GFP frames from the serial data stream in response to determining that a first group of four octets of the identified eight octet sequence comprises a valid Core Header, and in response to determining that a second group of four octets of the identified eight octet sequence comprises one of a valid Core Header and a valid descrambled Type Header.