Abstract: An asynchronous interface that uses vectored interface commands to reduce the latency of registered communication interface signals. In preferred embodiments, vectored commands are communicated between clock domains with handshake command signals comprising command valid and command acknowledge signals. Each command is assigned a sequential number up to a maximum number of outstanding commands. For each command number, there are a dedicated command valid and acknowledge signal pair. Command valid is sent to indicate a command is ready to be processed and acknowledge is received indicating the command is done. In preferred embodiments, each side of the asynchronous interface independently tracks the next valid/acknowledge signal pair that will be used.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses that may be utilized to dynamically train communications links between two or more devices based on an error detection history are provided. The error detection history may be based on error detection value comparisons (e.g., CRCs) for a sequence of received packets. According to some embodiments, packets may be accepted only if a number (N) of successive packets have been received without errors, while link training may be automatically initiated only if a number (P) of successive packets have been received with errors.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses that may be utilized to automatically train and activate communications links between two or more devices are provided. In some embodiments, one or more state machines may be used to monitor and control the behavior of receive and transmit logic during the automatic training and activation, thus, reducing or eliminating the need for software intervention. As a result, training and activation may begin with little delay after a power-on cycle.

Abstract: Apparatus for the automatic inspecting, programming and testing of programmable read-only memory (PROM) devices. Under computer control, this PROM Handling System will test a sequence of PROMs against new part specifications, program them in any sequence of bit patterns required by the next piece of machinery on the assembly line, mark the PROM with a four digit part number identifying the bit pattern contained therein, dry the ink in a heated chamber for a fixed amount of time, dynamically test each PROM bit for access time in a hot and cold environment, program and test replacement PROMs for the ones that had failed at any point in the process, sort the PROMs into the correct order as required by the next assembly line machine and output said tested and ordered parts into output sticks for manual delivery or automatically deliver them by a track arrangement to the next machine.