Abstract: An optical transceiver configured to perform calibration of digital diagnostics prior to providing the calibrated values to a host computing system (hereinafter referred to simply as a “host”) that is communicatively coupled to the optical transceiver. The optical transceiver includes a sensor that measures an analog operational parameter signal such as temperature or supply voltage. Each analog signal is then converted to digital samples by analog to digital converter(s). A processor executes microcode that causes the optical transceiver to perform calibration on the various samples to compensate for predictable error introduced into the analog signal prior to or during the analog-to-digital conversion. The optical transceiver may then make the calibrated result accessible to the host.

Abstract: Configuring chip I/O terminals such that they may be input, output, or bi-directional terminals. Furthermore, the I/O terminals may be configured with different signal sources if they are output or bi-directional terminals. In addition, the terminals may be configured to be inverted when operating in either direction. A mechanism is provided to change this configuration as needed, for example, to correspond to different pins on the package as appropriate given the package configuration and other implementation needs. This configurability allows for tremendous flexibility and independent between the chip on which the integrated circuit is embedded and the package.

Abstract: Mechanisms for performing per-bit operations in system memory in a single operation thereby obviating the need for semaphore mechanisms when performing per-bit operations. A processor accesses an instruction that identifies the specific bit of system memory that is to be operated upon, as well as an operation to be performed on the bit. The operation may be, for example, a bit set, clear, or toggle. The processor then instructs system memory to perform the operation. Since the operation is performed in a single operation, other processes do not need to wait before continuing operation on the memory address of the specific bit. In addition, semaphores restricting access to the memory address need not be used while still retaining adequate assurance that the memory address will remain consistent.

Abstract: An operational optical transceiver comprising a receiver, a sensor, a memory, and a processor. The sensor is configured to measure the received power of an optical signal received by the receiver. The received power is sent to the memory where it is read by the processor. The processor is configured by microcode stored in the memory to compare the measured power value with a threshold power value. If the measured power value is below the threshold, then the transceiver will assert an indicator such as a signal indicating this. At a later time, when the measured power level is again above the threshold value, the transceiver will deassert the indicator previously asserted.

Abstract: A guaranteed two-wire interface in which upon determining that an operation is to be performed on a slave component, a master component transmits at least a portion of a corresponding frame to the slave component over the data wire. The master component repeats this detection and transmission each time it determines that an operation is to be performed on a slave component, whether the same component or a different slave component as the slave component previously communicated with. The frame structure itself may change depending on the operation to be performed. For example, one frame might include an extended address data field that includes extended address information that goes beyond a basic address field included in another frame. One frame may include reliability fields (such as cyclic redundancy checking field, an acknowledgement field, and/or an error field), whereas another frame having a different operation may not.

Abstract: Systems and methods for verifying that an optical transceiver has access privileges to received microcode. An example environment may include an optical transceiver that is coupled to a host computing system. The optical transceiver includes a memory that has thereon an optical transceiver access identifier. The optical transceiver memory is also configured to receive microcode that includes a microcode access identifier. Whenever new microcode is received by the optical transceiver, it is verified whether the optical transceiver should have access privileges to the microcode. To verify that the optical transceiver has access privileges, the optical transceiver access identifier and the microcode access identifier are accessed. The accessed identifiers are then compared with one another. Based on the comparison, the received microcode is loaded into the memory if one or more portions of the access identifiers match.

Abstract: A guaranteed two-wire interface in which upon determining that an operation is to be performed on a slave component, the master component begins transmitting the frame to the slave component including an identification of the operation to be performed. The master component then transfers control of the data wire to the slave component. The slave component then transmits a remaining portion of the frame to the master component over the data wire. The frame includes reliability information such as cyclic redundancy checking data or acknowledgement data that the master component may then use to determine whether the operation was successful.

Abstract: Microcode driven adjustment of analog scaling of an analog signal prior to being provided to an analog-to-digital converter. The microcode also causes the system to read the resulting digital value, and determine whether the scaling value should be adjusted for that analog signal. Accordingly, the microcode may cause the analog signal to be dynamically adjusted to be within the input range of the analog-to-digital converter, thereby allowing for more accurate digital conversions with lower resolution analog-to-digital converters. The microcode rapidly adjusts for any fluctuations in the input voltage. Accordingly, the analog signal may fluctuate, or even be multiplexed from a wide variety of different analog signal sources.