Abstract: Multiple symbol sequences that have been transmitted in parallel using the same transmit clock over a serial point to point link are received. Each symbol sequence includes an instance of a first, non-data symbol. The multiple symbol sequences are buffered and the number of times an instance of a second, non-data symbol that occurs in one of the symbol sequences is changed. A first deskew process is performed, followed by a second deskew process. The first deskew process aligns an instance of the first non-data symbol in every one of the buffered symbol sequences. The second deskew process equalizes the number of instances of the second non-data symbol that follow an instance of the first non-data symbol in every one of the symbol sequences. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Multiple symbol sequences that have been transmitted in parallel using the same transmit clock over a serial point to point link are received. Each symbol sequence includes an instance of a first, non-data symbol. The multiple symbol sequences are buffered and the number of times an instance of a second, non-data symbol that occurs in one of the symbol sequences is changed. A first deskew process is performed, followed by a second deskew process. The first deskew process aligns an instance of the first non-data symbol in every one of the buffered symbol sequences. The second deskew process equalizes the number of instances of the second non-data symbol that follow an instance of the first non-data symbol in every one of the symbol sequences. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Multiple symbol sequences that have been transmitted in parallel using the same transmit clock over a serial point to point link are received. Each symbol sequence includes an instance of a first, non-data symbol. The multiple symbol sequences are buffered and the number of times an instance of a second, non-data symbol that occurs in one of the symbol sequences is changed. A first deskew process is performed, followed by a second deskew process. The first deskew process aligns an instance of the first non-data symbol in every one of the buffered symbol sequences. The second deskew process equalizes the number of instances of the second non-data symbol that follow an instance of the first non-data symbol in every one of the symbol sequences. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to selectively extend an embedded microprocessor bus through a different external bus are generally presented. In this regard, an apparatus is introduced comprising a first high speed serializer/deserializer (SERDES) bus internal to an integrated circuit device to couple an embedded microprocessor with an embedded component, a second high speed SERDES bus different from the first bus to couple the embedded component with an external interface of the integrated circuit device, and extension circuitry to selectively bypass the embedded component and extend the first bus to function at the external interface over a physical layer of the second bus. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Multiple symbol sequences that have been transmitted in parallel using the same transmit clock over a serial point to point link are received. Each symbol sequence includes an instance of a first, non-data symbol. The multiple symbol sequences are buffered and the number of times an instance of a second, non-data symbol that occurs in one of the symbol sequences is changed. A first deskew process is performed, followed by a second deskew process. The first deskew process aligns an instance of the first non-data symbol in every one of the buffered symbol sequences. The second deskew process equalizes the number of instances of the second non-data symbol that follow an instance of the first non-data symbol in every one of the symbol sequences. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Multiple symbol sequences that have been transmitted in parallel using the same transmit clock over a serial point to point link are received. Each symbol sequence includes an instance of a first, non-data symbol. The multiple symbol sequences are buffered and the number of times an instance of a second, non-data symbol that occurs in one of the symbol sequences is changed. A first deskew process is performed, followed by a second deskew process. The first deskew process aligns an instance of the first non-data symbol in every one of the buffered symbol sequences. The second deskew process equalizes the number of instances of the second non-data symbol that follow an instance of the first non-data symbol in every one of the symbol sequences. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A serial point to point link that communicatively couples an integrated circuit (IC) device to another IC device is initialized by transferring a training sequence of symbols over the link. Registers of the IC device are programmed, to set a symbol data pattern and configure a lane transmitter for the link. A start bit in a register of the IC device is programmed, to request that the link be placed in a measurement mode. In this mode, the IC device instructs the other IC device to enter a loopback mode for the link. The IC device transmits a sequence of test symbols over the link and evaluates a loopback version of the sequence for errors. The sequence of test symbols have a data pattern, and are transmitted, as configured by the registers. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A stream of bits are received in a first integrated circuit (IC) device, where the stream represents a sequence of symbols transmitted by a second IC device over a serial point to point link that couples the two devices. First and second M-bit sections of the stream are compared to a non-data symbol. The second M-bit section is offset by one bit in the stream relative to the first section. If there is a match between the first section and the non-data symbol, then a flag indicating symbol alignment is asserted. Each of multiple, consecutive, non overlapping M-bit sections that follow the first section are then to be treated as separate symbols. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) device that has an analog front end with an I/O buffer is reset. The I/O buffer has a driver circuit to transmit a stream of information over a serial point to point link, and a receiver circuit to receive a stream of information over the link. Digitally-controllable transmission line terminations are provided for the driver and receiver circuits, respectively. A digitally-controllable reference signal level is also provided for the I/O buffer. A number of impedance matching compensation values are automatically calibrated against one or more reference resistors, by calibrating a first value and then a second value, and a third value. These calibrated values are automatically applied to set the reference signal level, driver termination, and receiver termination, respectively. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A serial point to point link that communicatively couples an integrated circuit (IC) device to another IC device is initialized by transferring a training sequence of symbols over the link. Registers of the IC device are programmed, to set a symbol data pattern and configure a lane transmitter for the link. A start bit in a register of the IC device is programmed, to request that the link be placed in a measurement mode. In this mode, the IC device instructs the other IC device to enter a loopback mode for the link. The IC device transmits a sequence of test symbols over the link and evaluates a loopback version of the sequence for errors. The sequence of test symbols have a data pattern, and are transmitted, as configured by the registers. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) device that has an analog front end with an I/O buffer is reset. The I/O buffer has a driver circuit to transmit a stream of information over a serial point to point link, and a receiver circuit to receive a stream of information over the link. Digitally-controllable transmission line terminations are provided for the driver and receiver circuits, respectively. A digitally-controllable reference signal level is also provided for the I/O buffer. A number of impedance matching compensation values are automatically calibrated against one or more reference resistors, by calibrating a first value and then a second value, and a third value. These calibrated values are automatically applied to set the reference signal level, driver termination, and receiver termination, respectively. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A number of symbols are received in a first integrated circuit (IC) device, where these symbols have been transmitted by a second IC device and are received over a serial point to point link. These symbols include a non-data sequence that has been inserted into a data sequence by the second device. The symbols are loaded into a buffer. The data sequence and some of the non-data sequence is unloaded from the buffer, according to a changing unload pointer. To prevent overflow of the buffer, and in response to detecting the non-data sequence, the unload pointer is changed by more than one entry so that a non-data symbol of the non-data sequence as loaded in the buffer is skipped while unloading from the buffer. In another embodiment, to prevent underflow of the buffer, the unload pointer is stalled at an entry of the buffer that contains a non-data symbol while unloading. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A stream of bits are received in a first integrated circuit (IC) device, where the stream represents a sequence of symbols transmitted by a second IC device over a serial point to point link that couples the two devices. First and second M-bit sections of the stream are compared to a non-data symbol. The second M-bit section is offset by one bit in the stream relative to the first section. If there is a match between the first section and the non-data symbol, then a flag indicating symbol alignment is asserted. Each of multiple, consecutive, non overlapping M-bit sections that follow the first section are then to be treated as separate symbols. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Multiple symbol sequences that have been transmitted in parallel using the same transmit clock over a serial point to point link are received. Each symbol sequence includes an instance of a first, non-data symbol. The multiple symbol sequences are buffered and the number of times an instance of a second, non-data symbol that occurs in one of the symbol sequences is changed. A first deskew process is performed, followed by a second deskew process. The first deskew process aligns an instance of the first non-data symbol in every one of the buffered symbol sequences. The second deskew process equalizes the number of instances of the second non-data symbol that follow an instance of the first non-data symbol in every one of the symbol sequences. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.