Abstract:
Circuits and methods for loopback testing are provided. A die incorporates a receiver (RX) to each transmitter (TX) as well as a TX to each RX. This architecture is applied to each bit so, e.g., a die that transmits or receives 32 data bits during operation would have 32 transceivers (one for each bit). Focusing on one of the transceivers, a loopback architecture includes a TX data path and an RX data path that are coupled to each other through an external contact, such as a via at the transceiver. The die further includes a transmit clock tree feeding the TX data path and a receive clock tree feeding the RX data path. The transmit clock tree feeds the receive clock tree through a conductive clock node that is exposed on a surface of the die. Some systems further include a variable delay in the clock path.
Abstract:
Circuits and methods for loopback testing are provided. A die incorporates a receiver (RX) to each transmitter (TX) as well as a TX to each RX. This architecture is applied to each bit so, e.g., a die that transmits or receives 32 data bits during operation would have 32 transceivers (one for each bit). Focusing on one of the transceivers, a loopback architecture includes a TX data path and an RX data path that are coupled to each other through an external contact, such as a via at the transceiver. The die further includes a transmit clock tree feeding the TX data path and a receive clock tree feeding the RX data path. The transmit clock tree feeds the receive clock tree through a conductive clock node that is exposed on a surface of the die. Some systems further include a variable delay in the clock path.
Abstract:
Methods, systems, and circuits for providing reception and capture of data using a mismatched impedance and an equalizer to save power are disclosed. A data receiver in communication with a transmission line, the data receiver having a termination impedance that is mismatched with respect to a characteristic impedance of the transmission line; and an equalizer in communication with the data receiver, the equalizer configured to receive a channel-transmitted data signal from the data receiver and to re-shape the signal to reduce distortion RC attenuation; wherein the circuit is configured to selectably operate in a first mode wherein the termination impedance is matched with respect to the characteristic impedance of the transmission line and a second mode wherein the termination impedance is mismatched with respect to the characteristic impedance of the transmission line and the signal is not recoverable but- for the equalizer.
Abstract:
Methods, systems, and circuits for providing reception and capture of data using a mismatched impedance and an equalizer to save power are disclosed. A data receiver in communication with a transmission line, the data receiver having a termination impedance that is mismatched with respect to a characteristic impedance of the transmission line; and an equalizer in communication with the data receiver, the equalizer configured to receive a channel-transmitted data signal from the data receiver and to re-shape the signal to reduce distortion RC attenuation; wherein the circuit is configured to selectably operate in a first mode wherein the termination impedance is matched with respect to the characteristic impedance of the transmission line and a second mode wherein the termination impedance is mismatched with respect to the characteristic impedance of the transmission line and the signal is not recoverable but for the equalizer.
Abstract:
Circuits for die-to-die clock distribution are provided. A system includes a transmit clock tree on a first die and a receive clock tree on a second die. The transmit clock tree and the receive clock tree are the same, or very nearly the same, so that the insertion delay for a given bit on the transmit clock tree is the same as an insertion delay for a bit corresponding to the given bit on the receive clock tree. While there may be clock skew from bit-to-bit within the same clock tree, corresponding bits on the different die experience the same clock insertion delays.
Abstract:
Methods, systems, and circuits for providing reception and capture of data using a mismatched impedance and an equalizer to save power are disclosed. A data receiver in communication with a transmission line, the data receiver having a termination impedance that is mismatched with respect to a characteristic impedance of the transmission line; and an equalizer in communication with the data receiver, the equalizer configured to receive a channel-transmitted data signal from the data receiver and to re-shape the signal to reduce distortion RC attenuation; wherein the circuit is configured to selectably operate in a first mode wherein the termination impedance is matched with respect to the characteristic impedance of the transmission line and a second mode wherein the termination impedance is mismatched with respect to the characteristic impedance of the transmission line and the signal is not recoverable but-for the equalizer.
Abstract:
Circuits and methods for Data Bus Inversion (DBI) are provided. In one example, the immediately previous value of the DBI bit affects the next value of the DBI bit. Specifically, in some instances, the value of the DBI bit is held to the immediately previous value of the DBI bit to limit the total number of transitions on a data bus.
Abstract:
An apparatus including a dielectric layer; and a set of thin-film resistors arranged in a row extending in a first direction on the dielectric layer, wherein lengths of the set of thin-film resistors in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction are substantially the same, wherein the set of thin-film resistors includes a first subset of one or more thin-film resistors with respective terminals spaced apart by a first distance, and wherein the set of thin-film resistors includes a second subset of one or more thin-film resistors with respective terminals spaced apart by a second distance, the first distance being different than the second distance.
Abstract:
Test architectures for multi-die chips are provided herein according to embodiments of the present disclosure. In certain aspects, an exemplary test architecture enables an external tester to perform various tests on a multi-die chip that includes multiple dies. In a first test mode, the test architecture enables the external tester to currently perform die-level tests on the multiple dies. In a second test mode, the test architecture enables the external tester to perform a chip-level test on the multi-die chip. The chip-level test may include die-to-die tests for testing interconnections between the multiple dies on the multi-die chip. The chip-level test may also include a boundary input/output (I/O) test for testing external connections between the multi-die chip and one or more devices external to the multi-die chip.
Abstract:
Circuits and methods for loopback testing are provided. A die incorporates a receiver (RX) to each transmitter (TX) as well as a TX to each RX. This architecture is applied to each bit so, e.g., a die that transmits or receives 32 data bits during operation would have 32 transceivers (one for each bit). Focusing on one of the transceivers, a loopback architecture includes a TX data path and an RX data path that are coupled to each other through an external contact, such as a via at the transceiver. The die further includes a transmit clock tree feeding the TX data path and a receive clock tree feeding the RX data path. The transmit clock tree feeds the receive clock tree through a conductive clock node that is exposed on a surface of the die. Some systems further include a variable delay in the clock path.