# US 11,308,000 B1 · Configurable PCI-E interface module

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- Number: US 11,308,000 B1
- Document ID: US11308000B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 13/247,482
- Filed: 2011-09-28
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2011-09-28
- Assignees: Keysight Technologies, Inc.
- Applicants: Jared Richard
- Inventors: Jared Richard
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11308000B1

## CPC

- G06F 13/00: Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units (interface circuits for specific input/output devices G06F3/00 {; multiprogram control therefor G06F9/46}; multiprocessor systems G06F15/16 )
- G06F 13/14: Handling requests for interconnection or transfer
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A peripheral component interconnect express (PCI-E) interface module is configured to operate as a host module or a target module. The PCI-E interface module can be employed in a system slot or one of multiple peripheral slots of a PCI-E compatible chassis. In addition, the PCI-E interface module is configured to communicate through passive copper cable or active optical cable.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A peripheral component interconnect express (PCI-E) interface module, comprising:
a first connector configured to interface with a PCI-E compatible cable;
a second connector configured to interface with a PCI-E based chassis;
a signal driving device configured to process data transmitted along a data path between the first and second connectors; and
a selection device configured to select a configuration of the signal driving device and to provide mutually exclusive bidirectional signaling according to a current state of the PCI-E interface module.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The PCI-E interface module of claim 1, wherein the signal driving device comprises multiple parallel circuit pathways configured to alternately drive sideband signals for a target or host configuration of the PCI-E interface module, the multiple parallel circuit pathways being mutually exclusive.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The PCI-E interface module of claim 1, further comprising a memory device configured to store information defining independent configurations of the signal driving device, wherein the selected configuration is one of the independent configurations.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The PCI-E interface module of claim 3, wherein one of the independent configurations comprises a tune for transmitting signals to an active optical cable, and another one of the independent configurations comprises a tune for transmitting signals to a passive copper cable.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The PCI-E interface module of claim 1, wherein one of the configurations comprises a tune corresponding to a host configuration of the PCI-E interface module, and another one of the configurations comprises a tune corresponding to a target configuration of the PCI-E interface module.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The PCI-E interface module of claim 1, wherein the second connector comprises an XJ3 connector and an XJ4 connector compatible with a PCI eXtensions for instrumentation express (PXI-E) chassis.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The PCI-E interface module of claim 1, wherein the selection device is controlled according to a position of a manual switch.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The PCI-E interface module of claim 1, further comprising a current sense circuit that senses a current in a power line of the PCI-E interface module and, in response to sensing the current, controls the selection device to select a configuration of the signal driving device for driving an active optical cable.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The PCI-E interface module of claim 1, wherein the current state includes whether the PCI-E interface module has been designated to function as a host module versus a target module, or whether the PCI-E interface module is connected to passive copper cable versus active optical cable.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The PCI-E interface module of claim 1, further comprising multiple input/output ports implementing multiple parallel signaling pathways for the PCI-E interface module.

### Claim 11

A method of configuring a peripheral component interconnect express (PCI-E) interface module, comprising:
detecting a state of the PCI-E interface module; and
based on the detected state, controlling a signal driving device of the PCI-E interface module to operate the PCI-E interface module in one of two bidirectional mutually exclusive modes.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein one of the modes operates the PCI-E interface module as a host module, and another one of the modes operates the PCI-E interface module as a target module.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein one of the modes drives data signals according to characteristics of an active optical cable, and another one of the modes drives data signals according to characteristics of a passive copper cable.