Serialization algorithm for functional esd robustness

Abstract

An apparatus and method are described for sending serialized command in an environment where ESD or other phenomenon might cause malfunctions. Commands are encoded where there are at least two bit changes between any two commands. In this example, each command code that is different from legal commands by only one bit is an illegal command, Illustratively, if six bits provide 64 codes for commands, and only eight codes are used for legal commands, there will be 56 illegal command codes. Illustratively, any command code, that is only one bit different from a legal command, will be an illegal command. In practice a illegal command may be detected, and the system may recover. An illegal command due to and ESD event may be defined, and when detected a recovery process may be entered. When data (not command) are being sent, error detecting and correcting bits may be employed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.