Method and apparatus for signal integrity verification
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsTroy R. Conklin, Harold B. Hutchison, Jr.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a signal integrity measurement method and apparatus which allows for signal characteristics to be measured by obtaining samples taken at the midpoint of the data stream. The invention provides a measurement device that is suitable for use in the field to provide a measurement of signal characteristics within transmitted data streams. The invention is particularly suitable for field measurement of signal characteristics of data streams or continuous in-line monitoring of signal characteristics within transmitted data streams. The signal characteristics include, but are not limited to eye opening jitter, noise, slope efficiency, average power and peak-to-peak amplitude.
Claims24
A method for measuring the signal characteristics of a telecommunications data stream, the method comprising the steps of:
- obtaining at least one sample measurement at the midpoint of a waveform of the data stream;
- and
- determining at least one signal characteristic of the data stream based upon the sample measurement,
- wherein the signal characteristic is selected from the group consisting of:
- eye opening;
- jitter;
- noise;
- average power;
- peak-to-peak amplitude;
- and slope efficiency.
An apparatus for a telecommunications data stream, the apparatus comprising:
- means for obtaining at least one sample measurement at the midpoint of a waveform of the data stream;
- and
- means for determining at least one signal characteristic of the data stream based upon the sample measurement,
- wherein the signal characteristic is selected from the group consisting of:
- eye opening;
- jitter;
- noise;
- average power;
- peak-to-peak amplitude;
- and slope efficiency.
An apparatus for a telecommunications data stream, the apparatus comprising:
- an analog to digital converter;
- a clock recovery unit;
- a midpoint sampler responsive to the analog-to-digital converter and clock recovery unit;
- and
- a signal characteristic calculator responsive to the midpoint sampler.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.