Method for performing high speed serial link output stage having self adaptation for various impairments

A method for performing a high speed serial link in a computer network communication system, comprising the steps of:

• providing a data driver configured to receive a real data input and responsively generate a driver data output;
• providing a replica driver structure in circuit communication with the data driver;
• the replica driver receiving a calibration data input and responsively generating a replica driver output;
• providing a calibration engine in circuit communication with the data driver and the replica driver;
• providing a peak level detector in circuit communication with the replica driver and the calibration engine;
• the peak level detector generating a peak level detector output responsive to the replica driver output to the calibration engine;
• and
• the calibration engine comparing the peak level detector output to a reference value and responsively performing a data driver adjustment;
• wherein the data driver adjustment step comprises at least one of:
• (1)(a) adjusting a data driver biasing;
• (1)(b)adjusting a data driver intermediate stage bandwidth;
• and
• (1)(c) adjusting a data driver egualization setting;
• the replica driver further providing a replica pre-driver multiplexer (MUX) and a replica driver output stage, the replica pre-driver MUX in circuit communication with the calibration engine;
• the replica pre-driver MUX receiving the calibration data input from the calibration engine and responsively generating a replica MUX data output to the replica driver output stage;
• the replica driver output stage responsively generating a replica driver data output;
• providing a signal interface in circuit communication between the replica driver output stage and the peak level detector;
• the signal interface, generating a signal interface output signal to the peak level detector responsive to the replica driver data output, wherein the peak level detector is configured to generate the peak level detector output responsive to the signal interface output signal;
• the data driver further providing a data pre-driver MUX in circuit communication with the calibration engine;
• the data pre-driver MUX receiving the real data input and responsively generating a data pre-driver MUX data output;
• the data driver further providing an output stage in circuit communication with the calibration engine and the data pre-driver MUX;
• and
• the data driver output stage receiving the data pre-driver MUX data output and responsively generating a driver data output;
• wherein the calibration engine performs the driver component adjustment by generating a pre-driver/MUX adjustment signal to the data pre-driver MUX and the replica pre-driver MUX, and a driver adjustment signal to the data driver output stage and the replica driver output stage;
• and
• wherein the (1)(a) a data driver biasing adjustment step comprises the steps of:
• setting the replica driver output stage to a minimum output amplitude responsive to at least one driver aspect;
• setting an input to the replica driver output stage to a maximum frequency;
• comparing a replica driver output stage output amplitude Vsig to a reference signal amplitude Vref;
• and
• if Vsig is less than Vref, then increasing replica driver output stage power until Vsig=Vref.