Data communication system with self-test feature
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsJon David Garlett, Victor Moy, Michael A. Sorna
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A data communication system includes circuitry to assure components respond to variations in the time length of the valid data window or “eye” of the high speed data communication signal. A self-test portion of the system periodically injects the effects of phase jitter into the data communication signal to assure the system performs properly.
Claims12
A data communication system, comprising:
- a transmitter for transmitting data;
- a receiver for receiving the data;
- and
- a self-test circuit coupling the data transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver, and for reducing a time period during which the data can be received by the receiver, said self-test circuit including:
- a random digital sequence generator capable of selectively issuing a series of digital 1 and 0 bits in a random sequence;
- and
- an activate circuit coupled to an output of the sequence generator and which responds to receipt of a pre-set sequence of the digital bits from the sequence generator by initiating a self-test operation by which the data communication system dynamically adjusts, on a random basis, the time period in which data windows are present within transmitting data signals, wherein the pre-set sequence indicates transmission of test data and addition of jitter to other systems to perform the self-test operation.
A self-test system for randomly adjusting a time period in which data windows are present in a data signal, comprising:
- a time adjust system introducing time changes in a data window during which the data signal is sensed;
- and
- a circuit that enables, on a random time basis, the self-test system to enter into a test mode of operation, and trigger the time adjust system to introduce time delays in the data window;
- wherein the time adjust system provides a delayed, test data, which is provided to an output component that accepts the delayed, test data as an output of the self-test system when the self-test system is in the test mode.
A data communication system having a self-test system, said data communication system comprising:
- a time adjust system introducing time changes in a data window during which a data signal is sensed;
- and
- a circuit for periodically activating, on a random basis, the self-test system to enter into a test mode of operation, and trigger the time adjust system to introduce time delays in the data window;
- wherein the time adjust system provides a delayed, test data, which is provided to an output component that accepts the delayed, test data as an output of the self-test system when the self-test system is in the test mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.