Patent Abstract:
A method for detecting a receiver on a computer bus, comprises the steps of: applying a low voltage state on transmission lines of the computer bus using a voltage mode driver; applying a high voltage state on the transmission lines using the voltage mode driver; determining a voltage rate change for transmission voltages on the transmission lines; and determining the presence of the receiver on the computer bus as a function of the voltage rate change.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
     This application claims priority from a provisional patent application entitled “Apparatuses, Methods, and Systems Using Integrated Circuits” filed on Apr. 19, 2013 and having an Application No. 61/814,153. Said application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to receiver detection on a computer bus and, in particular, to methods and systems for detecting a receiver on a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express bus. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (“PCI-Express”) standard defines how one or more peripheral devices can communicate with a computing device over a serial bus link. The serial bus link can be within a single computing device or can link one or more computing devices and peripheral devices. PCI-Express uses discrete logical layers to process inbound and outbound information. For instance, PCI-Express devices receive serial data, align the serial data and then convert the serial data into parallel data. PCI-Express devices use PCI-Express core logic for interfacing with host systems. The PCI-Express core logic includes a control status module (“PCS module”) that has a serial/de-serializer (“SERDES”) and other components. The SERDES in the PCS module communicates with a SERDES in a host system. However, before the SERDES in the PCS module can communicate with a SERDES in the host system, the PCS module detects if a receiver (i.e. the SERDES in the host system) is present and/or available to receive data. 
     In conventional systems, a SERDES vendor provides the mechanism to detect if a receiver is present. Often, the mechanism provided indicates that a receiver is present by using specific receiver detection protocol incorporating a set frequency, for example, 3 to 15 kilohertz if a receiver is present or above 30 kilohertz is a receiver is not present. Such proprietary conventional techniques have shortcomings. For example, detecting a receiver at a frequency of 3 kilohertz may cause delay and may take too long. 
     In addition, another prior art method and apparatus for detecting a receiver over a PCI-Express bus is to adjust a common mode voltage by current injection using a charge pump into one or more transmitter output nodes and detecting whether a receiver is present based on a voltage change rate. The current is injected by a charge pump under control of an amplitude control circuit. The charge pump consumes large amounts of power, and thus this prior art method is not appropriate for low power applications. Therefore, there is a need for a low power method and system to perform the receiver detection efficiently. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     An object of this invention is to provide low power methods and systems for receiver detection on a computer bus. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide methods and systems for receiver detection on a PCI-Express bus using a voltage mode driver. 
     Yet another object of this invention is to provide methods and systems for receiver detection that have safeguards to prevent a voltage on a computer bus from exceeding a protocol dictated maximum common mode voltage. 
     Briefly, the present invention discloses methods and systems for detecting a receiver on a computer bus, comprising the steps of: applying a low voltage state on transmission lines of the computer bus using a voltage mode driver; applying a high voltage state on the transmission lines using the voltage mode driver; determining a voltage rate change for transmission voltages on the transmission lines; and determining the presence of the receiver on the computer bus as a function of the voltage rate change. 
     An advantage of this invention is that low power methods and systems for receiver detection on a computer bus are provided. 
     Another advantage of this invention is that methods and systems for receiver detection on a PCI-Express bus using a voltage mode driver are provided. 
     Yet another advantage of this invention is that methods and systems for receiver detection that have safeguards to prevent a voltage on a computer bus from exceeding a protocol dictated maximum common mode voltage are provided. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other objects, aspects, and advantages of the invention can be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a diagram of a voltage mode driver of the present invention for detecting a receiver on a computer bus. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a diagram for a receiver detection system of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a diagram for an equivalent circuit of a computer bus when a receiver is present. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a diagram for an equivalent circuit of a computer bus when a receiver is not present. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a waveform of various signals for a receiver detection system of the present invention when a receiver is not present on a computer bus. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a waveform of various signals for a receiver detection system of the present invention when a receiver is not present on a computer bus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following detailed description of the embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration of specific embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. 
     Generally, methods and systems are provided for detecting a receiver over a PCI-Express link (or any other computer bus standard or protocol). A receiver can be detected on a PCI-Express link by bringing the common mode voltage of a voltage mode driver for the PCI-Express link to a low voltage state, e.g., by pulling the differential outputs of the voltage mode driver low. Once the low voltage state is detected on both differential outputs, a pulse signal can be applied via the voltage mode driver to bring the common mode voltage to a high voltage state. The differential outputs of the voltage mode driver can be compared to one or more predefined reference voltages. The time between applying the pulse signal and the time the differential outputs reach the one or more predefined reference voltages can be used to determine whether there is a receiver on the PCI-Express link. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a diagram of a voltage mode driver of the present invention for detecting a receiver on a computer bus. A voltage mode driver of the present invention  40  comprises multiplexers  10  and  12 , NAND gates  16  and  20 , NOR gates  14 ,  18 , and  22 , inverter  24 , control input signals, and driver cells  26  and  28 . The driver cell  26  comprises a PMOS transistor, two resistors, and an NMOS transistor serially connected to generate a positive output T xp  for the transmission lines of the PCI-Express link. The driver cell  28  comprises a PMOS transistor, two resistors, and an NMOS transistor serially connected to generate a negative output T xn  for the transmission lines of the PCI-Express link. The positive output T xp  and the negative output T xn  can also be referred to as the transmission voltages for the transmission lines of the PCI-Express link. 
     The controls signals RcvDetectEn, RcvDetectClr, and DisDrv are inputted to the voltage mode driver  40  via the multiplexers  10  and  12 , NAND gates  16  and  20 , NOR gates  14 ,  18 , and  22 , inverter  24  to control the output of the voltage mode driver  40 . A positive input voltage in_T xp  and the RcvDetectEn signal are inputted to the multiplexer  10 , which is controlled by the output of the NOR gate  14 . The not output of the multiplexer  10  is inputted to the NAND gate  16  and the NOR gate  18 . A negative input voltage in_T xn  and the RcvDetectEn signal are inputted to the multiplexer  12 , which is controlled by the output of the NOR gate  14 . The not output of the multiplexer  12  is inputted to the NAND gate  20  and the NOR gate  22 . The RcvDetectEn signal and the RcvDetectClr signal is inputted to the NOR gate  14 . 
     The DisDrv signal is inputted to the inverter  24  and the NOR gates  18  and  22 . The inverter  24  output is inputted to the NAND gates  16  and  20 . The NAND gate  16  drives the gate of the PMOS transistor of the driver cell  26 . The NOR gate  18  drives the gate of the NMOS transistor of the driver cell  26 . The NAND gate  20  drives the gate of the PMOS transistor of the driver cell  28 . The NOR gate  22  drives the gate of the NMOS transistor of the driver cell  28 . 
     When the RcvDetectEn signal is low and the RcvDetectClr signal is high, the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn  are both driven low. When the RcvDetectEn signal is high and the RcvDetectClr signal is high, then the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn  are both driven high. When the DisDrv signal is high, then the voltage mode driver  40  is tri-stated, and effectively disabled. 
     In normal operation (e.g., when the RcvDetectClr, RcvDetectEn, and DisDrv signals are low), the multiplexer  10  is enabled so that the input signal in_T xp  for the differential transmission line is directed to the output T xp  of the voltage mode driver  40 . The multiplexer  12  is also enabled so that the input signal in_T xn  for the differential transmission line is directed to the output T xn  of the voltage mode driver  40 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a diagram for a receiver detection system of the present invention. The receiver detection system of the present invention comprises the voltage mode driver  40 , a signal generation and control unit  42 , a low detect logic  44 , a high detect logic  46 , a disable drive logic  48 , and a reference voltage generator  50 . The low detect logic  44 , the high detect logic  46 , and the disable drive logic  48  monitor the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn . The signal generation and control unit  42  transmits the control signals RcvDetectEn, RcvDetectClr, and DisDrv to the voltage mode driver  40  based upon the results of the monitored transmission voltages T xp  and T xn . 
     A host controller (not shown) can assert the control signal RcvDetEn to the signal generation and control unit  42  to start the receiver detection system. Upon receiving the RcvDetEn signal, the signal generation and control unit  42  drives the RcvDetectClr signal high and the RcvDetectEn signal low, which is inputted to the voltage mode driver  40 . The voltage mode driver  40  then brings down the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn  low. 
     The low detect logic  44  comprises a summing circuit and comparators that compare the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn  to a reference voltage A (e.g., 100 mV). The reference voltage A is generated by the reference voltage generator  50  and can be adjusted as desired. When the low detect logic  44  detects that the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn  are both below the reference voltage A, the low detect logic  44  signals this occurrence to the signal generation and control unit  42  via a LowDetect signal. The signal generation and control unit  42  then drives the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn  to high by outputting a high signal for the control signal RcvDetectEn. 
     The high detect logic  46  comprises a summing circuit and comparators that compare the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn  with a reference voltage B (e.g., 600 mV). The reference voltage B is generated by the reference voltage generator  50  and can be adjusted as desired. As the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn  are driven high, the high detect logic  46  detects when the signals T xp  and T xn  both exceed the reference voltage B. This occurrence is reported to the signal generation and control unit  42  to estimate the amount of time (which can be measured in clock cycles or in nanoseconds) it takes to raise the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn  from the reference voltage A to the reference voltage B. 
     The disable drive logic  48  comprises a summing circuit and comparators that compare the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn  with a reference voltage C (e.g., 700 mV). The reference voltage C is generated by the reference voltage generator  50  and can be adjusted as desired. Due to specific protocols and standards for the computer bus, the computer bus may have a stated maximum common mode voltage. The disable drive logic  48  detects whether or not the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn  exceed the reference voltage C, which can be set to this stated maximum common mode voltage or below the maximum common mode voltage to allow for some margin of error. If so, then the voltage mode driver  40  is disabled. 
     Operationally, the receiver detection system can begin by asserting a high signal for the control signal RcvDetEn. Upon receiving the control signal RcvDetEn, the signal generation and control unit  42  asserts the RcvDetectClr signal to the voltage mode driver  40 . The voltage mode driver  40  then pulls the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn  low. The low detect logic  44  determines whether the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn  is below the predefined reference voltage A. If the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn  are below the reference voltage A, the low detect logic  44  asserts a LowDetect signal to the signal generation and control unit  42 . The signal generation and control unit  42  then asserts the RcvDetectEn signal to the voltage mode driver  40 . The RcvDetectEn signal is inputted to the voltage mode driver  40  to drive the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn  high. The high detect logic  46  monitors whether the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn  have reached or exceeded the predefined reference voltage B, which is programmable. If the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn  are above the reference voltage B, then a HighDetect signal is asserted to the signal generation and control unit  42 . 
     The signal generation and control unit  42  checks the delay between the RcvDetectEn and HighDetect signal assertions. If the delay is less than or equal to a programmable value, T1, then the receiver is not present. Else, the receiver is present. The disable driver logic  48  determines whether the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn  have reached the predefined reference voltage C, which is programmable. If the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn  both exceed the reference voltage C, then a signal DisableDrv is asserted to the signal generation and control unit  42 . The signal generation and control unit  42  in turn disables the voltage mode driver  40  by enabling the DisDrv signal. This is to make sure the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn  are always less than the protocol dictated maximum common mode voltage. If the signal generation and control unit  42  determines that there is a receiver on the transmission line, then the signal RcvStatus is reported to the controller. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a diagram for an equivalent circuit for a computer bus when a receiver is present. A voltage mode driver  60  of the present invention and a receiver  62  communicate over a differential transmission line  64 , e.g., a PCI-Express link. AC coupling between the voltage mode driver  60  and the receiver  62  is characterized through the coupling capacitors  66 . The transmission line  64  can be inputted to the voltage mode driver  60  from a transmitter that communicates over the differential transmission line  64 . The voltage mode driver  60  can adjust the voltage signals T xp  and T xn  on the differential transmission line  64  for output to the receiver  62 . 
     If the receiver  62  is present and connected to the differential transmission line  64 , then the resistors  68  can terminate the differential transmission line  64  by being serially connected across the differential transmission line  64 . 
     If the present invention recognizes that when the receiver  64  is present and connected to the transmission line  64 , large AC coupling capacitors  66  will act as a load to the voltage mode driver  60 . If the voltage mode driver  60  applies a high signal on the differential transmission line  64 , the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn  at the differential transmission line  64  will slowly rise due to the receiver  62  being connected to the differential transmission line  64 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a diagram for an equivalent circuit for a computer bus when a receiver is not present. A voltage mode driver  70  of the present invention and a possible receiver  72  communicate over a differential transmission line  74 , e.g., a PCI-Express link. AC coupling between the voltage mode driver  70  and the receiver  72  is characterized through coupling capacitors  76 . The differential transmission line  74  can be inputted to the voltage mode driver  70  from a transmitter that communicates over the differential transmission line  74 . The voltage mode driver  70  can adjust the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn  on the differential transmission line  74  for output to the receiver  72 . 
     If the receiver  72  is not present and/or not connected to the differential transmission line  74 , then the differential transmission line  74  does not have a terminating resistor at the receiver  72 . 
     When the receiver  72  is not present and/or not connected to the transmission line  74 , large AC coupling capacitors  76  will act as a load to the voltage mode driver  70 . If the voltage mode driver  70  applies a high signal on the differential transmission line  74 , the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn  at the differential transmission line  74  will quickly rise on the differential transmission line  64  when the receiver is not present and/or not connected to the transmission line  74 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a waveform of various signals of a receiver detection system of the present invention when a receiver is not present on a computer bus. When the receiver is not present, the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn  quickly exceed a predefined voltage, e.g., 700 mV, within a short time frame. The receiver detection system can determine the amount of time T1 for the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn  to reach the predefined voltage. If the time T1 is within a predefined amount of time, then the receiver detection system can signal that a receiver is not present. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a waveform of various signals of a receiver detection system of the present invention when a receiver is not present on a computer bus. When the receiver is present, the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn  slowly rise to the predefined voltage, e.g., 700 mV, taking a relatively long amount of time to reach the predefined voltage. The receiver detection system can determine the amount of time T1 for the transmission voltages T xp  and T xn  to reach the predefined voltage or come close to the predefined voltage. If the time T1 exceeds a predefined time frame for detecting the receiver, then the receiver detection system can signal that a receiver is present. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments or methods, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments or methods. Rather, it is the inventor&#39;s contention that the invention be understood and construed in its broadest meaning as reflected by the following claims. Thus, these claims are to be understood as incorporating not only the preferred methods described herein but all those other and further alterations and modifications as would be apparent to those of ordinary skilled in the art.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8