Patent ID: 7526033

Claim:
A serializer and deserializer data communication apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of serialize data communication channels adapted to convert parallel data to serial data, a first serialize data communication channel of the plurality of serialize data communication channels designated to receive input parallel test data for subsequent serialization; a plurality of deserialize data communication channels adapted to convert serial data to parallel data, each deserialize data communication channel paired with a corresponding serialize data communication channel of the plurality of serialize data communication channels, a first deserialize data communication channel of the plurality of deserialize data communication channels designated to provide output parallel test data; a first plurality of switches, each switch of the first plurality of switches coupled between an output of one of the plurality of serialize data communication channels and an input of one of the plurality of deserialize data communication channels to provide a serial data loop-back connection; and a second plurality of switches, each switch of the second plurality of switches coupled between an output of one of the plurality of deserialize data communication channels and an input of one of the plurality of serialize data communication channels to provide a parallel data loop-back connection.