Patent ID: 8437973

Claim:
A system for calibrating a high speed cable having an input connector at one end of the cable and an output connector at an opposite end of the cable, the cable carrying a first high speed channel from the input connector to the output connector, and a second high speed channel from the output connector to the input connector, the cable including first and second boost devices for boosting the first and second high speed channels respectively, the system comprising: a calibration fixture, including: a receiving boost device, which is a third boost device distinct from the first and second boost devices, comprising first and second programmable boost circuits, the first programmable boost circuit is coupled to the output connector for receiving a first boosted high speed channel from the first boost device, the first boosted high speed channel being the first high speed channel boosted by the fist boost device, and the second programmable boost circuit is coupled to the input connector for receiving a second boosted high speed channel from the second boost device the second boosted high speed channel being the second high speed channel boosted by the second boost device; a transmit device comprising a first transmit circuit for transmitting a test signal or a clock signal to the first high speed channel at the input connector, and a second transmit circuit for transmitting the test signal or the clock signal to the second high speed channel at the output connector; and a calibration control device controlling the first and second boost devices and the transmit device for calibrating the cable by setting respective first and second programmable parameters for the first and second boost devices.