Method and apparatus for parameter adjustment, testing, and configuration

Abstract

A method and apparatus for parameter monitoring, adjustment, testing, and/or configuration of devices have been disclosed.

1 . A method comprising: 
 connecting one or more devices so that they are in operational communication;    connecting a first subset of said one or more devices so that they are in control communication;    connecting a second subset of said one or more devices so that they are in measurement communication;    receiving one or more messages from one or more devices in said second subset of said one or more devices;    transmitting one or more messages to one or more devices in said first subset of said one or more devices; and    adjusting operation of said one or more devices in said first subset of said one or more devices based on said one or more transmitted messages.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said connecting is via a topology selected from the group consisting of point to point, point to multi-point, bussed, daisy chained, and directed acyclic graph.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said receiving is serially receiving and said transmitting is serially transmitting.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said adjusting operation is adjusting a parameter selected from the group consisting of placement of a signal edge, phase of a signal, frequency of a signal, signal timing, delay of a signal, rise time of a signal, fall time of a signal, output drive of a signal, output slew rate of a signal, output drive level, voltage output high, voltage output low, input threshold, input threshold voltage high, input threshold voltage low, termination of a signal, output impedance, input impedance, ground bounce, overshoot, undershoot, current, temperature, polarity of signaling, bit rates, skew, jitter, input offset, output offset, device state, and mode of operation.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said signal is a clock.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said receiving one or more messages is receiving information about a parameter selected from the group consisting of signal edge placement, signal phase, signal frequency, signal timing, signal delay, signal rise time, signal fall time, signal output drive, signal slew rate, output drive level, voltage output high, voltage output low, input threshold, input threshold voltage high, input threshold voltage low, output impedance, input impedance, ground bounce, overshoot, undershoot, current, temperature, power consumption, time, device state, mode of operation, pass, and fail.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said receiving one or more messages is receiving one or more messages at a serial data chain controller.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said transmitting one or more messages is transmitting one or more messages to a serial data chain device.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said operational communication is data communication during normal operation of said connected one or more devices.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said control communication is used for said adjusting operation.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said measurement communication is used in said receiving one or more messages.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said receiving, and said transmitting are communicated on a common link.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first subset and said second subset are in a relationship selected from the group consisting of a same subset, different subsets, and overlapping subsets.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a serial data chain controller having a chain output, and a chain input;    a first device having an output, a register having an input and an output, a chain input, and a chain output, said chain input coupled to receive said serial data chain controller chain output, said register input in communication with said chain input, said register output in communication with said first device output;    one or more next devices each having an output, a register having an input and an output, a chain input, and a chain output, each successive next device chain input coupled to receive the prior next device chain output, each next device register input in communication with said next device chain input, said next device register output in communication with said next device output;    a final device having a register having an input and an output, a chain input and a chain output, said chain input coupled to receive a last next device chain output, and said final device chain output coupled to said serial data chain controller input, said register output in communication with said final device output.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said serial data chain controller further comprises a communication input, and a communication output.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising an external interface having an input and an output, said input coupled to receive said communication output, and said output coupled to said communication input.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said serial data chain controller communicates commands to one or more of said devices' (said first device, said one or more next devices, said final device) register affecting said respective devices' output.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said serial data chain controller receives measurements from one or more of said devices (said first device, said one or more next devices, said final device) indicating information about said respective devices' output.  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus comprising: 
 means for connecting one or more devices so that they are in operational communication;    means for connecting a first subset of said one or more devices so that they are in control communication;    means for transmitting one or more messages to one or more devices in said first subset of said one or more devices; and    means for adjusting operation of said one or more devices in said first subset of said one or more devices based on said one or more transmitted messages.    
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  further comprising: 
 means for connecting a second subset of said one or more devices so that they are in measurement communication;    means for receiving one or more measurement communication messages from one or more devices in said second subset of said one or more devices; and    means for adjusting operation of said one or more devices in said first subset of said one or more devices based on said one or more received measurement communication messages.    
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein said adjusting operation of said one or more devices is a device parameter selected from the group consisting of signal edge placement, signal phase, signal frequency, signal timing, signal delay, signal rise time, signal fall time, signal output drive, signal slew rate, output drive level, voltage output high, voltage output low, input threshold, input threshold voltage high, input threshold voltage low, output impedance, input impedance, ground bounce, overshoot, undershoot, current, temperature, power consumption, time, device state, and mode of operation.  
   
   
       22 . An apparatus comprising: 
 means for connecting one or more components on an integrated circuit (IC) so that they are in operational communication;    means for connecting a first subset of said one or more components so that they are in control communication;    means for transmitting one or more messages to one or more devices in said first subset of said one or more devices; and    means for adjusting operation of said one or more devices in said first subset of said one or more devices based on said one or more transmitted messages.    
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein said means for adjusting operation is means for adjusting a parameter selected from the group consisting of placement of a signal edge, phase of a signal, frequency of a signal, signal timing, delay of a signal, rise time of a signal, fall time of a signal, output drive of a signal, output slew rate of a signal, output drive level, voltage output high, voltage output low, input threshold, input threshold voltage high, input threshold voltage low, termination of a signal, output impedance, input impedance, ground bounce, overshoot, undershoot, current, temperature, polarity of signaling, bit rates, skew, jitter, input offset, output offset, device state, and mode of operation.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein said means for receiving one or more messages is means for receiving information about a parameter selected from the group consisting of signal edge placement, signal phase, signal frequency, signal timing, signal delay, signal rise time, signal fall time, signal output drive, signal slew rate, output drive level, voltage output high, voltage output low, input threshold, input threshold voltage high, input threshold voltage low, output impedance, input impedance, ground bounce, overshoot, undershoot, current, temperature, power consumption, time, device state, mode of operation, pass, and fail.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein said first subset and said second subset are in a relationship selected from the group consisting of a same subset, different subsets, and overlapping subsets.