Texas Instruments Incorporated
Link width scaling across multiple retimer devices

Abstract:

Differing widths of retimers are developed using differing numbers of individual retimer elements combined together. To maintain synchronous operation, various signals are provided between the individual retimer elements to allow synchronization of the various operations. A first signal is a wired-OR signal that is used for event and operation synchronization. A second set of signals form a serial bus used to transfer proper state information and operation correction data from a master retimer element to slave timer elements. The combination of the wired-OR signal and the serial bus allow the various state machines and operations inside each retimer element to be synchronized, so that the entire width of the link is properly synchronized.