High Performance, Point-to-Point, Transmission Line Signaling

Abstract

Inter-chip signaling latency and bandwidth can be key factors limiting the performance of large VLSI systems. We present a high performance, transmission line signaling scheme for point-to-point communications between VLSI components. In particular, we detail circuitry which allows a pad driver to sense the voltage level on the attached pad during signaling and adjust the drive impedance to match the external transmission line impedance. This allows clean, reflection-free signaling despite the wide range of variations common in IC device processing and interconnect fabrication. Further, we show how similar techniques can be used to adjust the arrival time of signals to allow high signaling bandwidth despite variations in interconnect delays.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1998
Source ID
10.1155/1998/84860

Entities

People

  • AndrĂ© DeHon
  • Thomas F. Knight

Organizations

  • Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tags

Readers

  • Integrated Circuit Design and Technology.
  • Radio communications and signal processing.