13
FN6982.1
November 19, 2009
Equalization Boost Level
Channel equalization for the QLx4300-S45 can be
individually set to either (a) one of 18 levels through the
DC voltages on external control pins or (b) one of 32
levels via a set of registers programmed by a low speed
serial bus. The pins used to control the boost level are
highlighted in Figure
21. Descriptions of these pins are
page 3 for descriptions of all other pins on the
QLx4300-S45.
The boost setting for equalizer channel k can be read as
a three digit ternary number across CP[k][A,B,C]. The
ternary value is established by the value of the resistor
between VDD and the CP[k][A,B,C] pin.
As a second option, the equalizer boost setting can be
taken from a set of registers programmed through a
serial bus interface (pins 16, 17, 45, and 46). Using this
interface, a set of registers is programmed to store the
boost level. A total of 21 registers are used. Registers 2
through 21 are parsed into four 5-bit words. Each 5-bit
word determines which of 32 boost levels to use for the
corresponding equalizer. Register 1 instructs the
QLx4300-S45 to use registers 2 through 21 to set the
boost level rather than the control pins CP[k][A,B,C].
Both options have their relative advantages. The control
pin option minimizes the need for external controllers as
the boost level can be set in the board design resulting in
a compact layout. The register option is more flexible for
cases in which the optimum boost level will not be known
and can be changed by a host bus adapter with a small
number of pins. It is noted that the serial bus interface
can also be daisy-chained among multiple QLx4300-S45
devices to afford a compact programmable solution even
when a large number of data lines need to be equalized.
Upon power-up, the default value of all the registers (and
register 1 in particular) is zero, and thus, the CP pins are
used to set the boost level. This permits an alternate
interpretation on setting the boost level. Specifically, the
CP pins define the default boost level until the registers
are (if ever) programmed via the serial bus.
Control Pin Boost Setting
When register 1 of the QLx4300-S45 is zero (the default
state on power-up), the voltages at the CP pins are used
to determine the boost level of each channel. For each of
the four channels, k, the [A], [B], and [C] control pins
(CP[k]) are associated with a 3-bit non binary word.
While [A] can take one of two values, ‘LOW’ or ‘HIGH’,
[B] and [C] can take one of three different values: ‘LOW’,
‘MIDDLE’, or ‘HIGH’. This is achieved by changing the
value of a resistor connected between VDD and the CP
pin, which is internally pulled low with a 25kΩ resistor.
Thus, a ‘HIGH’ state is achieved by using a 0Ω resistor,
‘MIDDLE’ is achieved with a 25kΩ resistor, and ‘LOW’ is
achieved with an open resistance. Table
2 defines the
mapping from the 3-bit CP word to the 18 out of 32
possible levels available via the serial interface.
If all four channels are to use the same boost level, then
a minimum number of board resistors can be realized by
tying together like CP[k][A,B,C] pins across all channels
k. For instance, all four CP[k][A] pins can be tied to the
same resistor running to VDD. Consequently, only three
resistors are needed to control the boost of all four
channels. If the CP Pins are tied together and the 25kΩ is
used, the value changes to a 6.25kΩ resistor because the
25kΩ is divided by 4.
TABLE 2. MAPPING BETWEEN CP-SETTING RESISTOR
AND PROGRAMMED BOOST LEVELS
RESISTANCE BETWEEN CP PIN AND VDD
SERIAL
BOOST LEVEL
CP[A]
CP[B]
CP[C]
Open
0
Open
25kΩ
2
Open
0Ω
4
Open
25kΩ
Open
6
Open
25kΩ
8
Open
25kΩ
0Ω
10
Open
0Ω
Open
12
Open
0Ω
25kΩ
14
Open
0Ω
15
0Ω
Open
16
0Ω
Open
25kΩ
17
0Ω
Open
0Ω
19
0Ω
25kΩ
Open
21
0Ω
25kΩ
23
0Ω
25kΩ
0Ω
24
0Ω
Open
26
0Ω
25kΩ
28
0Ω
31
QLx4300-S45