PCI 3.0 Receiver Test Software Datasheet

The BERTScope BSAPCI3 Automated PCIe 3.0 Receiver Solution is designed to streamline the tedious and labor-intensive receiver test workflow.

Features and benefits

• Automated calibration, link training, loopback initiation, and testing
• BER Map feature for TxEQ optimization
• Reduces the time and minimizes the skill-set required to perform the calibration and testing
• Increases the reliability and accuracy by removing inconsistencies with manual calibration

Applications

• PCIe 3.0 Receiver Testing for:
  • Host and device silicon validation
  • Add-in card and system compliance testing
  • Manufacturing test

Complete BERTScope automation for receiver testing

The BERTScope BSAPCI3 Automated PCIe 3.0 Receiver Solution is designed to streamline the tedious and labor-intensive receiver test workflow. No longer is expert PCIe 3.0 domain knowledge required to configure, calibrate, test, and document the results. Fast and accurate BERT-based testing provides high test throughput, intuitive and fast margin testing, and availability of a wide range of debugging tools when further testing is required. The result is high test productivity from setup through to the documentation of results.

Test configuration wizard

The BERTScope BSAPCI3 Test Configuration Wizard provides step-by-step guidance for Receiver Test equipment setup and software setup. Clearly drawn block diagrams, cabling configurations, and descriptions simplify the test configuration setup.

Connection diagrams to help with test setups

Connection wizard for instrumentation control and downloading of all required patterns

Automated stress calibration

An important step in preparing for receiver testing is the calibration of the stress sources to ensure that the stresss applied at the test fixture to the device under test is truly compliant with the test standard. In the past, these calibrations were often the most tedious and error-prone steps in the receiver test setup process. With the BSAPCI3 Automation Software, the calibration of the stress "recipe" is completely automated, including the calibration data. For test configurations that do not change, this step only needs to be performed once, and the stored calibration data is immediately available to be recalled. Engineers can spend less time calibrating, and more time testing.

Locating EH/EW targets

Calibration to final EH/EW targets

Automatic characterization and precise calibration of de-emphasis

Automatic characterization and precise calibration of preshoot

Automatic characterization and precise calibration of random jitter

Loopback initiation and link training

Before the receiver test can start, the device-under-test (DUT) must be put in the proper test mode, called Loopback, where the device is re-transmitting the exact same data that was received. Entering Loopback mode is challenging because of the variety of loopback negotiation sequences across the range of PCIe 3.0 devices. The BERTScope BSAPCI3 Software provides various technique, including Link Training, to train and optimize the link for receiver testing.

Flexible link training and loopback control

BER map

One of the key challenges setting up the link is tuning or determining the optimal RxEQ settings. The BSAPCI3 BER Map feature provides an automated way to scan the PCIe 3.0 TxEQ coefficient matrix to determine the optimal TxEQ for a receiver's RxEQ settings.

Automated BER map result

Jitter tolerance testing

Jitter Tolerance testing is a critical part of the PCIe 3.0 receiver test and is a single-click operation with the BSAPCI3 Automation Software. With real-time stress adjustment, quick synchronization, and BER testing ability, the BERTScope provides the ideal platform for fast jitter compliance testing. Test results are stored using the built-in database for later recall and report generation.

PCIe 3.0 Jitter Tolerance test results

Beyond testing compliance, the automation software also provides a single-click solution for finding the ultimate tolerance limits of the device under test, termed “search for margin”.

Remote control protocol

The test software can be operated remotely through ASCII commands sent through TCP/IP, giving engineers further flexibility in designing “beyond compliance” tests.

Debugging tools

When a device fails to meet the test requirements, the operator has the power of the full range of BERTScope debugging tools. From intuitive and fast manual stress adjustment to the exclusive error analysis capability and jitter decomposition, the BERTScope can help identify subtle issues that other instruments might miss.