Calibration of digital diagnostics information in an optical transceiver prior to reporting to host
View Patent ↗An optical transceiver configured to perform calibration of digital diagnostics prior to providing the calibrated values to a host computing system (hereinafter referred to simply as a “host”) that is communicatively coupled to the optical transceiver. The optical transceiver includes a sensor that measures an analog operational parameter signal such as temperature or supply voltage. Each analog signal is then converted to digital samples by analog to digital converter(s). A processor executes microcode that causes the optical transceiver to perform calibration on the various samples to compensate for predictable error introduced into the analog signal prior to or during the analog-to-digital conversion. The optical transceiver may then make the calibrated result accessible to the host.
1. In an optical transceiver that is communicatively couplable to a host computing system, the optical transceiver including at least one analog to digital converter, a system memory, and at least one processor, a method for the optical transceiver to perform calibration of digital diagnostics information prior to communicating with the host computing system, the method comprising the following:
an act of obtaining digital samples from an analog signal, wherein the digital samples include predictable error introduced by operation of the optical transceiver;
an act of executing microcode using the at least one processor, the microcode including one or more predefined rules configured to at least partially remove the predictable error from the digital samples, to thereby cause the optical transceiver to perform the following:
an act of calibrating the digital samples such that the predictable error is at least partially removed from the digital samples using the one or more predefined rules.
2. A method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising:
an act of making the calibrated digital samples accessible to the host computing system.
3. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the digital samples generally conform to a first non-linear function, and wherein the act of calibrating the digital samples comprises:
an act of mapping the digital samples to generate calibrated digital samples that generally conform to a second non-linear function that is different from the first non-linear function.
4. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the digital samples generally conform to a non-linear function, and wherein the act of calibrating the digital samples comprises:
an act of mapping the digital samples to generate calibrated digital samples that generally conform to a linear function.
5. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the digital samples generally conform to a linear function, and wherein the act of calibrating the digital samples comprises:
an act of mapping the digital samples to generate calibrated digital samples that generally conform to a non-linear function.
6. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the digital samples generally conform to a first linear function, and wherein the act of calibrating the digital samples comprises:
an act of mapping the digital samples to generate calibrated digital samples that generally conform to a second linear function that is different from the first linear function.
7. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the analog signal is one of transceiver temperature, transceiver supply voltage, laser bias current, transceiver receive power, or transceiver transmit power.
8. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the predictable error is introduced during analog to digital conversion, during changes in environmental conditions, or during changes in operational conditions.
9. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the optical transceiver includes a controller that is at least indirectly coupled to both the optical transmitter and the optical receiver.
10. An optical transceiver comprising the following:
at least one processor;
an analog to digital converter configured obtain a plurality of digital samples from an analog signal, wherein the digital samples include predictable error introduced by operation of the optical transceiver; and
a system memory having microcode thereon, the microcode including one or more predefined rules configured to at least partially remove the predictable error from the digital samples, wherein the microcode is structured such that, when executed by the at least one processor, the optical transceiver is caused to access the digital samples and perform a calibration operation on the digital samples such that the predictable error is at least partially removed from the digital samples using the one or more predefined rules.
11. An optical transceiver in accordance with claim 10 , the calibrated result is made accessible to a host computing system coupled to the optical transceiver.
12. An optical transceiver in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the digital samples generally conform to a first non-linear function, and wherein performing the calibration operation comprises mapping the digital samples to generate calibrated digital samples that generally conform to a second non-linear function that is different from the first non-linear function.
13. An optical transceiver in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the digital samples generally conform to a non-linear function, and wherein performing the calibration operation comprises of mapping the digital samples to generate calibrated digital samples that generally conform to a linear function.
14. An optical transceiver in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the digital samples generally conform to a linear function, and wherein performing the calibration operation comprises of mapping the digital samples to generate calibrated digital samples that generally conform to a non-linear function.
15. An optical transceiver in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the digital samples generally conform to a first linear function, and wherein performing the calibration operation comprises mapping the digital samples to generate calibrated digital samples that generally conform to a second linear function that is different from the first linear function.
16. An optical transceiver in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the analog signal is one of transceiver temperature, transceiver supply voltage, laser bias current, transceiver receive power, or transceiver transmit power.
17. An optical transceiver in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the optical transceiver is one of a 1 G laser transceiver, a 2 G laser transceiver, a 4 G laser transceiver, a 8 G transceiver, or a 10 G laser transceiver.
18. An optical transceiver in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the optical transceiver is a laser transceiver suitable for fiber optic links greater than 10 G.
19. An optical transceiver in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the optical transceiver is one of a XFP laser transceiver, a SFP laser transceiver, or a SFF laser transceiver.
20. An optical transceiver in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the optical transceiver includes a controller that is at least indirectly coupled to both the optical transmitter and the optical receiver.