3.4.2 SmartBERT

The CoreSmartBERT IP core provides a broad-based evaluation and demonstration platform for transceivers (PF_XCVR). See HB0788: CoreSmartBERT Handbook (download the handbook from Libero Catalog). For any transceiver design, PRBS tests from XCVR PMA are available by default. SmartBERT enables you to run diagnostic tests on the transceiver lanes. The self-testing capability can be used for isolating faults either during development debug or for in-field diagnostics using the transceiver built-in PRBS generator and checker.

SmartBERT uses the PRBS generator and checker functionality available in each transceiver lane to determine the bit error rate (BER) of a lane. The various PRBS patterns supported are PRBS7, PRBS9, PRBS15, PRBS23, and PRBS31. Near-end loopback can be performed using one of these PRBS patterns. Bit Error Rate (BER) displays the BER for the PRBS test in progress.

To run a PRBS pattern:

1. Select one of the Patterns from the drop-down list.
2. Select the EQ-NearEnd check box. When checked, the selected lane gets added to the right hand side where PRBS test can be performed. When unchecked, the selected lane gets removed from the added list (see Figure   2).
3. Click Start in the bottom-left corner of the window. The loopback cycle is initiated and the result is displayed. It enables both transmitter and the receiver for a particular lane and for a particular PRBS pattern.The GUI shows the status of the TXPLL, RXPLL, Lock to Data, Data rate, and the BER 
(see Figure   2).
4. Click Stop in the bottom-right corner of the window to stop the loopback.

Monitor the Lock indicators and error counters to check the quality of the link. This test ensures proper power supplies, clocks and resets to the XCVR and traffic is not going off-chip to the system. The following figures show the Smart BERT options of the debug transceiver.