External Memory Interfaces Intel® Agilex™ FPGA IP User Guide

ID 683216
Date 3/28/2022
Public

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3.3.4.1.1. DDR4 Read Calibration

DQSen Calibration

The DQSen calibration algorithm searches the DQS preamble using a hardware state machine. The algorithm sends many back-to-back reads with a one-clock-cycle gap between. The hardware state machine searches for the DQS gap while sweeping DQSen delay values. The algorithm then increments the VFIFO value, and repeats the process until a pattern is found. The process then repeats for all other read DQS groups.

Figure 37. DQS Enable Calibration using Hardware State Machine

Deskew Calibration

Read deskew calibration occurs before write leveling, and must occur at least twice: once before write calibration using simple data patterns from guaranteed writes, and again after write calibration using complex data patterns.

To ensure that guaranteed writes work correctly, the Write Leveling Phase training occurs before the guaranteed writes. The goal of Write Leveling Phase training is to align the rising edge for write DQS with the rising edge of MEM_CLK at the DRAM.

Figure 38. Write Leveling Phase Training -Align Write DQS with MEM_CLK at DRAM

The algorithm uses the DRAM write leveling feature for Write Leveling Phase Training. In this mode the following actions occur:

  • The algorithm adjusts the DQS output delay (at the FPGA side) while toggling write DQS signal.
  • The DRAM samples the MEM_CLK using the rising edge of write DQS and outputs the sampled value on DQ pins.
  • The algorithm continues to adjust the DQS output while toggling the write_DQS signal until it detects a 0 to 1 transition on the DQ pins.

The following four figures illustrate an example of read deskew calibration. In this example, the DQS is within the read window before the read deskew calibration, and the FPGA gets the correct data from the back-to-back read operation.

Figure 39. DQS and MEM_CLK are phase aligned when 0 to 1 transition is detected on DQ pins

In guaranteed writes, the algorithm writes a burst of 0s to one location and a burst of 1s to another location. The data from the back-to back reads from these two locations is used as a simple data pattern for read deskew calibration.

Figure 40. Guarantee Write – Writing a Simple Data Pattern to Memory

Before the write calibration, the deskew calibration algorithm performs a guaranteed write, and then sweeps dqs_in delay values from low to high, to find the right-hand edge of the read window. The algorithm then sweeps dq_in delay values from low to high, to find the left-hand edge of the read window. The algorithm then applies updated dqs_in and dq_in delay values to center the read window. The process then repeats for all data pins.

Figure 41. A Passing Back-to-back Read with Simple Data Pattern
Figure 42. Increase dqs_in Delay Until Read Fails -Right Edge is Identified
Figure 43. Increase dq_in Delay Until Read Fails-Left Edge is Identified
Figure 44. Centering the Read Window

After the write path is calibrated, the algorithm performs another read-deskew calibration using a complex data pattern.

Vref-in Calibration

Read Vref-In calibration begins by programming Vref-In with an arbitrary value. The algorithm then sweeps the Vref-In value from the starting value to both ends, and measures the read window for each value. The algorithm selects the Vref-In value which provides the maximum read window. Vref-In is generated from the VCCIO on the I/O banks used for DQ/DQS signals and calibrated internally in FPGA.

LFIFO Calibration

Read LFIFO calibration normalizes read delays between groups. The PHY must present all data to the controller as a single data bus. The LFIFO latency should be large enough for the slowest read data group, and large enough to allow proper synchronization across FIFOs.