Arria® V Device Handbook: Volume 2: Transceivers

ID 683573
Date 5/29/2020
Public
Document Table of Contents

4.1.2.1. PIPE Interface

In a PIPE configuration, each channel has a PIPE interface block that transfers data, control, and status signals between the PHY-MAC layer and the transceiver channel PCS and PMA blocks.

The PIPE interface block complies with version 2.0 of the PIPE specification. If you use the PIPE hard IP block, the PHY-MAC layer is implemented in the hard IP block. Otherwise, you can implement the PHY-MAC layer using soft IP in the FPGA fabric.

If you use the PIPE hard IP block, the PHY-MAC layer is implemented in the hard IP block. Otherwise, you can implement the PHY-MAC layer using soft IP in the FPGA fabric, which will be supported in future versions of the Quartus II software.

Note: The PIPE interface block is used in a PIPE configuration and cannot be bypassed.

In addition to transferring data, control, and status signals between the PHY-MAC layer and the transceiver, the PIPE interface block implements the following functions that are required in a PCIe-compliant physical layer device:

  • Forces the transmitter buffer into an electrical idle state
  • Initiates the receiver detect sequence
  • Controls the 8B/10B encoder disparity when transmitting a compliance pattern
  • Manages the PCIe power states (Electrical Idle only)
  • Indicates the completion of various PHY functions, such as receiver detection and power state transitions on the pipe_phystatus signal
  • Encodes the receiver status and error conditions on the pipe_rxstatus[2:0] signal, as specified in the PCIe specification