Testing the DDR Memory Interface's Physical Layer (Part III)

Figure 1: For analysis purposes. it's critical to separate
read and write bursts of interest

Last time around, we began examining some of the challenges that come with testing the DDR interface's physical layer. In that post, we concentrated on getting to the devices' physical connections by various means including interposers, backside vias, and DIMM series resistors. Now, presuming we've managed to gain access to the DDR's ball-grid array, the next hurdle is separation of read and write bursts.

Testing the DDR Memory Interface's Physical Layer (Part II)

Figure 1: Shown is a typical BGA
package for DDR memory

In the first of this series of posts, we undertook a high-level view of physical test of a DDR memory interface. Moving forward, let's look into some of the specific challenges one faces in a close examination of these interfaces.

Testing the DDR Memory Interface's Physical Layer (Part I)

Figure 1: Clock, strobe, and data are
three critical signals in DDR test

In an earlier post, we took a brief tour through what constitutes a DDR memory interface: clock, command, address, and strobe+data lines linking a memory controller and an array of DRAM memory ICs. Next, we'll examine what DDR interface testing is all about, concentrating primarily on the physical layer.

Fundamentals of the DDR Memory Interface

Figure 1: A representative test setup
for physical-layer DDR testing

Double data-rate (DDR) memory has ruled the roost as the main system memory in PCs for a long time. Of late, it's seeing more usage in embedded systems as well. Let's look at the fundamentals of a DDR interface and then move into physical-layer testing (Figure 1).

Back to Basics: Three-Phase Sinusoidal Voltages

Figure 1: Three-phase AC voltages
consist of three voltage vectors

In a previous post, we briefly covered the basics of single- and three-phase AC power systems. Single-phase systems, as we've noted, comprise a single voltage vector with a magnitude (in VAC) and a phase angle. Of course, a three-phase voltage consists of three voltage vectors and three phase angles. This installment will go on to describe three-phase AC voltages in similarly brief fashion.

Back to Basics: Fundamentals of AC Line Power (Part II)

Figure 1: AC line voltage is a single-phase
vector that rotates at a given frequency

Having reviewed a broad definition of power, how it is generated and distributed, and how motors consume almost half of all generated power, we will now turn to a more detailed discussion of just what it is that we call "power." When we discuss "power," we're typically referring to what comes out of a wall socket: AC line, or sinusoidal, power.

Back to Basics: The Fundamentals of Power

Figure 1: 45% of worldwide power
consumption fuels motors

Ask any number of engineers to define "power" and you'll get any number of answers, and none of them would necessarily be wrong. Sometimes it's just a matter of perspective.