External Memory Interface Handbook Volume 3: Reference Material: For UniPHY-based Device Families

ID 683841
Date 3/06/2023
Public
Document Table of Contents

1.5.1. Leveling Circuitry

Leveling circuitry is dedicated I/O circuitry to provide calibration support for fly-by address and command networks. For DDR3, leveling is always invoked, whether the interface targets a DIMM or a single component. For DDR3 implementations at higher frequencies, a fly-by topology is recommended for optimal performance. For DDR2, leveling circuitry is invoked automatically for frequencies above 240 MHz; no leveling is used for frequencies below 240 MHz.

For DDR2 at frequencies below 240 MHz, you should use a tree-style layout. For frequencies above 240 MHz, you can choose either a leveled or balanced-T or Y topology, as the leveled PHY calibrates to either implementation. Regardless of protocol, for devices without a levelling block—such as Arria II GZ, Arria V, and Cyclone V—a balanced-T PCB topology for address/command/clock must be used because fly-by topology is not supported.

For details about leveling delay chains, consult the memory interfaces hardware section of the device handbook for your FPGA.

The following figure shows the write datapath for a leveling interface. The full-rate PLL output clock phy_write_clk goes to a leveling delay chain block which generates all other periphery clocks that are needed. The data signals that generate DQ and DQS signals pass to an output phase alignment block. The output phase alignment block feeds an output buffer which creates a pair of pseudo differential clocks that connect to the memory. In full-rate designs, only the SDR-DDR portion of the path is used; in half-rate mode, the HDR-SDR circuitry is also required. The use of DDIO_OUT in both the output strobe and output data generation paths ensures that their timing characteristics are as similar as possible. The <variation_name>_pin_assignments.tcl script automatically specifies the logic option that associates all data pins to the output strobe pin. The Quartus Prime Fitter treats the pins as a DQS/DQ pin group.

Figure 4. Write Datapath for a Leveling Interface