SerialLite II IP Core User Guide

ID 683179
Date 7/13/2021
Public
Document Table of Contents

1.1. General Description

The SerialLite II IP core is a simple, high-speed, low-latency, and low-resource point-to-point serial data communication link.
The SerialLite II IP core performs up to:
  • 3.75 Gbps in Arria® II GX devices
  • 5 Gbps in Cyclone® V devices
  • 6.375 Gbps in Arria® V, Stratix® IV, and Stratix® V devices
  • More than 6.375 Gbps in Intel® Arria® 10 devices

The SerialLite II IP core is highly configurable, and provides a wide range of functionality suited to moving data in many different environments.

The IP core provides a simple and lightweight way to move data from one point to another reliably at high speeds. It consists of a serial link of up to 16 bonded lanes, with logic to provide a number of basic and optional link support functions. The Atlantic interface is the primary access for delivering and receiving data.

The SerialLite II protocol specifies a link that is simple to build, uses as little logic as possible, and requires little work for a logic designer to implement. The SerialLite II MegaCore function uses all of the features available in the SerialLite II protocol. You can parameterize the IP core using the SerialLite II parameter editor.

A link built using the SerialLite II IP core operates at 622 Mbps to 6.375 Gbps per lane (or more for Intel® Arria® 10 devices). Link reliability is enhanced by the 8B10B encoding scheme and optional CRC capabilities. You can achieve further reductions in the bit-error rate by using the optional retry-on-error feature. Data rate and consumption mismatches can be accommodated using the optional flow-control feature to ensure that no data is lost.

Figure 1. SerialLite II IP Core High-Level Block DiagramThe SerialLite II IP core is divided into two main blocks: a protocol processing portion (data link layer) and a high-speed front end (physical layer).


You can use the SerialLite II IP core in the following applications:
  • Chip-to-chip connectivity
  • Board-to-board connectivity
  • Shelf-to-shelf connectivity
  • Backplane communication
  • Bridging applications
  • Streaming video applications
  • Imaging applications

The following diagrams show two examples of bridging applications.

Figure 2. Typical Application—Bridging Functions


Figure 3. Typical Application—Unidirectional Bridging Application