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Introduction
1
Introduction
The Texas Instruments TLK10232 SERDES evaluation module (EVM) boards are controlled and
configured with a custom developed graphical user interface (GUI) developed using National Instrument’s
LabVIEW™ 2010 programming language.
High- and low-level manipulation of the registers is possible through this GUI as well as a variety of built-in
test modes. Both channels of the TLK10232 and every low-speed input/output lane in each channel is
handled independently allowing maximum configurability of the TLK10232 device. Global write register bits
exist, allowing the register read/write commands to be applied to every channel, and lane, simultaneously
to shorten the configuration time. However, these bits are not implemented in the GUI and the user should
be aware that the configuration sequences in the GUI could be optimized for both time and redundancy for
the particular use case when implementing the system.
The high speed transmit and receive parameters can be swept through a nested loop of parameter
combinations in the HS Link Optimizer portion of the GUI. The test results can be reviewed both visually
and empirically through a saved test report with the results. Running the Link Optimizer saves time when
determining the optimal combination of settings for the particular system or test setup.
Advanced functionality and debug capabilities are built into the GUI through the implementation of the
Python scripting language. A recording of register read/write transactions can be recorded in real-time
while manually using the GUI in order to create a reusable and easily modified script for future work.
These scripts can be modified to include any supported Python 2.7 features including loops, file I/O, and
command prompt user input.
2
Getting Started
Configure the EVM hardware and connect the USB dongle to the PC before starting the TLK10232 EVM
GUI. The first time the GUI is started, default settings and configuration files are created and saved into
the working directory of the PC causing the GUI to take longer than normal to open.
The TLK10232 EVM implements TI’s TCA6424 I
2
C™-to-GPIO device to provide software control and
status monitoring of the TLK10232 device’s I/O pins. When the board is powered up and the GUI is run,
the GUI first initializes the registers of the TCA6424 for their default values and issues a Main Board
Reset, resetting the TLK10232. This ensures that the GUI and TLK10232 register values are synchronized
to their default values prior to configuration. When this reset occurs, the red reset LED on the EVM blinks
momentarily and then the green LED relights when the reset operation is complete.
The GUI is designed to control up to two TLK10232 EVMs when one is configured to accept the MDIO
and I
2
C control signals from the first board that is connected to the USB port of the PC. Currently, this
feature is not fully implemented and tested in both hardware and software. See future revisions of this
document for additional information. Use Board 1 settings and registers when only one board is connected
to the PC.
Both channels can be configured simultaneously using Channel A’s settings as a reference. Selecting the
TLK10232 EVM board window from the Selection Window menu (
Figure 1
) allows selection whether or not
to simultaneously configure both channels. After making a selection, click the Save Settings [F5] button
at the bottom of the screen.
3
SLLU181 – June 2013
TLK10232 Dual-Channel XAUI/10GBASE-KR Transceiver with Crosspoint
Evaluation Module (EVM) Graphical Users Interface User’s Guide
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