Regarding the new v3.2.0 version of PyBERT (first one w/ new sub-tabbed layout), both David Patterson and I dislike the way the Tx/Rx configuration is currently split between the Config. and Channel tabs.
The following are my thoughts on how to proceed.
We've created a branch: tx-rx-split, specifically for this work.
The obvious first impulse is to unify all Tx/Rx configuration, rather than have it split between two tabs. However, I don't think it's quite that simple. The problem is the Tx/Rx both have equalization-related and channel-related attributes. For instance, the Tx output drive stage properties are intimately associated with the channel impulse response, while the Rx CTLE is closely associated w/ the CDR/DFE. And the more I think about this, the more I believe that it makes sense to have the channel-related Tx/Rx attributes configured separately from the equalization-related attributes. However, I think we may currently have the positions of those two sets flipped from what really makes sense. I think I'd like to try the following and run it by David, to see what he thinks:
- Rename the Channel tab to Equalization.
- Swap the current positions of the Tx/Rx configuration items, placing the channel-related stuff on the Config. tab, and the equalization-related stuff on the (newly renamed) Equalization tab.
- Add the capability (on the Config. tab) to select an IBIS, or IBIS-AMI, model for either the Tx, or Rx, or both.
- If an IBIS model was selected, then use it to determine the impedance, etc. of the respective analog component, and don't make any changes to the Equalization tab.
- If an IBIS-AMI model was selected, then do as above, but also configure the Equalization tab to use the DLL/AMI files for equalization mdoeling of the Tx/Rx, as appropriate.
Also, I think David is correct: having a complete link picture somewhere in the GUI, which reflects the current configuration, would be very helpful.