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Thunderbolt™ TechnologyThe Transformational PC I/O

Thunderbolt is an interface for connecting peripheral devices to a computer via an expansion.

Originally codenamed Light Peak.

Developed by Intel, with technical collaboration of Apple.

Introduction

Thunderbolt™ technology is a transformational I/O innovation, supports data (PCI Express) and HD display (DisplayPort) connections over a single cable.

10 Gbps of full duplex bandwidth per channel.

Introduction (cont.)

Dual-channel 10Gbps per portBi-directionalDual-protocol (PCI Express and

DisplayPort)Compatible with existing DisplayPort

devicesDaisy-chained devices

Features at a glance

Electrical or optical cablesLow latency with highly accurate

time synchronizationUses native protocol software

driversPower over cable for bus-powered

devices

Features at a glance (cont.)

I/O technology evolve to provide higher bandwidth of data transfer with every generation upgrade of IT.

We now have two discrete type of I/O-DisplayData

This two fundamental I/O protocol is combined in Thunderbolt technology within a single meta-protocol.

It transmits them in a single cable and able to manage traffic routing with intelligent hardware controllers.

Refining the I/O

Devices in Daisy chain connection supported.

Hot plug Ready.

Refining the I/O (cont.)

Data storage

HD Display

Laptop

Thunderbolt technology is based on a new architecture with full-duplex links.

Thunderbolt port is capable of providing the full bandwidth of the link in both directions.

no sharing of bandwidth between ports or between upstream and downstream directions.

Protocol Architecture

The Thunderbolt protocol physical layer is responsible for link maintenance including hot-plug detection, and data encoding to provide highly efficient data transfer.

The heart of the Thunderbolt protocol architecture is the transport layer.

Protocol Architecture (cont.)

Figure: Thunderbolt™ Technology

Architecture.

Display Port and PCI Express protocols are mapped onto the transport layer.

Mapped protocol packets between a source device and a destination device may be routed over a path that may cross multiple Thunderbolt controllers.

Protocol Architecture (cont.)

Figure: PCI Express and DisplayPort transported between Thunderbolt™ controllers over a Thunderbolt cable.

At the destination device, a protocol adapter recreates the mapped protocol in a way that is indistinguishable from what was received by the source device.

Thunderbolt technology-enabled product devices appear as PCI Express or DisplayPort devices to the operating system of the host PC.

So available standard drivers are capable of using them.

Protocol Architecture (cont.)

Hostside Thunderbolt controllers have one or more DisplayPort input interfaces, a PCI Express interface along with one or more Thunderbolt technology interface.

A single chip, the host-side controller enables system vendors to easily incorporate Thunderbolt technology into their designs.

Controller Architecture

Comparison Chart

Thunderbolt is fast and balanced in performance.It simplifies device management with smart

features like daisy chain etc.With Thunderbolt technology, workstation-level

performance feature expansion can be packaged as standalone accessories, and is only a cable away.

Thunderbolt technology opens doors to entirely new system and product designs.

This technology is also working on implementation on the in windows operating systems.

Conclusion

‘Thunderbolt Technology’, Technology Brief, Intel Corporation, June, 2011.

‘Intel Light Peak: Overview’, Intel Corporation, February 25, 2010.

http://www.intel.com/technology/io/thunderbolt/index.htm

http://www.apple.com/thunderbolt/

References