LeCroy recently developed SDAIII-CompleteLinQ, a serial data analysis package that simultaneously performs eye, jitter, vertical noise and crosstalk analysis on up to four lanes, with quick and easy lane-to-lane comparisons.
Mobile and cloud computing is driving demand for higher data throughput. Existing and emerging standards, such as PCIe Gen3, 40/100GBase-R and InfiniBand are meeting these needs by utilising multiple serial data lanes as well as increasing data rates on each lane – up to 28 Gbps – to achieve very high data throughput.
Higher-speed data rates increase the characterisation, debug and compliance test challenges on even a single lane of serial data. Determining the root cause of eye closure in the channel between the transmitter and receiver is the primary challenge. Simulating where one cannot place a probe or otherwise access the signal becomes critical.
The paralleling of high-speed serial data transmissions results in additional challenges. Crosstalk between lanes, or coupled from other sources, and other signal integrity issues can be significant problems. Quickly and simultaneously viewing performance of multiple lanes, measuring vertical noise, and determining pattern dependency of the jitter and the noise, are key to understanding root causes of poor system performance.
With multi-lane analysis, SDAIII-CompleteLinQ allows engineers to quickly view eye diagrams on all lanes, or use the multi-lane capability to analyse a single lane at multiple points using LeCroy differential probes or the VirtualProbe option.
The system can also show multiple analyses of a single serial data signal – ideal for comparing different equalisation schemes with the Eye Doctor II option.
SDAIII-CompleteLinQ also solves the problem of lane-to-lane-comparisons with LaneScape Comparison Mode and the new Reference Lane. Users store and display the complete analysis of a lane into the Reference Lane, and use a LaneScape display mode to compare the analysis of 1, 2 or all lanes simultaneously.
The Reference Lane allows engineers to easily perform multi-scenario testing. One such test is aggressor on/off analysis: users can measure eye and jitter characteristics with a neighbouring aggressor lane turned on, store this analysis to the Reference Lane, and then perform the analysis with the aggressor turned off. The Reference Lane can then be compared to other lanes using the LaneScape display mode.
The Crosstalk and CrossLinQ packages that are part of the SDAIII-CompleteLinQ product family provide vertical noise measurements and crosstalk analysis tools for complete aggressor/victim analysis.
Users can use one of three dual-Dirac models to measure and separate noise into total (Tn), random (Rn) and deterministic (Dn) components, and further decompose Dn into Intersymbol Interference Noise (ISIn) and Periodic Noise (Pn).
Similar to jitter analysis, noise can be viewed as a noise track, histogram and spectrum, providing insight into the vertical noise resulting from coupling to other active serial data lanes or other interference sources.
The Crosstalk Eye shows the probabilistic extent of noise both inside and outside the eye, quickly showing the impact of excessive noise that is not possible to see in a traditional eye diagram.
The new VirtualProbe and existing Eye DoctorII packages integrate into the SDAIII-CompleteLinQ dialog. With EyeDoctorII, users can configure transmitter emphasis and receiver equalisation independently for each lane, and view how the eye and jitter results are affected.
With VirtualProbe, users can see what the signal looks like where a probe cannot be placed, while also de-embedding fixture and emulating channels modelled by S-parameters.
When used in conjunction with the Crosstalk and CrossLinQ packages, VirtualProbe can use 8 and 12-port S-parameter models in a unique ‘XTalk’ block that characterises the coupling between multiple lanes. LeCroy SPARQ signal integrity network analysers can make S-parameter measurements on up to 12 ports, at less cost than a VNA.
SDAIII-CompleteLinQ products are compatible with WavePro/SDA/DDA 7 Zi/Zi-A, WaveMaster/SDA/DDA 8 Zi/Zi-A, LabMaster 9 Zi-A and 10 Zi series oscilloscopes. Existing users of these products, or of the SDAII package, can upgrade to any of the SDAIII-CompleteLinQ products.
For more information contact Comtest, +27 (0)11 608 8520, [email protected], www.comtest.co.za, RS Components, +27 (0)11 691 9300, [email protected], www.rsonline.co.za
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