Tektronix has expanded its portfolio of instrumentation and software to support designers working on the electrical side of 100Gbps communication systems. The introductions include:
- LE320, a 2 differential channel, 9 tap linear equalizer, supporting data rates up to 32Gbps, as part of a BERTScope receiver test system;
- new options for the PPG/PED multi-channel BERTs that provide signal impairments and output adjustment at data rates up to 32Gbps as well as a new 40Gbps error detector model; and
- Option CEI-VSR that automates the DSA8300 Sampling Oscilloscope to perform required compliance tests for the CEI-28G-VSRstandard.
32 Gb/sec Linear Equalizers for Rx Testing: Designers developing systems that run at 10Gbps or faster need an equalizer in front of Rx inputs or a pre-emphasis module on transmitter Tx outputs. The LE320 will support signal conditioning on data rates from 8Gbps to 32Gbps in a 9-tap design used to deliver the high-precision error rate testing required by 100G communication standards such as CEI-28G-VSR.The remote head design of the LE320 enables designers to minimize cable length in their test system and avoid signal degradation issues, which are significant at 25-28Gb/sec. Based on custom microwave silicon from Hitite to reduce component count, the LE320 can be configured to provide standards specific equalization, permitting bit error rate (BER) analysis on otherwise closed eye signals. For customers working with lower data rates, Tektronix will also offer an LE160 model for systems up to 20Gbps for such applications as 40G-KR4, 14Gbps Fibre-channel and 16GbpsPCI Express 4.0.
Multi-channel BERT capability for 100G testing: Stressed receiver tests, four-channel end-to-end BER testing, and crosstalk tests are now among of the suite of tests driven by the move to multiple high-speed parallel lanes. The Tektronix PPG/PED line of multi-lane BERTs has now been enhanced to provide expanded jitter impairment capability, new output adjustment flexibility, and higher speed error detection capability. The extended range of jitter insertion options includes option HFJIT which now provides BUJ as well as RJ and SJ; and high amplitude/ low frequency PJ as part of new option LFJIT. Also introduced is option ADJ which adds adjustable outputs with fast rise/fall time and low intrinsic jitter required for 32 Gbps multi-channel pattern generator applications. Data rate margin testing has been enhanced with the introduction of the new PED4000 series of error detector products capable of data rate of up to 40 Gbps, in 1 or 2-channel configurations.
CEI-28G-VSR Compliance Testing: The Implementation Agreement for Optical Internetworking Forum Common Electrical Interface (OIF CEI) 3.0 specifies the tests and limits for devices based on OIF standards. CEI-28G-VSR is one of those standards and is intended for use in very short-reach electrical channels in pluggable optical transceivers. It is critical that these electrical interfaces are able to meet system bit error rate (BER) targets and must undergo rigorous testing and debug cycles. By using Option CEI-VSR with their Tektronix DSA8300 sampling oscilloscope, design engineers can perform compliance measurements in less than 5 minutes, reducing their testing time by approximately 95 percent compared to manual alternatives. In addition, Option CEI-VSR can be used to determine the optimal value for CTLE peaking as required by the CEI-28G-VSR Host-to-Module interface specification.
Pricing and Availability: The 32 Gbps LE320 and 16 Gbps LE160 Linear Equalizers are available for customer evaluation now with worldwide availability starting in Q4. Prices start at $23,000. The PPG3000 Options for Jitter Insertion start at $13,800 and new PED4000 series begins at $102,000. Both are available in Q4, 2013. Option CEI-VSR will be available in Q4 2013.