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Analogix and Synopsys Prove SERDES Interoperability at 6.25 Gigabits over Tyco Electronics 'Legacy' Backplane
World's First Demonstrated Interoperability of SERDES Solutions
Designed to Support Next-Generation Interconnect Standards
SANTA CLARA, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Oct. 19, 2004—
Analogix Semiconductor and Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS), the world
leader in semiconductor design software, have successfully completed
interoperability testing of their SERDES (serializer-deserializer)
solutions over Tyco Electronics' HM-Zd Legacy Backplane System, a
reference platform that uses standard, inexpensive FR-4 circuit-board
material. The Analogix and Synopsys SERDES were able to maintain
sustained error-free full-duplex communication at rates up to 6.25
gigabits per second over trace distances of more than 40 inches of
standard FR-4 backplane material. Proven interoperability provides
system designers with increased flexibility in designing the most
efficient, lowest-cost systems possible.
The demonstration is the first to prove the multi-vendor
interoperability of SERDES solutions that are designed to support
next-generation interconnect standards, including the OIF CEI-6G Long
Reach Interoperability Agreement, Next-generation Rapid I/O, Serial
ATA (SATA), Serial Attached SCSI (SAS), and PCI Express Generation 2.
The two devices tested were Analogix's D-PHY 4x5G, a discrete
backplane transceiver capable of 1.25- to 6.25-Gbps transmission; and
an ASIC containing a Synopsys 6.25-Gbps SERDES, a Decision Feedback
Equalization (DFE)-enabled NRZ (binary) core capable of 622-Mbps to
6.25-Gbps transmission. The two interoperated over Tyco Electronics'
Legacy HM-Zd backplane.
"Standards efforts are critical in accelerating the process by
which different vendors achieve interoperability," said Ted Rado,
Analogix vice president of marketing. "But, with the design
complexities of leading-edge, high-speed technologies, meeting
standards often is not sufficient -- especially when those standards
are still early in the specification stage. Multi-vendor testing is
key to providing the proof of device compatibility that customers
want."
"Highly interoperable and reusable standards-based mixed-signal IP
cores are essential to enable adoption of faster interconnect
solutions up to 6.25 Gbps and beyond," said Bill Hoppin, DesignWare(R)
Mixed-signal IP Business Development at Synopsys. "This
interoperability demonstration gives designers confidence that our
DesignWare SERDES technology has the robustness and margin needed to
achieve true interoperability at 6.25 Gbps over difficult backplane
applications."
John D'Ambrosia, manager of semiconductor relations at Tyco
Electronics said, "The HM-Zd Legacy backplane was designed to
rigorously test emerging 6.25-Gbps devices in an environment that is
representative of copper-based backplanes in the field today. This
test shows that SERDES solutions from Synopsys and Analogix can deal
with problems such as reduced signal-to-noise ratios that emerge at
speeds of 5 gigabits and up, and that they can do so while
communicating with each other over a single backplane."
Interoperability Test Details
In the test, conducted at Analogix, PRBS 31 (pseudorandom bit
sequence) unencoded data ran at 6.25 Gbps. The Analogix D-PHY 5G
transmitter drove the Synopsys receiver and vice versa, realizing 50
Gbps over four full-duplex, 40-plus-inch FR-4 links (30-inch backplane
trace plus six-inch line-card trace plus six-inch evaluation-board
trace). The devices were operated in both synchronous and asynchronous
modes. The test ran error-free, validating bit error rates (BER) of
10(-15) or better, and, using diagnostic capability integrated into
the Synopsys core, extrapolated BER to greater than 10(-18).
Tyco Electronics' HM-Zd Legacy Backplane System, introduced in
July 2003, provides a common, defined environment for interoperability
and performance testing of solutions for designs using low-voltage
differential signaling. Based on Nelco 4000-6 material, it provides 16
full-duplex paths per three channel lengths of 1, 16 and 30 inches,
and implements differential pairs based on a .006-inch trace width.
Furthermore, to mirror implementations in the field today, no stub
removal techniques, such as backdrilling, have been implemented in the
connector area.
Analogix's D-PHY family of backplane transceivers uses advanced
analog signal conditioning techniques to eliminate the
signal-integrity problems that characterize high-speed data
transmission over copper media. D-PHY products drive increased
performance through existing backplane traces while interoperating
with existing line cards. The D-PHY family is designed for use in
enterprise switches and routers, carrier-class transport equipment,
Fibre Channel and IP-based storage systems, and high-end servers.
About Tyco Electronics
Tyco Electronics, a major business segment of Tyco International
Ltd., is the world's largest passive electronic components
manufacturer; a world leader in cutting-edge wireless, active
fiber-optic and complete power systems technologies; and is also
rapidly developing extensive networking and building technology
installation services. Tyco Electronics provides advanced technology
products from over 40 well-known and respected brands, including
Agastat, Alcoswitch, AMP, AMP NETCONNECT, Buchanan, CII, CoEv,
Critchley, Elcon, Elo TouchSystems, M/A-COM, Madison Cable, OEG,
OneSource Building Technologies, Potter & Brumfield, Raychem, Schrack,
Simel and TDI Batteries.
About Synopsys
Synopsys, Inc., is the world leader in electronic design
automation (EDA) software for semiconductor design. The company
delivers technology-leading semiconductor design and verification
platforms and IC manufacturing software products to the global
electronics market, enabling the development and production of complex
systems-on-chips (SoCs). Synopsys also provides intellectual property
and design services to simplify the design process and accelerate
time-to-market for its customers. Synopsys is headquartered in
Mountain View, Calif., and has offices in more than 60 locations
throughout North America, Europe, Japan and Asia. Visit Synopsys
online at http://www.synopsys.com/. Information on DesignWare IP
products is available online at http://www.synopsys.com/designware.
About Analogix Semiconductor
Analogix Semiconductor, Inc., founded in March 2002, manufactures
high-performance analog mixed-signal semiconductors. Initial products
are high-speed physical-layer transceivers (SERDES) that extend the
performance and reach of backplane and system-to-system interconnect
over copper media. Analogix products combine advanced analog with
digital signal processing (DSP) techniques to offer interconnect
speeds of up to 10Gbps. Target customers include enterprise and
carrier networking, storage and server system vendors. Analogix is
based in Santa Clara, Calif., with development offices in Beijing,
China. The privately-held company, which has 40 employees, has raised
$10 million from Woodside Fund, DCM -- Doll Capital Management, and
IDG Technology Venture Investment. For more information, visit
http://www.analogix.com.
Synopsys and DesignWare are registered trademarks of Synopsys,
Inc.
Contact:
Analogix Semiconductor, Inc.
Ted Rado, 408-988-8848 ext. 203
trado@analogixsemi.com
or
Ulevich & Orrange, Inc.
Janis Ulevich, 650-329-1590
ulevich@u-o.com
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