Ralph Page, Systems Architect at Samtec, walks us through a live product demonstration combining Microchip’s META-DX1 family of Ethernet PHYs with Samtec ExaMAX® backplane cable systems.
Samtec ExaMAX backplane cable systems improve signal integrity and routability using Samtec Flyover® high-speed cable technology, which routes signals above a lossy PCB using Eye Speed® co-extruded, ultra-low skew twinax for improved bandwidth and reach.
The Microchip® META-DX1 is a 1.2 Terabit Ethernet PHY with long reach 56G PAM4 SerDes, and features such as MACsec encryption, FlexE, and nanosecond-level PTP timestamping accuracy. With support for Ethernet rates from 1 to 400 GE, 48 Serdes, and integrated crosspoint, META-DX1 enables a wide range of connectivity in a single hardware design.
What’s Going On
In this demo, 56 Gbps PAM4 data routes from the META-DX1 PHY through about 4″ of PCB trace, then through 12” of precision RF cable, to Samtec 2.40 compression mount precision RF connectors, on an SI evaluation board for Samtec’s AcceleRate® high-speed, slim-body cable system.
The signals then route through 30” of 34 AWG Samtec Eye Speed Ultra-Low Skew twinax cable to an ExaMAX backplane socket and retention bracket. This emulates real-world mid-board to backplane architecture.
The signals then route via a one meter long ExaMAX backplane cable assembly with 28 AWG twinax cable. Next, the signals return through a second set of backplane sockets and brackets, through another 30” AcceleRate Cable assembly, to another AcceleRate SI Evaluation board.
Finally, another 12 inches of RF cable returns the signals to the META-DX1.
The total length of the signal path exceeds three meters.
How Sweet It Is
This is an incredibly long and complex signal path, but the results are very good. The total insertion loss from DX1 to DX1 is approximately 30 dB. The eye patterns are wide-open, and the BER is 1e-9 pre-FEC.
Combining industry-leading Ethernet PHYs, like the Microchip META-DX1, with Samtec’s cabled backplane solutions offers design assurance and shorter time to market for next-gen ethernet routers, switches, and line cards manufacturers.
Let’s Get It On
Outstanding Performance: Microchip META-DX1 Ethernet PHY, Front Panel QSFP-DD (Samtec blog)
For more information on the Microchip META-DX1 family, please visit www.microchip.com/META-DX1.
For more information on ExaMAX® backplane cable systems, please visit www.samtec.com/examax.
And if you have questions about this demo, please direct them to SIG@Samtec.com.
Leave a Reply