In the world of high performance computing (HPC), the growing trend of hardware accelerations enables higher system performance. This is accomplished by offloading non-core processing functions and system I/O management to a secondary CPU or FPGA. While co-located HPC acceleration develops a growing acceptance in high-end servers, a number of systems leverage hardware acceleration via high speed serial busses like PCIe. In some systems, the PCIe-enabled hardware accelerators are found … [Read more...]
High Bandwidth Connector Design: Full Speed Ahead
You can’t talk about technology without mentioning the need for increased bandwidth and high bandwidth connector design. On the hardware side, many say we are facing the limits of what we can do with the tried-and-true technologies that have been the foundation for technology innovation thus far -- chips, laminates, boards and elements associated with them. Addressing increased bandwidth requirements requires a systems-level approach. Those systems are defined by the hardware elements … [Read more...]
Samtec: Not Just Connectors Anymore, Design Solutions From Silicon-to-Silicon
Our blog readers quickly realize that we at Samtec do not view ourselves as another connector company. We are extremely proud of our humble beginnings as we enter our 40th year of business. Our legacy in Flexible Stacking and Micro/Rugged components and cables forms the basis of who we are. Our customers depend on our Sudden Service® to minimize risk in prototype and production supply chains. Additionally, our Free Sample Programs support OEMs, ODMs, academia, makers and hobbyists … [Read more...]
VITA 42 XMC Keeps on Truckin’
Data. Data. Data. It seems like we can’t get enough. 28 Gbps, 56 Gbps, and 112 Gbps serial channel data rates are standard or roadmap options for semiconductor, connector and optical module manufacturers. It’s almost like you need a Bugatti Veyron or Lamborghini Murcielago to get to the drug store in under 3.0 seconds for some cold medicine. Unless you are some rich Italian playboy, you probably have a sedan, a SUV, or a regular pick-up truck to run your errands. Likewise, typical … [Read more...]
How Collaborative Engineering Enables Constant Innovation
Centerlines to 0.4 mm. Gold plating that is 5μ” thick. Contact systems rated at 30 Gbps. Connectors that can handle 10,000 cycles. While our expectations are high, we all know that developing the next generation interconnect solutions requires constant engineering and manufacturing innovation. And while connectors aren’t at the top of the electronics food chain, their role is critical in the successful functioning of any electronic system. The Samtec Advanced Interconnect Design Technology … [Read more...]
Guidelines To Ensure Electromagnetic Immunity In Connectors
Electromagnetic Immunity is the ability of a system to continue functioning in the presence of electrical noise. One can imagine a scenario where an automobile drives under a cell phone tower. If the automobile accelerates to 120 mph due to coupled noise in the engine controller from the cell phone tower, one can say that the automobile is vulnerable to noise from the cell phone tower. Regulations This simple (but dramatic) example illustrates the need for immunity testing and requirements … [Read more...]
Chip-to-Chip at 25 Gbps+ . . . Over Fiber?
As another year dawns, the demand for data remains insatiable. The number crunching of Big Data requires larger and faster supercomputers to analyze immeasurable data sets. New server architectures leverage hardware accelerators – in FPGAs or via expansion cards – to offload system processing. The growth of the IoT gives rise to data acquisition systems aggregating GBs of data. High-speed test and measurement equipment emulate signal traffic found in next generation routers, switches and … [Read more...]
Check Out The New Samtec Optical Group Video
Check out the new Samtec Optical Group video. The Samtec Optical Group is an engineering team dedicated to the design, development and application support of high performance micro optical engines, active optical assemblies and high density ganged passive optical panel solutions. Capable of 14 Gbps, 28 Gbps, and soon 56 Gbps, Samtec’s FireFly™ micro on-board optical engines occupy the smallest overall footprint, consume the least amount of power, and enable fast, easy, and low cost fiber … [Read more...]
Bulls Eye® Test Point Solutions Ease Transceiver Characterization
Semiconductor manufacturers are always looking for the best interconnect solution to characterize the high-speed transceivers found on their FPGAs, ASICs and ASSPs. Typically, PCB-mount SMA connectors have been used to breakout the differential transmit and receive signals found in modern transceivers. Below is a Xilinx Spartan-6 FPGA SP623 Characterization Kit which features a number of PCB-mount SMA connectors. This approach worked for decades. Transceiver counts per IC … [Read more...]
The High Speed Camera Never Lies (Neither Does The Frame Grabber Or Software …)
I caught up with Chuck Petersen, Vice President at Epix Inc. Epix designs and manufactures high speed cameras, frame grabbers (boards that are installed into computer slots for image capture from a camera), and software for image capture and processing. The typical Epix customer uses these products for manufacturing assembly line inspections, but they are used in a variety of applications from microscopy to astronomy. Epix just introduced three new versions of the PIXCI® EB1mini, a … [Read more...]