The term “deep channel” may rekindle a childhood memory of an unusual swimming location. It may conjure visions of unique music compilations of others. “Deep channel” has a wider application in next-gen high-speed connectors and system design. SI engineers depend on deep channel analysis to push throughput to 56 Gbps and beyond across the entire signal channel.
The “Channel” in Deep Channel Analysis
In legacy system designs, developers were able to focus on components selection. As long as each individual component fit the system performance specifications, the design would progress. Faster data rates in modern data center applications have made this approach obsolete.
Next-generation, multigigabit-per-second designs require a holistic approach for the signal channel path. Developers cannot focus on just one component but must analyze and optimize the interaction of all components across the entire channel. Each component has design variables that affect the performance of others across the path as illustrated below.
Designing and optimizing the high-speed channel requires two basic steps. Engineers must model each particular component in the channel. A complete, high-speed channel results from the concatenation of these component models. The complete system then can be simulated, modeled, analyzed and tested at 28Gbps and beyond for deep channel analysis.
Tools for Deep Channel Analysis
Data center servers, storage, and networking equipment communicate over copper and optical cable assemblies joined together by ever-faster connectors. Samtec leverages a comprehensive suite of simulation software from ANSYS to design and optimize next-generation, high-performance interconnect solutions across the entire signal channel.
The combination of Samtec’s SI capabilities for 28 Gbps (and faster) channels with ANSYS tools provides data center equipment OEMs a platform for deep channel analysis. Check out this article to see how Samtec leverages a comprehensive suite of simulation software from ANSYS to design and optimize next-generation, high-performance interconnect solutions across the entire signal channel.
Samtec technical specialists are currently designing 112 Gbps connectors, package and interconnect design, using ANSYS software to shorten product design cycles and expand its capabilities to provide next-generation products to tech industry performance leaders.