We all know the widespread havoc that Covid-19 wreaked in 2020. While the electronics industry in general, and connectors in particular, took an initial hit, the industry rebounded in the second half of 2020 and is rolling into 2021. Travel came to an almost stand-still in 2020, and the industry was quick to respond by converting in-person exhibitions, conferences, and shows to virtual events.
In the U.S., many conferences are returning to live venues this summer. China has hosted several live events in recent months, and a major one — electronica China – takes place April 14-16 in Shanghai, China.
I know that most of you reading this blog will not attend the event. But, I want to show you the products and technologies that we are featuring in our booth, and provide links to find out more information, or order samples or models.
56 Gbps PAM4 Connector Product Demonstration
Samtec is presenting a live demonstration of a fully-packaged system that populates signal paths using real-world signal integrity design practices. It demonstrates up to 56 Gbps PAM4 signaling, utilizing Samtec Flyover® cable systems.
For this active product demonstration, Samtec partnered with Credo. Credo’s mixed signal 56 Gbps PAM4 Bald Eagle 2 silicon generates 16 bi-directional channels of QPRBS-31 signal data.
Every signal passes through two or more Samtec connectors before returning to the SERDES. We measure and display bit error rates, insertion loss, eye height and diagrams, all in real-time.
Here’s a short video of this demonstration.
NovaRay® High Density, Extreme Performance Arrays
The innovative design of NovaRay combines extreme density and performance, which are critical as system sizes decrease and speeds increase. The NovaRay system is rated at 112 Gbps PAM4 per channel.
The fully-shielded differential pair design and two reliable points of contact contribute to the industry leading 4.0 Tbps aggregate data rate (nine IEEE 400 G channels).
NovaRay has extremely low crosstalk (to 40 GHz), tight impedance control, minimal variance in data rate as stack height increases, and it requires 40% less space than traditional arrays with the same data throughput. This equates to 112 differential pairs per square inch (per 6.45 square centimeters).
The guaranteed two points of contact ensure a more reliable connection and stub-free mating. NovaRay is currently available in 7 and 10 mm stack heights, with up to 32 pairs (16 per bank).
FireFly™ Optical Cable Assemblies
FireFly Micro Flyover® System is the first interconnect system that gives designers the flexibility of using micro footprint high-performance optical and low-cost copper interconnects interchangeably with the same connector system.
Samtec FireFly copper and optical cable systems provide the flexibility to achieve higher data rates to 28 Gbps and greater distances, simplifying board design and enhancing performance. The system’s miniature footprint allows for greater density and closer proximity to the IC, simplifying board layout and it enhances signal integrity.
The two-piece board level interconnect system consists of a micro high-speed edge card connector, and a positive latch connector for power and control signal communications. Isolating the signal and power in this manner helps ease trace routing, compared to array systems.
FireFly Optical systems, the ECUO series, are also rated to 28 Gbps, in x4 and x12 designs. They incorporate OM3 multi-mode fiber and are available in a variety of End 2 options and heat sinks for various cooling processes. The ETUO is an Extended Temperature FireFly™ with a -40 ºC to +85 ºC range for military and industrial applications. PCUO is a PCIe-Over-Fiber optical cable system with Gen 3/4 data transfer rates to 100 m. The PCOA is a PCIe-Over-Fiber adaptor card supports transparent and non-transparent bridging.
Flyover® Twinax Cable Assemblies
Samtec Flyover® high-speed cable assemblies with Eye Speed® twinax cable provide a a cost–effective, high-performance, and heat-efficient answer to the challenges of 28, 56, and 112 Gbps bandwidths.
Samtec’s proprietary co-extruded Eye Speed® twinax cable technology eliminates the performance limitations and inconsistencies of individually extruded dielectric twinax cabling. Samtec Flyover allows designers to extend signal reach and density to achieve next gen speeds by routing signals through low-loss, ultra-low skew twinax cable, instead of through expensive, lossy PCBs.
High-speed cable assembly systems are designed for mid-board, backplane, and panel applications.
In a typical mid-board application, a cable connector is located next to an FPGA or ASIC. The signal launches through discrete or ribbon twinax cable, over minimum trace length in the lossy PCB, to another location on the board or to an I/O connector such as a QSFP.
The impact of the cable on system performance is critical. Samtec Eye Speed ultra-low skew cable technology uses co-extruded twinax cable, and best-in-class process control. This combination improves cable loss and critical intra-pair skew. Co-extrusion is superior to the performance limitations and inconsistencies of conventional twin-ax designs; it eliminates performance limitations such as higher loss, suck-out, and higher skew and resonances.
ExaMAX® High-Speed Backplane System
112 Gbps PAM4 cable assemblies: ExaMAX backplane cable systems improve signal integrity and routability using Samtec Flyover technology, which routes the signal above a lossy PCB using co-extruded, ultra-low skew twinax for improved bandwidth and reach. Direct solder attach to contacts optimizes the signal path, further enhancing performance.
56 Gbps PAM4 interconnects: The ExaMAX contact system achieves two reliable points of contact at all times and minimizes residual stub for improved signal integrity performance, while providing low mating force and excellent contact normal force. Signal wafers incorporate a one-piece, embossed ground structure which improves crosstalk.
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