Samtec Simplifies SerDes Testing with New Bulls Eye® ISI Evaluation Boards 

I like to start out every morning with a good cup of tea. Others like coffee. In either case, water is nearly always available at the tap when needed.

As we are drinking our tea or coffee, we usually listen to the news or check our e-mail on our laptop or smartphone. Like water at the tap, our data is almost always available on demand.

As water is the backbone of our daily living, high-speed SerDes are the backbone of modern, high-speed communication networks. Put simply, SerDes (ie Serializer/Deserializer) convert parallel data into serial data for transmission down a data channel. On the receiving end, the serial data is transferred back into parallel data.

This data conversion process “just happens” countless times a day globally. However, it is vitally crucial for users who enjoy instant access to their cloud-based data. Ensuring constant access to our data demands that the latest SerDes are tested, verified, and validated in all use cases.

Typically, SerDes can be tested with channel emulation boards designed to emulate channel loss and inter-symbol interference (ISI). ISI boards typically contain multiple cascaded, single-width PCB traces of different lengths, enabling a wide range of channel loss and ISI.

ISI boards excel at testing a single signal over known channel losses. From a connector’s standpoint, ISI boards typically use discrete compression-mount or threaded board RF connectors, such as 1.00 mm, 1.35 mm, 1.85 mm, 2.40 mm, or 2.92 mm, depending on the Nyquist frequency or data rate.

New Bulls Eye ISI Evaluation Boards

Testing multiple signals, DP, and lanes of SerDes can be challenging. Samtec is proud to launch a new family of parallel ISI boards intended for testing full SerDes quads. The new Bulls Eye® ISI Evaluation Boards offer multiple parallel variable-length signal paths with known loss profiles, enabling easy validation of high-speed SerDes.

The 70 GHz Bulls Eye ISI Evaluation Board features a total of twelve signal paths. The top side of the board includes ten signal paths routed in a stepped matrix ideally suited for 224 Gbps PAM4 SerDes validation and characterization.

The bottom side of the board has two additional signal paths with long S-Bend buses ideally suited for 128 Gbps PAM4 LR channels. All traces offer configurable End 2 connections to instrumentation via a number of standard options.

The 90 GHz Bulls Eye ISI Evaluation Board features eleven total signal paths. The top side of the board includes nine signal paths routed in a stepped matrix ideally suited for 448 Gbps PAM6 SerDes validation and characterization.

The bottom side of the board has two additional signal paths with long S-Bend buses ideally suited for 224 Gbps PAM4 LR channels. All traces offer configurable End 2 connections to instrumentation via a number of standard options.

Key Features of the New Kits

Notice the key features and benefits of the new kits that help simplify SerDes testing:

• Single PCB system with compact, portable form factor
• Each PCB contains multiple compression interfaces that provide easy mating and eliminate soldering
  • 70 GHz Bulls Eye ISI Evaluation Board – BE70B-J-S-1-08
  • 90 GHz Bulls Eye ISI Evaluation Board – BE90B-J-S-1-08
• Contact [email protected] for application-specific RF cabling needs
• Conveniently move full SerDes quad test cabling to new signal path with a pair of thumb screws
• Optimized SI performance via Samtec Final Inch^® BOR PCB trace routing
• Enable time domain measurements with direct connection to TDR, TDTs, and BERTs
• Enable frequency domain measurements with direct connection to VNAs

Please visit the Samtec Kits and Boards page or e-mail [email protected] for additional information on these exciting new SerDes test platforms.