OFC, the Optical Fiber Communications Conference, is all about optical networking and communications. Samtec was front and center showcasing 224 Gbps PAM4 solutions, next-generation transceivers for optical and copper, CXL-over-optics, and PCIe 6.0 solutions, just to name a few. If you weren't at the show, here's a quick tour of the product and technology demonstrations at our booth. Future Proof Optical Interconnects Samtec’s new Halo™ system is a future-proof, next-generation … [Read more...]
New Samtec RF Test and Measurement Solutions At DesignCon 2024
Samtec demonstrated many high-performance RF test and measurement solutions at DesignCon 2024. In this video, David Beraun, Samtec's RF Product Manager, takes a quick look at some of those high-performance RF test and precision RF products. This first demonstration incorporates Samtec Bulls Eye®, a proven test and measurement cabling solution. A Keysight N5247B PNA-X network analyzer, with extension heads, evaluates the performance of the DUT up to 110 GHz. The DUT is the Bulls Eye system, … [Read more...]
New Front Panel, 112 Gbps PAM4 Cable Solution
Samtec has 10 connector systems – both cable-to-board and board-to-board -- that achieve outstanding performance at 112 Gbps PAM4 data rates. The 112 G cable systems are Samtec Flyover® solutions that are designed for mid-board, mid-board to front-panel, mid-board to back-panel, and panel-to-panel configurations. (Here's a link if you want to learn more about the benefits of Samtec Flyover) In this video, Matt Burns, Director of Technical Marketing, walks us through a live demonstration of a … [Read more...]
RF Compression-Mount Connectors Enhance Millimeter Wave Designs
Compression mount connectors are a great option for millimeter wave designs because they avoid the problems associated with solder variations. Specifically, the advantages of compression mount connectors (as compared to soldered connections) for millimeter wave designs include avoiding the potential performance degradation of solder reflow, enabling high-performance millimeter-wave frequencies, providing flexibility during PCB design, and offering high reliability [1]. Plus, they can be reused. … [Read more...]
When 50 Ohms Isn’t Really 50 Ohms
Another possible title for this blog was "I Designed A 50 Ω Transmission Path; Why is My Return Loss or VSWR Higher Than Expected?" Another was "Maintaining 50 Ohms In A Channel Is Trickier Than It Looks." Hopefully, you understand the main point we're trying to make. This blog is a summary of a seminar by Samtec's Michael Griesi, presented at IMS 2023. For those of you who weren't able to attend, a video of the full presentation is above. In the meantime, here's an overview of what Michael … [Read more...]
Living On The Edge Rate
Edge Rate® is one of Samtec's most popular high-speed, high-bandwidth interconnect systems. Edge Rate is both the name of the pin and in this case, it’s also a product family. Edge Rate Contact Design Let’s begin with the contact system because that’s the star of the show. With some connectors, the mating edge of the contact is the cut edge of the pin. If you look at the edge under a microscope you may see micro burrs and edges. This reduces the life of the connector because … [Read more...]
Microwave, mmWave Connector Systems Achieve Excellent Performance
At IMS 2023, Samtec had a booth full of cutting-edge product demonstrations and technologies. One of those featured a variety of microwave, mmWave connector systems which achieved excellent performance. Michael Griesi, RF Design and Simulation Engineering Manager at Samtec, walks us through the demonstrations and the results. A Keysight eight-port 53 GHz USB VNA transmits signals to the four mmWave RF systems. The Keysight device is a M9808A PXIe Vector Network Analyzer (100 kHz to 53 … [Read more...]
New High-Performance 90 GHz Test Solution Enables 224 Gbps PAM4 SerDes Characterization
The demand for bandwidth is pushing the limits of test and measurement to speeds and fidelity not previously possible. Complex systems, such as 5G and 6G networks, high-speed SerDes, automotive radar, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and augmented and virtual reality, require much higher frequencies for evaluation. Even though 112 Gbps PAM4 is just now becoming fully available within the market, 224 Gbps PAM4 SerDes characterization is already knocking at the … [Read more...]
IMS 2023: New Samtec Products, Technologies
The International Microwave Symposium (IMS) is a week dedicated to all things microwave and RF. Samtec is looking forward to presenting our newest microwave/millimeter wave connector products, and showcasing new technologies in live demonstrations. It's all at the Samtec booth (# 2627). Or, if you're not able to make it to the show, check out the preview below. New Samtec Microwave, mmWave Products Samtec is showcasing many new microwave/mmWave connector products in our booth. Among them … [Read more...]
PCIe 6.0 Data Routed From New Chip-Adjacent Connector To Front Panel
PCIe 6.0, optics, 112 Gbps PAM4, linear direct drives, PCIe over fiber. Samtec displayed a variety of live product demonstrations - both optical and copper - at OFC 2023. Two demos, both in tandem with our partner Cadence, received much attention. Both demonstrated cutting-edge data rates, one at 112 Gbps PAM4, and the other is 64 GT/s, PCIe 6.0 data rates. And both show excellent signal integrity performance from our Samtec Flyover® High-Speed cable systems. This blog and video … [Read more...]