Higher data rates in today’s bleeding edge ICs require constant innovation in interconnect to route signals on PCBS and between them. Samtec’s Silicon to Silicon System Optimization provides engineers the service, products, tools and resources to optimize the entire signal path from bare die to IC package and assembly to PCB to connectors and cable assemblies and back again.
A practical case study in our Silicon to Silicon System Optimization capabilities is leading FPGA vendor Xilinx. A number of Xilinx evaluation, development and characterization kits feature technology-leading interconnect solutions from Samtec. A large number of Xilinx use FMC Connectors and BullsEye cable assemblies
FMC Connectors
Samtec FMC connectors are Application Specific Product (ASP) versions of our SEARAY™ High-Speed Array system. Two version are available –a High Pin Count (HPC) 400 I/O verison and a Low Pin Count (LPC) 160 I/O version.
- ASP-134486-01 (HPC FMC connector on Xilinx FPGA Carrier Cards)
- ASP-134488-01 (HPC FMC for mezzanine card to achieve 10 mm stack)
- ASP-134602-01 (HPC FMC for mezzanine card to achieve 8.5 mm stack)
- ASP-134603-01 (LPC FMC connector on Xilinx FPGA Carrier Cards)
- ASP-134604-01 (LPC FMC for mezzanine card to achieve 10 mm stack)
- ASP-134606-01 (LPC FMC for mezzanine card to achieve 8.5 mm stack)
Bulls Eye® Cable Assemblies
Bulls Eye® test points eliminate costly high-performance SMA connectors with a high-density array that provides 4X the high-bandwidth signals in the same real estate, allowing for a smaller board and fewer layers.
- HDR-155805-XX-BEYE (BullsEye to SMA Cable Assembly)
Next Generation System Architectures
As FPGAs take over the data center, system-level architects require technical support over the entire high speed serial channel data path. FPGA vendors like Xilinx are working with interconnect partners like Samtec to emulate next generation data center architectures in their FPGA evaluation, development and characterization kits.
As an example, the Xilinx Virtex® UltraScale™ FPGA VCU110 Development Kit features the ExaMAX® High-Speed Backplace Connector System. Pairing these solution together provides a platform for demonstrating 28 Gbps performance from an FPGA over a backplane.
Routing data paths at 28Gbps is not trivial, so Xilinx and Samtec have worked together to optimize the 28 Gbps data paths. One example is the design of Samtec’s EBTF-4-10-2.0-S-RA-1 on the VCU110. Xilinx worked with Samtec SI experts to develop custom connector footprints which were optimized for electrical performance using full wave simulation tools. Specifically, via placement was design to maximize trace width for low loss and minimize footprint-induced crosstalk.
Additionally and for the first time, Samtec has designed, manufactured, tested and verified a specific loopback card complementing a Xilinx FPGA platform. The Samtec Backplane loopback card, using mating connector EBTM-4-10-2.0-S-VT-1, assists Xilinx customers in verifying the external backplane loopback of 8 GTY transceiver I/O channels out of and into the Xilinx Virtex UltraScale FPGA through the Samtec ExaMAX® connectorized channels. Also included are 20 looped back Interlaken channels.
ExaMAX® equipped channels meet the IEEE 802.3bj mandated loss performance of 25 db. The trace loss is engineered to mimic channels defined in IEEE 802.3 reference designs. This allows one to explore the equalization space using representative loss characteristics typical of backplane environments. Samtec maintains a library of PCB material parameters which was used in this trace loss engineering effort.
Xilinx includes the Samtec Backplane loopback card in each VCU110 kit sold globally. More information is available on the Xilinx VCU110 Product Page.
Next Steps
Please send inquiries of pricing, support and technical detail on Samtec interconnect featured in the blog to the appropriate e-mail address below:
- FMC Connectors: searay@samtec.com
- Bulls Eye® Cable Assemblies: dr@samtec.com
- ExaMAX® Backplane Connectors: examax@samtec.com
For more information on Samtec’s signal integrity capabilities, please download the following resources:
