Analysers take on high-speed serial data

LeCroy has released what it reckons are the world's first serial data analyser instruments.

LeCroy has released what it reckons are the world's first serial data analyser instruments.

The SDA 6000 (6GHz), SDA 5000 (5GHz) and SDA 3000 (3GHz) make it easy to accurately and reliably perform measurements on high-speed serial data streams.

A wide range of target applications include computer (and computer component), design/validation, testing of high speed differential electrical links and capture/analysis of optical signals (up to and including OC48).

The SDAs are designed with a unique user interface that makes the measurement process easy and incorporate LeCroy's patent-pending X-Stream technology allowing engineers to conduct real time analysis on high-speed, complex datarates at up to 3.5Gbit/s.

The SDA 6000 model feature a 20Gsample/s sampling rate, 6GHz bandwidth, extremely low trigger jitter (less than 2.5ps), long acquisition memory of up to 96Mbyte per channel and is designed with a number of specialised analysis tools.

In addition to locating signal degradation problems, it can also trace the problem back to its origin, allowing for the comprehensive analysis of serial data streams, telecommunications components, transceiver subassemblies and transmission systems.

The SDA 5000/3000 have many of the same features, with 5/3GHz bandwidth inputs.

Optional accessories for all models include optical to electrical converters and reference receivers with optical bandwidth of 4.5GHz and multimode optical fibre inputs and operate over the 700-870 and 950-1620nm wavelength ranges.

Unlike other solutions in the market the O/E convertors can operate on two channels simultaneously.

The high sampling rate and bandwidth allow the serial data analysers to conduct extremely accurate single shot measurements, which is increasingly important when analysing the packetised data found in today's optical and electrical serial data systems.

With the SDA, data are measured bit by bit so that even the smallest signal anomalies - even those under 400ps - can be discovered.

In addition to locating the problem, the SDA features advanced eye diagram analysis and other troubleshooting tools that allow engineers to find the cause of the anomaly so that it can be easily and quickly corrected.

LeCroy has designed the SDA series specifically for analysing the high datarates found in optical and high-speed electrical serial data systems.

It can conduct a number of measurements, including jitter, noise, duty cycle, overshoot, undershoot, extinction ratio, Q-factor, mean optical power, and amplitude.

Verification and mask testing of Fibre Channel, Gigabit Ethernet, Rapid IO, DVI/HDMI, Sonet/SDH up to 2.5Gbit/s, Serial ATA, Infiniband, IEEE1394, XAUI etc can be conducted.

Not only can these measurements be made accurately, they can be conducted up to 100 times faster than with any other similar type of digitiser based communications analyser currently on the market.

(This was Electronicstalk's Top Story on 26 October 2002).

(This was Electronicstalk's Top Story on 26 October 2002).

(This was Electronicstalk's Top Story on 26 October 2002).

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