SRAM-Based Crosspoint Switch Delivers 85 Gb Of Bandwidth At OC-12 Data Rates

Featuring a non-blocking 128 x 128 I/O switch matrix and delivering 667-Mb/s data bandwidth per port, the OCX256 SRAM-based crosspoint switch is targeted for use in advanced switching systems, such as SONET/SDH and DWDM optical networking equipment running at OC-12 speeds. By packing either LVDS or LVPECL I/O ports and in-system programmable circuitry, the new crosspoint switch is said to deliver exceptionally high levels of design flexibility and re-programmability. The IC also offers a JTAG interface that allows boundary scan testing to be added to new designs. The foundation of the OXC device is its non-blocking crosspoint architecture that uses the switch matrix to link I/O buffers in one-to-one or one-to-many connections. In addition, a special broadcast mode routes a single input to all outputs at the maximum data rate for high bandwidth applications, while the deviceÕs parallel interface allows fast configuration of switch connections. The CMOS IC operates at 2.5 V and 3.3V, comes in a 792-pin TBGA package, and costs $274 each/1,000 for commercial-grade chips and $315 for industrial devices. Over the next 12 months, the company plans to launch a complete family of CMOS differential crosspoints for high-speed switching systems, with a 1.6-Gb/s device scheduled to begin sampling in Q3. For more details, contact John Bergen at I-CUBE INC., Campbell, CA. (408) 341-1888.