Crosspoint Switches Simplify Design Of Large Data Systems

Speeds of up to 1.6 Gb/s are promised by the VSC851 and VSC852, which are 32 x 32 and 64 x 64 crosspoint switches, respectively. Both significantly reduce the cost and simplify the implementation of high-speed digital data-switching systems used in applications such as Gigabit Ethernet and AT that require 1.25-Gb/s data rates, or high-definition television, which requires 1.5-Gb/s data rates.In the past, high port-count systems have required a large array of devices with high pin counts to achieve the same functionality as these switches. In addition, the devices eliminate the need for resynchronization and driver ICs that are needed for each channel in earlier designs. The VSC851 features a 32 x 32 crosspoint switch with 1.6-Gb/s fully differential serial I/Os. It has a non-blocking architecture with standard TTL interfaces for control logic and ECL interfaces for high-speed differential serial I/O. It offers less than 150-ps duty cycle distortion and less than 250 ps of skew in broadcast mode.