Crosspoint Switch Supplies 34 3.125-Gbit/s Ports

Sept. 1, 2003

Consuming just 5 W, about one-third the power of comparable crosspoint switches, the ADSX34 packs 34 serializer/deserializer channels, equalization, and additional features that make it a complete solution for high-speed networking. The chip handles multiprotocol switching and can implement systems from enterprise to edge aggregation and core applications. Each channel can be clocked at 3.125 Gbits/s. Per-channel programmable receive equalization and transmit pre-emphasis can optimize signals over 30 in. of FR4 pc-board material, including two high-density differential connectors. Per-channel timeslot synchronization FIFO buffers absorb up to 128 bytes of variation in packet arrival times, simplifying system timing. The ADSX34, housed in a 304-ball thermally enhanced ball grid array, costs $395 each in quantities of 100 units.

Analog Devices Inc.www.analog.com/adsx34; (781) 937-1174

About the Author

Dave Bursky

Technologist

Dave Bursky, the founder of New Ideas in Communications, a publication website featuring the blog column Chipnastics – the Art and Science of Chip Design. He is also president of PRN Engineering, a technical writing and market consulting company. Prior to these organizations, he spent about a dozen years as a contributing editor to Chip Design magazine. Concurrent with Chip Design, he was also the technical editorial manager at Maxim Integrated Products, and prior to Maxim, Dave spent over 35 years working as an engineer for the U.S. Army Electronics Command and an editor with Electronic Design Magazine.