Advanced Hardware/Software Team Up For High-Resolution/Wide-Band TDR

Nov. 10, 2003

High-resolution, wide-bandwidth time-domain reflectometry (TDR) signal analysis often requires high-pricetag vector signal analyzers. But that cost problem should become a nonfactor thanks to Picosecond Pulse Lab's (PSPL's) fast-rise-time TDR module and TDA Systems' advanced software. Sold together, they provide cost-effective signal-integrity analysis for 10- and 40-Gbit/s applications and high-resolution fault analysis.

PSPL's 4020 single-ended source enhancement module features an ultra-fast 250-mV incident-pulse rise time of 9 ps (see the figure, foreground). It can work with Agilent or Tektronix TDR systems, increasing their resolutions by a factor of two to three compared to using Agilent's or Tektronix's own TDR modules.

TDA Systems' IConnect and MeasureXtractor software lets users capture high-resolution data and more precisely identify interconnect discontinuities in packages, boards, and connectors (see the figure, background). The software provides frequency-dependent signal-integrity analysis and modeling to get S-parameters and eye diagrams up to 65 GHz.

The combined tools leverage current investment in TDR instrumentation, retain the intuitive nature of TDR measurements for high-speed phenomena, and more accurately predict the total effect of gigabit interconnects on signal integrity. They provide state-of-the-art incident-pulse rise-time measurement capability with advanced software-analysis tools.

The PSPL model 4020 source-enhancement module costs $17,995. The TDA Systems IConnect version 3.0 software package goes for $20,000, and the optional MeasureXtractor software package costs $9000. All are available from stock.

Picosecond Pulse Labswww.picosecond.com (303) 209-8133TDA Systemswww.tdasystems.com (503) 246-2272

About the Author

Roger Allan

Roger Allan is an electronics journalism veteran, and served as Electronic Design's Executive Editor for 15 of those years. He has covered just about every technology beat from semiconductors, components, packaging and power devices, to communications, test and measurement, automotive electronics, robotics, medical electronics, military electronics, robotics, and industrial electronics. His specialties include MEMS and nanoelectronics technologies. He is a contributor to the McGraw Hill Annual Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. He is also a Life Senior Member of the IEEE and holds a BSEE from New York University's School of Engineering and Science. Roger has worked for major electronics magazines besides Electronic Design, including the IEEE Spectrum, Electronics, EDN, Electronic Products, and the British New Scientist. He also has working experience in the electronics industry as a design engineer in filters, power supplies and control systems.

After his retirement from Electronic Design Magazine, He has been extensively contributing articles for Penton’s Electronic Design, Power Electronics Technology, Energy Efficiency and Technology (EE&T) and Microwaves RF Magazine, covering all of the aforementioned electronics segments as well as energy efficiency, harvesting and related technologies. He has also contributed articles to other electronics technology magazines worldwide.

He is a “jack of all trades and a master in leading-edge technologies” like MEMS, nanolectronics, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, military electronics, biometrics, implantable medical devices, and energy harvesting and related technologies.