Serial Data Analyzers Add Total Jitter Measurement

Dec. 8, 2004

With the ASDA-J jitter solution, LeCroy's SDA family of serial data analyzers can evaluate total as well as random (RJ) and deterministic (DJ) jitter using both reference-clock-based and non-clock-based methods....

Roger Allan

With the ASDA-J jitter solution, LeCroy's SDA family of serial data analyzers can evaluate total as well as random (R_J) and deterministic (D_J) jitter using both reference-clock-based and non-clock-based methods. High-accuracy measurements can be performed for both optical and electrical serial data signals. Moreover, it permits measurement correlation with time-interval analyzers and sampling oscilloscopes.

A single SDA can accurately perform the same measurements that previously required a real-time digital oscilloscope, a time-interval analyzer, a sampling oscilloscope, and a bit-error-rate (BER) tester. Key is the addition of an "edge-to-edge" jitter-measurement mode to the standard "edge-to-reference" mode.

A jitter wizard function guides users through the instrument's setup and automatically detects sampling and bit rates in addition to signal pattern length. An enhanced precision digital clock-recovery system lets the SDA define loop bandwidth and the phase-locked loop's shape factor for accurate modeling of any receiver.

With the SDAs' two additional clock-recovery modes for PCI Express and HDMI, users can perform compliance measurements to those standards. A filtered jitter mode supports ITU-T and Sonet measurements. This mode displays peak-to-peak and rms values, as well as the jitter waveform on the SDA's screen. The ASDA-J also maintains features from the first-version ASDA, such as an eye-mask violation locator, bit-error analysis, and advanced jitter measurement (including ISI plots and filtered jitter).

The ASDA-J costs $9050. Delivery is four to six weeks.

LeCroy Corp.
www.lecroy.com
(800) 453-2769

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.