Semtech extends Tri-Edge optical platform for data centers

Semtech Corp. has expanded its Tri-Edge optical platform with the launch of two clock and data recovery (CDR) transmitters and an ultra-low-power CDR receiver. The Tri-Edge GN2555 and GN2556 CDR transmitters are designed for long reach (LR) optical links, and the GN2559S Tri-Edge CDR receiver are targeted at both LR and short reach (SR) optical links in 200G and 400G data centers. The company also announced volume production of its GN2255 5G front-haul Tri-Edge CDR IC for 5G wireless deployments.

The GN2559S is a Tri-Edge PAM4 receiver with quad PAM4 CDRs and integrated linear transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs) designed for 53.125 Gbits/s signal conditioning for pluggable single-mode and multi-mode optical modules and active optical cables (AOC). Key features include low latency thanks to the Tri-Edge signal integrity platform, and a 400-mW power reduction from the previous generation receiver. It is compliant to the IEEE 802.3bs/802.3cd and 200G-SR4/FR4 Open Eye MSA specification.

For 5G wireless, the Tri-Edge GN2555 and GN2556 ICs, also based on the company’s Tri-Edge PAM4 CDR technology, are said to offer lower power consumption, reduced size, and lower costs for optical module. The GN2555 is a quad-channel PAM4 CDR with integrated directly modulated laser (DML) drivers and the GN2556 is a quad-channel PAM4 CDR with integrated externally modulated laser (EML) drivers, both offering proprietary laser compensation for data-center interconnects. The GN2555 and GN2556 are compliant to IEEE 802.3bs and 200-FR4 Open Eye MSA specifications.

Semtech also announced volume production for the Tri-Edge GN2255 bi-directional Tri-Edge CDR with integrated DML driver for 50 Gbits/s SFP56 PAM4 5G wireless optical modules. The company said: “Upgrading 5G front haul infrastructure to support 50 Gbits/s PAM4 will become essential for high capacity regions and to enable mmWave roll-outs.”

Semtech offers a range of optical IC platforms. The Tri-Edge CDR portfolio includes the GN2558 (PAM4 4x56G CDR + VCSEL driver), GN2559 (PAM4 4x56G CDR + TIA), GN2538 (PAM4 2x56G CDR + VCSEL driver), GN2539 (PAM4 2x56G CDR + TIA), GN2555 (Quad PAM4 CDR (200G) with integrated DML driver), and GN2556 (quad PAM4 CDR (200G) with integrated EML driver).

The Tri-Edge GN2559S, Tri-Edge GN2555,  and Tri-Edge GN2556  are available for sampling, along with reference design kits (RDK). The GN2555 and GN2556 ICs can be paired with the GN2559S receiver for a complete 200G FR4/LR4 solution.