Test set is first to characterize PCIe 3.0 receivers

Test set is first to characterize PCIe 3.0 receivers

Complying with the recently released Revision 3.0 of the PCIe base specification, the PCIe 3.0 Receiver Characterization Test Set is first to support PCIe 3.0 receiver-port designs with accurate characterization and compliance testing. The test set lets users accurately characterize and verify standard compliance of ports in ASICs and chipsets, providing complete, accurate receiver tolerance test results while minimizing R&D effort so engineers can rapidly produce robust next-generations designs for the widely used bus.

Many changes in the PCIe physical-layer spec are related to ensuring proper bit transmission at 8 Gtransfers/s over inexpensive PC boards. Devices operating at that rate present measurement challenges such as optimizing transmit and receive equalization, calibration channel design, and device link training with 128/130-bit coded pattern sequences. One of the most challenging requirements is implementing a new procedure for calibrating PCIe 3.0 stress conditions as a reference receiver would see them after applied equalization, which requires post processing of signals measured at an accessible test point.

The test set is based on the J-BERT N4903B serial bit-error-ratio tester, the N4916B de-emphasis signal converter, the 81150A pulse function arbitrary noise generator, an Infiniium 90000 X-Series high-performance oscilloscope, added accessories, and the N5990A test automation software.

The system offers stress calibration software, adjustable pre- and post-cursor de-emphasis, built-in PCIe 3.0-compliant jitter and sinusoidal interference sources, PJ sweep functionality, and PCIe 3.0-compliant calibration channels. The PCIe 3.0 link-training suite — which controls J-BERT’s pattern sequencer to bring the device under test into loopback mode, along with the stress calibration software — increases R&D efficiency. Further, the systems components can also be used for accurate characterization of multiple gigabit schemes, such as USB3, SATA3, and QPI. (System pricing starts around $278,000 — available beginning in March.)

Agilent Technologies , Santa Clara , CA
Sales 800-829-4444
http://www.agilent.com/find/pcie_receiver_test