Preemphasis Driver incorporates receive equalizer.

Press Release Summary:



Available in 3 x 3 mm package, Model MAX3984 is 1-10 Gbps preemphasis driver that can drive up to 10 m of cable or 30 in. of FR4 circuit board. It provides 4 preemphasis settings on transmit side and SFP-compliant loss-of-signal detection on receive side. Low-jitter, high-performance cable driver utilizes analog equalization technology, and is suited for 8.5 Gbps Fibre Channel, 10 Gbps Ethernet, SFP active copper-cable assemblies, and system-backplane drivers/receivers.




Original Press Release:



Low-Jitter, High-Performance Cable Driver Sets Benchmark for 8.5Gbps and 10Gbps Copper Interconnects



The MAX3984 is a 1 Gbps to 10 Gbps preemphasis driver with receive equalizer in a 3 mm x 3 mm package.

A single MAX3984 can drive up to 10m of cable or 30in. of FR4 circuit board.

Maxim's in-house SiGe bipolar process technology enables the low-jitter, high-speed performance of the MAX3984.

End applications include active copper-cable assemblies and system-backplane drivers/receivers.

SUNNYVALE, CA-November 7, 2007-Maxim Integrated Products (Pink Sheets: MXIM) introduces the MAX3984 1Gbps to 10Gbps preemphasis driver with receive equalizer. Maxim's first-generation preemphasis driver, the MAX3982, set the industry benchmark for low-jitter, high-performance cable drivers, particularly in 4.25Gbps Fibre Channel applications. The MAX3984, our next-generation preemphasis driver, utilizes advanced, analog equalization technology in order to set the industry's performance benchmark for 8.5Gbps and 10Gbps applications. A single MAX3984 increases the reach of, and reduces jitter in, system interconnect applications by compensating for up to 10m of 24 AWG cable or 30in of FR4 circuit board. Consequently, it is ideal for emerging generations of 8.5Gbps Fibre Channel, 10Gbps Ethernet, SFP active copper-cable assemblies, and system-backplane drivers/receivers.

The MAX3984 provides four preemphasis settings on the transmit side to optimize signal quality for different transmission environments, while SFP-compliant loss-of-signal (LOS) detection on the receive side simplifies system design. The device's small, 3mm x 3mm, 16-pin TQFN package enables compact board layout and provides flexibility in chip placement and signal routing. Additionally, its wide, 1Gbps to 10Gbps operating range allows backward compatibility for applications that require support for multiple generations of standards. The MAX3984 is fully specified over the 0°C to +85°C temperature range, and achieves excellent performance down to -40°C. Prices start at $6.95 (1000-up, FOB USA).

An evaluation board that allows complete exercise of the MAX3984's features is available; contact the factory for availability. A reference design of an SFP copper-cable assembly that uses the MAX3984 is currently available (HFRD-28.0). Integrated with 24 AWG cable, the assembly spans 10m and operates from 1Gbps to 10Gbps. This design programs and stores the preemphasis by interfacing the SFP serial port to a DS28CZ04 I²C EEPROM that has general-purpose input/output (GPIO) ports. It uses an additional MAX3984 as the cable receiver.

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