PMC-Sierra extends Serdes products

PMC-Sierra Inc. introduced its six-channel PM8373 HexPHY 1GR and four-channel PM8363 QuadPHY 1GR serializer/deserializer (SERDES) devices for high-speed serial backplanes and gigabit Ethernet (GE) transceivers. HexPHY 1GR and QuadPHY 1GR features support for the Reduced Gigabit Media Independent Interface (RGMII) v 2.0 industry standard parallel interface that enables low-power, low-cost, compact Ethernet-based system designs.

By Control Engineering Staff September 4, 2003

PMC-Sierra Inc . introduced its six-channel PM8373 HexPHY 1GR and four-channel PM8363 QuadPHY 1GR serializer/deserializer (SERDES) devices for high-speed serial backplanes and gigabit Ethernet (GE) transceivers. HexPHY 1GR and QuadPHY 1GR features support for the Reduced Gigabit Media Independent Interface (RGMII) v 2.0 industry standard parallel interface that enables low-power, low-cost, compact Ethernet-based system designs. Both devices use PMC-Sierra’s mixed-signal technology that provides superior signal integrity performance that exceeds IEEE 802.3 Gigabit Ethernet requirements.

These devices are ideal for many multi-gigabit serial connections including enterprise Ethernet switches, blade servers, access and metro transport network equipment. In addition, the devices support the growing adaptation of gigabit serial technology into office automation, digital imaging, industrial control and avionics applications. HexPHY 1GR and QuadPHY 1GR devices’ industrial temperature ratings provide robust operation in the most challenging system environments.

RGMII v2.0 simplifies board design by reducing the number of routing layers required, which also reduces the boards’ manufacturing costs. RGMII provides greater than 50% signal pin savings over current interface solutions, such as 12 pins versus 25 pins for GMII. To provide flexibility for low power system design, HexPHY 1GR and QuadPHY 1GR devices support 1.5-V and 1.8-V HSTL input/output levels on the RGMII interface. In addition, the 1.5-V HSTL input/output levels are upward compatible with the IEEE standard 10-Gigabit Ethernet XGMII interface, providing system designers with a seamless migration path from Gigabit Ethernet to 10-Gigabit Ethernet.

Enabling high-density modular line cards

Emergence of 1,000Base-T copper transceivers in small form factor pluggable (SFP) modules enables system designers to deploy RGMII interfaces in copper and optical line card applications. Using this approach, equipment manufacturers can develop modular GE line card solutions to address IT managers’ needs for flexibility between optical and Category 5 copper cable connections, which eliminates the need to purchase and maintain separate line cards.

”HexPHY 1GR and QuadPHY 1GR products add support for the RGMII v2.0 interface and continues PMC-Sierra’s commitment to providing customers with a broad portfolio of multi-gigabit serial solutions,” says Stuart Robinson, strategic marketing and applications manager of PMC-Sierra’s Enterprise and Storage Division. ”These new products deliver an optimized solution for low power, low cost and small footprint Gigabit Ethernet line card and backplane designs.”

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—Jim Montague, news editor, Control Engineering, jmontague@reedbusiness.com