Title:  PAM4 Makes S-parameter Accuracy Critical! 

Date:  June 27, 2019

Time:  8am PT/ 11am ET

Presented By:   Ransom Stephens, Author, Technologist, and Physicist

Sponsored by:  Rohde & Schwarz NA

Abstract:

Focusing on 56+ Gb/s PAM4 applications, we show why accurate measurements of the system S-parameters are now absolutely critical in component design, system implementation, and testing for both compliance and hardware debug. The biggest problems are caused by the channel--its frequency response, loss, and reflections--all of which are best described and evaluated in terms of S-parameters. After a short, conceptual review of differential S-parameters, we discuss ISI (inter-symbol interference) and crosstalk. Equalization of ISI in the presence of FEC presents all new problems and crosstalk becomes a major PAM4 signal impairment. All of this brings us to the critical problem of interconnect evaluation, de-embedding, insertion and return loss, and evaluation of COM (channel operating margin) and ERL (effective return loss).

Presenter Bio:

Ransom Stephens, Ph.D. helps engineers advance to the highest data rates by teaching the concepts engineers need to design better systems, better serdes, and better ways to find problems and come up with solutions. Ransom started in basic research at labs in the US and Europe specializing in digging weak signals out of strong backgrounds. He brought those skills to high speed electronics in 1999 and invented new techniques for signal and noise analysis. Since 2005, when he started Ransom’s Notes, his seminars have helped thousands of EEs understand key nuances of their work. Ransom was named the 2017 Jim Williams ACE Contributor of the Year for content that advances engineering and design.He is also an accomplished book author: the novels The God Patent and The Sensory Deception both published by 47North, Amazon Publishing’s science fiction, fantasy, and horror imprint have each appeared on a variety of bestseller lists. His first full-length work of nonfiction popular science, The Left Brain Speaks the Right Brain Laughs, was published by Viva Editions in 2016. Ransom holds a Ph.D. in physics from the University of California.

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