Tetronix introduces SDLA software

The SDLA software builds on the Tektronix history of providing link analysis and S-parameter tools for precise silicon designs with the DSA8200 sampling oscilloscopes.

With SDLA software, engineers can now utilise a real-time oscilloscope to develop compliant high-speed serial designs on systems that operate as high as 8Gb/sec.

For high-speed serial data technologies, the interactions between the transmitter, possible test fixture and the transmission line are so complex that analysis needs to include all possible signal impairment conditions along the path.

If done manually, complete link analysis on high-speed serial data can be time-consuming and error-prone.

The Tektronix SDLA Essentials software provides channel emulation, transmitter pre- and de-emphasis, test fixture de-embedding, plus time and frequency domain plots to aid debug.

Additionally, the package provides an interface with DPOJET for jitter and BER analysis.

An SDLA Advanced option adds Feed Forward Equalisation (FFE) and Decision Feedback Equalisation (DFE) with three modes of adaptation to emulate the waveform at the receiver.

Through tight integration with DPOJET, digital designers gain simultaneous jitter and eye diagram feedback as they introduce different parameters to the link, from channel effects to equalisation approaches.

The software can eliminate the causes or adjust the impact of signal distortion and transmission failure across serial links.

'With the introduction of serial data link analysis software for the DSA70000 real-time oscilloscopes, engineers can evaluate all characteristics impacting a serial data link, from transmitter pre-emphasis through the transmission medium to equalisation on the receiver,' said Ian Valentine, general manager, Technology Solutions Group, Tektronix.

'The SDLA and DPOJET packages for the DSA70000 oscilloscopes improve jitter and timing analysis of high-speed serial designs.' Equalisation is a broad term for several techniques of manipulating the signal shape in order to overcome frequency dependent loss of the channel.

This loss changes the shape of the NRZ data signal at the receiver from the desired square-wave to severely distorted, closed-eye waveform.

SDLA software provides FFE and DFE equalisation methods on the receiver side, and the generation and measurement of pre-emphasis and de-emphasis on the transmitter side.

SDLA also provides channel emulation.

Through emulation, engineers are able to see waveform impairments due to channel transmission loss.

For example, the testing specification for emerging serial attached SCSI (SAS) 6Gb/s standard requires that engineers de-embed the test channel and enable emulation of the test pattern to include a three tap DFE for full system evaluation.

This measurement capability is enabled by the Tektronix SDLA Advanced package.

When using DPOJET in combination, SAS measurements are pre-configured and automated.