Vitesse Semiconductor has unveiled the VSC8664 SimpliPHY, a quad gigabit dual media Ethernet transceiver designed to improve the reliability of synchronous data transfer over IP packet-based carrier network equipment. The device is aimed at allowing telecom providers to migrate to next-generation packet architectures supporting time-sensitive applications, including voice, circuit emulation services and streaming video.
Vitesse's multi-port Gigabit Ethernet Copper/Fiber PHY includes two recovered clock outputs, providing both primary and secondary clock references for a synchronous timing system. Fueled by converged data, voice, and video applications in wired and cellular wireless systems, demand has dramatically increased for Ethernet backhaul links capable of implementing high quality, timing synchronisation in accordance with ITU-T Recommendation G.8261/Y.1361. Synchronous Ethernet uses the Gigabit Ethernet physical layer to provide reference timing signal distribution over packet networks. The secondary clock reference is required for fail-over protection, an important feature in carrier-class communication systems.
The VSC8664 SimpliPHY contains adaptive equalization and timing recovery algorithms that provide great noise tolerance performance, which eases system design and installation challenges in high-density Gigabit Ethernet switches, blade servers, and line cards, as well as in legacy copper cable plants with sub-standard cables, marginal connectors, and noise from other communications services. The flexible VSC8664 device supports: 10/100/1000BASE-T copper and 100BASE-FX/1000BASE-X fiber media, including support for triple-speed, copper, small form-factor pluggable optical modules (SFPs); 4-pin Cisco SGMII v1.7 compliant MAC interface; and read/write multiplexer to control and status SFPs and Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) modules. The product is suitable for telecommunication and metro Ethernet OEMs for reducing IC chip count and associated component bill-of-material cost in high-speed broadband equipment.
The VSC8664 is offered in a 17x17 mm, 256-ball plastic BGA package with a 1mm ball pitch. The integration of copper media-side resistors, SerDes receiver decoupling capacitors, and quad read/write multiplexer allows OEM vendors to design compact synchronous Ethernet solutions.
The VSC8664 quad Gigabit Ethernet transceiver is currently sampling. In addition, Vitesse is also sampling the VSC8634, a pin-compatible device with a copper-only interface. A complete reference design kit is currently available for comprehensive evaluation of these new PHY transceivers.
