Signal Integrity (SI) Measurement Techniques for High-Speed Digital Circuits (DS145-111-0)

SynopsisThe requirement of signal quality in telecommunication network is becoming increasingly tighter in order to keep up with the higher data rates in rapidly-evolving data network protocols. This has brought high-speed digital designs to sub-nanosecond edge rates and slim design margins. Signal integrity is no longer something to be considered just at the beginning of the project. Engineers need be aware of signal integrity and evaluate it throughout the project, and therefore must have the proper tools to accomplish the task. Hence a firm grasp of the measurement techniques in evaluating and validating signal integrity for high-speed digital circuits is important for a fulfilling career in this area.

This course starts with an overview of different digital communication market segments with their respective standards and protocols. The participants are then taught the measurement theories of commonly-used digital communication test equipment. Once equipped with the basics and knowledge of test equipment, the participants are then introduced to the operating principles of a multi-gigabit transceiver (transmitter/receiver) and their measurement techniques.

Course Highlight
The students are first taught the basic concepts of high-speed signal integrity in classroom setting with the aid of video and software tools. The concepts are then re-enforced through exercises and examples of how the theories are applied in real implementation. Demonstrations using the measurement instruments and gigabit transceiver board will be carried out to illustrate various principles and techniques.

What previous participants say about this course
Answers to the question 'what did you like most about the course'

• "The instructor managed to deliver the materials without making the participants bored, he also tried to deliver it in 'engineering' world other than 'academic' world." - 5 May 08
• "SI problem & root cause analysis." - 5 May 08
• "The way instructor presents the course is quite nice. The instructor is knowledgeable, humour, able to present the course material in the way engineer wants more related to industrial needs, which means he shares his engineering experince the time he worked." - 5 May 08
• "Eye diagram & jitter. Meals." - 5 May 08
• "The syllabus is stated from beginner to deep." - 5 May 08
• "Course materials and examples used in presentation." - 5 May 08
• "The easy to understand technique used to explain theories and examples has made the course enjoyable and invaluable" - 3 Nov 08
• "Discussion on part signal distortion and technique measurement on digital I/O." - 3 Nov 08
• "Presentation material, instructor's flow. Practical demo" - 17 Jun 09

Figures below showing the Signal Integrity Trainer and instruments used in the training

What You Will Learn

• Essential fundamental concepts for signal integrity in high-speed digital boards
• High-speed digital communication test equipment measurement theories such as Eye Diagram Analysis, Jitter Analysis, Interference Analysis, Power Measurement and Random Noise Analysis
• Operating principles and measurement techniques for a typical gigabit transceiver and PMA compliance test according to standard protocols such as PCI Express, Gigabit Ethernet and others

Who Should AttendTechnicians and engineers who are involved in product marketing, production, test and development, validation, and QA of high-speed digital boards, components, circuits and systems for data communications.

PrerequisiteTechnical background in electrical, electronics, physics, mathematics at Diploma or Degree levels.

Course MethodologyThe students are first taught the basic concepts of high-speed signal integrity and data communication signal quality in classroom setting with the aid of video and software tools. The concepts are then re-enforced through exercises and examples of how the theories are applied in real implementation. Demonstrations using the measurement instruments and gigabit transceiver board will be carried out to illustrate various principles and techniques.

The following software tool used in this training is:

• Altera's Quartus - II

The component used is:

• Gigabit Transceiver Board

The instruments used are:

• Agilent's Digital Communication Analyzer
• Power Meter and Sensor

Course Duration3 days, 9am - 5pm

Course StructureDay 1
Digital Communication Market Segments

• High Speed I/O: PCI Express, FibreChannel, S-ATA, USB
• Enterprise Network: xDSL, 100M, 1GbE (Copper), 10GbE (Optical), 3.125 XAUI electrical
• Telecommunication Network: DS0/1, T-carrier, E-carrier, SONET/SDH, OTN, OC-48/192/768 Principles of Baseband Data Communication
• Data formats and applications in digital communications: RZ and NRZ signals, Bipolar, Alternate Mark Inversion (AMI), Manchester Coding, Duo-binary coding, HDB, B8ZS, 2B1Q, 8B/10B
• Types of test patterns: PRBS, CJPAT, CRPAT
• Eye Diagram
• Detection-Error Probability: BER and Probability Theory
• Pre-emphasis and equalization Measurement Demonstration

Day 2
Signal Distortion Mechanisms on High Speed Digital I/O (1)

• Transmission line effects
• Impedance mismatch
• Signal attenuation
• Crosstalk
• Simultaneous switching output
• Reflections/ground bounce Signal Distortion Mechanisms on High Speed Digital I/O (2)
• Interference: Deterministic Interference, Data Dependent Interference, Inter-Symbol Interference, Periodic Interference, Asynchronous Periodic Interference
• Jitter: Deterministic Jitter, Data Dependent Jitter, Periodic Jitter, Asynchronous Periodic Jitter, Sub-rate Jitter, Random Jitter
• Random Noise: Shot Noise, Flicker Noise, Thermal/Johnson/Nyquist Noise, White Gaussian Noise
• Pulse distortion: Ringing, Overshooting, Damping Measurement Demonstration

Day 3
Signal Integrity Measurements

• Eye Diagrams: Eye Width, Eye Height, Eye Crossing
• Triggering and Acquiring Data
• Clock Recovery
• Measuring Power
• Measuring Jitter, DJ/RJ Separation, DJ Views, Histogram (Time Interval Error)
• Duty Cycle Distortion
• Eyeline Measurements: Eyeline traces, Noise Reduction, Error Trace Capture
• Setup Time, Hold Time, Data Valid Window
• Determining Rising and Falling Edges
• Compliance Mask Tests Data Communication Measurement Techniques
• Serial channel performance optimization: Differential Output Voltage, Pre-emphasis and Equalization
• PMA compliance verification to protocols such as PCI Express, Gigabit Ethernet and others Measurement Demonstration