HFRD-28.0: 1Gbps to 8.5Gbps Active Copper SFP Cable Assembly
Abstract: High-Frequency Reference Design (HFRD)-28.0 is an active transmitter and receiver within a Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) copper cable assembly. When integrated with 24 American Wire Gauge (AWG) Amphenol SpectraStrip® SkewClear® cable, the completed assembly spans up to 10 meters and operates from 1Gbps to 8.5Gbps. The transmitter portion of the HFRD-28.0 relies upon the MAX3984 Pre-Emphasis Driver. The transmit pre-emphasis is programmable to compensate for different cable lengths. This programmability enables the production of an entire family of SFP cable assemblies with a single board design. The pre-emphasis is programmed and stored using the SFP serial port to interface to the DS28CZ04 I²C EEPROM with general-purpose input/output ports (GPIOs). Another MAX3984 is used as the cable receiver. HFRD-28.0 reduces the risk associated with experimenting with active cable assemblies by supplying complete documentation, performance evaluation and a fully assembled circuit board. Instead of fighting "red tape" to justify resources for building a board for your feasibility study, you can jump into the lab and prove the merits of your product concept!
