Enhancing Digital Systems with Altera's Full Spectrum 40-nm Transceiver Portfolio

Table of Contents

• Overview
• The Importance of Transceivers in Digital Systems
• Challenges in Transceiver Design
• Altera's Full Spectrum 40 Nanometer Transceiver Portfolio
  • Low-Power Cost-effective Aria II GX FPGAs
  • More Bandwidth with Aria II GX FPGAs
  • HardCopy for ASIC Designs
  • High-Performance Stratix IV GX FPGAs
  • Stratix IV GT FPGAs for 40G/100G Applications
• Benefits of Altera's Transceiver Portfolio
• The Common Transceiver Architecture
• Transceiver Applications in Wireless Networks
• Transceiver Applications in Wireline Systems
• Transceiver Applications in Control Systems
• Conclusion

Introducing Altera's Full Spectrum 40 Nanometer Transceiver Portfolio

In today's digital world, the demand for higher bandwidth and data rates is growing rapidly. To meet these increasing requirements, the use of high-speed serial transceivers has become crucial in digital systems. In this article, we will explore Altera's full spectrum 40 nanometer transceiver portfolio and how it addresses the challenges faced by system architects and designers.

Overview

Digital systems are experiencing a surge in the need for higher bandwidth and data rates due to the rising demand for broadband services. This has led to the emergence of new applications such as streaming media, voice over IP, and internet gaming. To support these applications, silicon vendors are offering more high-speed serial transceivers.

The Importance of Transceivers in Digital Systems

Transceivers have become a key component in digital systems due to their ability to support higher data throughput, power efficiency, and system integration. Serial interfaces provide better signal integrity, low jitter, and lower bit error rates compared to Parallel interfaces. Transceivers also help in reducing power consumption, simplifying board complexity, and decreasing the number of components in a system.

Challenges in Transceiver Design

Designing transceivers poses several challenges for system architects and designers. They need to balance conflicting system requirements such as power efficiency, signal integrity, performance, feature set, system cost, and transceiver bandwidth. Choosing the optimal device for a specific application is crucial but doesn't guarantee success without the right design tools and methodologies in place.

Altera's Full Spectrum 40 Nanometer Transceiver Portfolio

Altera offers a comprehensive portfolio of transceiver solutions that support a wide range of data rates and densities. The portfolio includes the low-power Aria II GX FPGAs, more bandwidth with Aria II GX FPGAs, hard copy for ASIC designs, high-performance Stratix IV GX FPGAs, and Stratix IV GT FPGAs for 40G/100G applications.

Low-Power Cost-effective Aria II GX FPGAs

The Aria II GX FPGAs are a cost-effective solution for applications requiring up to 3.75 gigabits per Second transceiver performance. These FPGAs provide programmable equalization and pre-emphasis, allowing designers to drive lengthy backplanes. With a wealth of board design and debug tools, Aria II GX FPGAs are easy to use and offer a feature-rich core.

More Bandwidth with Aria II GX FPGAs

For applications that require higher transceiver data rates or performance, the Aria II GX FPGAs deliver more bandwidth while maintaining robust signal integrity at half the power. These FPGAs are suitable for wireless network solutions and offer flexibility in implementing multiple wireless standards in a single box.

HardCopy for ASIC Designs

HardCopy for ASICs is a Package and Pin-compatible alternative to Stratix IV GX FPGAs. It offers a low-risk and low-cost solution for ASIC designs with embedded transceivers running up to 6.5 gigabits per second. The unique hardcopy design flow allows designers to prototype and debug with Stratix IV GX FPGAs and then migrate the design to hardcopy ASICs for volume production. This turnkey process reduces time-to-market and technical risk.

High-Performance Stratix IV GX FPGAs

Stratix IV GX FPGAs are high-performance devices with up to 530,000 logic elements and high levels of transceiver and memory bandwidth. These FPGAs provide unprecedented system bandwidth, superior signal integrity, and include the industry's most efficient and highest-performance logic, embedded memory, and DSP capabilities.

Stratix IV GT FPGAs for 40G/100G Applications

Stratix IV GT FPGAs are the only FPGAs with integrated 11.3 gigabits per second transceivers. These FPGAs are optimized for 40G and 100G applications and offer the benefits of the Stratix IV FPGA family, including density, performance, and low power consumption. With vertical migration support between densities in the same package and pinout, the Stratix IV GT FPGAs provide flexibility to meet changing market requirements.

Benefits of Altera's Transceiver Portfolio

Altera's transceiver portfolio offers several benefits for designers and system architects. The portfolio utilizes a common transceiver technology, allowing for faster time-to-market and knowledge reuse across different device families. The transceivers provide superior signal integrity, enabling designers to drive lengthy backplanes and comply with stringent protocol standards. With a comprehensive range of product options, Altera's transceiver portfolio addresses various performance, power, and cost targets.

The Common Transceiver Architecture

All devices in Altera's transceiver portfolio use the same proven transceiver technology developed through five successful generations. The common transceiver architecture includes four channels and two clock management channels. It supports additional transceiver channels and provides plug-and-play signal integrity. The transceiver block can be dynamically reconfigured to support different data rates, analog settings, and protocol modes on the fly. This flexibility allows for the development of true multi-purpose cards.

Transceiver Applications in Wireless Networks

Wireless networks require a range of functionalities and performance levels. Aria II GX FPGAs are well-suited for control path applications, providing the required signal processing capabilities with moderate performance requirements. HardCopy for ASICs offers a power-efficient solution for wireless network applications with higher transceiver data rates or performance needs. Stratix IV GX FPGAs provide the necessary features, high performance, and broad protocol support for wireless network solutions.

Transceiver Applications in Wireline Systems

Wireline systems encompass various functionalities and require different data rates. From 10 gig to 100 gig applications, Stratix IV GX FPGAs offer high performance and broad protocol support, making them ideal for wireline systems. With programmable power technology and power optimization, Stratix IV GX FPGAs provide power-efficient solutions for wireline applications. HardCopy for ASICs is also a viable option for wireline systems, offering power reduction and cost savings.

Transceiver Applications in Control Systems

Control systems often have specific requirements for power consumption and performance. Aria II GX FPGAs and Stratix IV GX FPGAs can meet the performance needs of control systems with moderate power consumption. HardCopy for ASICs provides a low-power, cost-effective solution for control systems and allows for the implementation of multiple wireless standards in a single box.

Conclusion

Altera's full spectrum 40 nanometer transceiver portfolio offers a wide range of solutions to meet the increasing demands of digital systems. The portfolio provides low-power, cost-effective options, more bandwidth, and high-performance solutions for various applications. With a common transceiver architecture, Altera enables faster time-to-market and knowledge reuse across different device families. Whether it's wireless networks, wireline systems, or control systems, Altera's transceiver portfolio addresses the performance, power, and cost requirements of today's digital systems.

Highlights

• Altera offers a full spectrum 40 nanometer transceiver portfolio.
• Transceivers are crucial components in digital systems due to their ability to support higher data throughput and power efficiency.
• Designing transceivers involves balancing conflicting system requirements such as power efficiency, signal integrity, and performance.
• Altera's portfolio includes low-power Aria II GX FPGAs, more bandwidth with Aria II GX FPGAs, hard copy for ASIC designs, high-performance Stratix IV GX FPGAs, and Stratix IV GT FPGAs for 40G/100G applications.
• The portfolio provides superior signal integrity, flexibility, and a common transceiver architecture for easy knowledge reuse.
• Transceivers have applications in wireless networks, wireline systems, and control systems, offering solutions for various performance, power, and cost targets.

FAQ

Q: What are the benefits of Altera's transceiver portfolio? A: Altera's transceiver portfolio offers several benefits, including superior signal integrity, flexibility, knowledge reuse, and a range of product options to meet different performance, power, and cost targets.

Q: What is the advantage of using Aria II GX FPGAs? A: Aria II GX FPGAs are cost-effective solutions that provide more bandwidth with robust signal integrity at half the power. They are suitable for wireless network applications and offer flexibility in implementing multiple wireless standards in one system.

Q: Which Altera device family is ideal for wireline systems? A: Stratix IV GX FPGAs are the ideal choice for wireline systems as they offer high performance, broad protocol support, and power optimization capabilities. HardCopy for ASICs is also a viable option, providing power reduction and cost savings.

Q: How does Altera's transceiver portfolio address the challenges in transceiver design? A: Altera's transceiver portfolio addresses the challenges in transceiver design by offering a full range of solutions, including low-power options, high-performance devices, and common transceiver technology that facilitates knowledge reuse and faster time-to-market.

Q: Where can I find more resources about Altera's transceiver portfolio? A: You can access additional resources such as white papers and handbooks by clicking on the resources section of your player. Altera also provides professional design services and technical support.

Resources

• Altera's Transceiver Portfolio
• Aria II GX FPGAs
• Stratix IV GX FPGAs
• Stratix IV GT FPGAs