company blog about TI DS25CP102EVK 3.125Gbps LVDS Crosspoint Switch Evaluation Board

TI DS25CP102EVK 3.125Gbps LVDS Crosspoint Switch Evaluation Board

Shenzhen Mingjiada Electronics Co., Ltd., as a professional electronic component distributor, provides customers with the TI DS25CP102EVK 3.125Gbps LVDS Crosspoint Switch Evaluation Board.

This DS25CP102EVK evaluation board is built around the DS25CP102 chip, forming a 2x2 LVDS crossbar switch supporting data rates up to 3.125 Gbps. It provides engineers with a plug-and-play platform for in-depth signal integrity testing, evaluating signal conditioning capabilities, and accelerating prototyping.

The DS25CP102EVK is an evaluation kit designed to demonstrate the performance of the DS25CP102. This device is a 3.125 Gbps 2x2 LVDS crosspoint switch featuring transmit pre-emphasis and receive equalisation. The evaluation kit includes the DS25CP102 chip with its associated input/output SMA connectors, along with jumpers for manual switch configuration. Additionally, the evaluation kit features three FR4 striplines (14 inches (~35 cm), 28 inches (~75 cm), and 42 inches (~105 cm) in length) for testing the device's signal conditioning capabilities (pre-emphasis and equalisation).

DS25CP102EVK Evaluation Board Core: DS25CP102 Crosspoint Switch Chip

The DS25CP102 chip is specifically optimised for high-speed signal routing and switching over lossy FR-4 printed circuit board backplanes and balanced cables.

Superior Signal Integrity Assurance: Employing fully differential signal paths and a non-blocking architecture, the chip ensures outstanding signal integrity and noise immunity while permitting any input to connect to any or all outputs. Its wide input common-mode voltage range enables direct DC-coupled interfaces with CML and LVPECL drivers, simplifying system design.

Critical Signal Conditioning Features: Addressing high-speed signal attenuation over long distances, the DS25CP102 integrates pin-selectable transmit pre-emphasis and receive equalisation. Pre-emphasis boosts high-frequency components at transmission to compensate for transmission line loss, while equalisation mitigates inter-symbol interference at reception caused by channel effects. Both functions offer selectable “On” and “Off” states, effectively eliminating data-dependent jitter and extending reliable signal transmission distances over cables and backplanes.

High integration and ease-of-use design: The chip incorporates internal 100Ω input and output termination resistors, minimising insertion loss and return loss while reducing external component count and saving board space. Housed in a compact 4mm x 4mm WQFN-16 package with straight-through pin layout, it facilitates PCB routing. Furthermore, the LVDS I/O pins feature 8kV ESD protection, providing additional reliability assurance for adjacent components.

DS25CP102EVK Evaluation Board Kit Detailed Overview

The DS25CP102EVK evaluation kit translates all chip characteristics into a tangible, measurable physical platform.

Core Components and Hardware Configuration:

The evaluation board's core comprises a PCB with a pre-soldered DS25CP102 chip. Key on-board configurations include:

Flexible Connectivity Interfaces: All high-speed differential input/output channels feature standard SMA connectors, facilitating user connection to test equipment (e.g., bit error rate testers, network analysers) or integration with actual system signals.

Manual Configuration Jumpers: On-board jumpers enable users to manually configure switch connections (e.g., routing input A to output Y), select the enable/disable status for pre-emphasis and equalisation functions, and perform other fundamental settings. This design provides an intuitive pathway for functional verification.

Core Performance Demonstration Tools:

Multi-length FR4 striplines: This constitutes the evaluation board's most distinctive feature. Three FR4 dielectric striplines of varying lengths are integrated onto the board, measuring approximately 14 inches (35 centimetres), 28 inches (71 centimetres), and 42 inches (107 centimetres). By connecting these transmission lines, users can directly simulate signal attenuation in a real backplane environment and observe the significant improvements in signal eye pattern quality, jitter, and bit error rate when pre-emphasis and equalisation functions are enabled or disabled.

Typical Evaluation and Testing Procedure for DS25CP102EVK:

Basic Connection Testing: Connect the pulse pattern generator to the evaluation board input and the output to an oscilloscope using high-quality cables. Verify the fundamental functionality of the non-blocking cross-switch by configuring different input-output routes via jumpers.

Signal Conditioning Performance Evaluation: Connect the on-board FR4 striplines of varying lengths. First, observe the signal eye closure after long-distance transmission on the oscilloscope with pre-emphasis and equalisation disabled. Subsequently, enable pre-emphasis and equalisation separately or concurrently. Clearly observe the reopening of the eye diagram, measuring and comparing jitter values (the DS25CP102 typically achieves jitter as low as 6ps) and voltage margin.

System Compatibility Testing: Leveraging its wide input common-mode range, attempt to interface with LVDS signals from FPGAs or clock signals in CML/LVPECL formats to validate seamless interface capability.

Target Application Scenarios for DS25CP102EVK

The DS25CP102EVK evaluation board specifically targets domains demanding stringent high-speed signal routing and integrity:

Professional Broadcasting and Video Systems: For serial digital interface routers and video distribution amplifiers handling HD, 3G-SDI, and higher standards, enabling selection and switching of multiple video signals.

Data Communications and Telecommunications: Suitable for clock and data signal distribution, buffering, and multiplexing in telecommunications network equipment such as OC-48/STM-16.

High-performance computing and test/measurement: Serves as a critical signal scheduling unit in systems requiring flexible high-speed clock distribution or routing of high-speed data buses between multiple boards.

Mingjiada Electronics maintains long-term supply of other TI evaluation board components, including but not limited to the following models:

MUX36S08EVM-PDK

TPS3813Q1EVM

TS5USBC402EVM

TPS2041BEVM

TMUXHS4612-EVM

TMUXS7614DEVM

TMUX10DGSEVM

TMUXHS4446EVM

TMUX9616QFPEVM

TMDSICE3359

MSP-TS430DW28

AUDIO-AM275-EVM

F29H85X-SOM-EVM

MSP-TS430PN80C

TMDSCSK388

TMDSEVM437X

EVM430-FR6989

TMDSCNCD263

LP-EM-CC1354P10-6

LP-MSPM0C1104