N1085A PAM-4 Measurement Application

N1085A PAM-4 Measurement Application For 86100D DCA-X Series Oscilloscopes

Introduction

Several industry groups and standards bodies are using, or actively considering using, Pulse Amplitude Modulation 4-Level (PAM-4) technology to jump to the next-generation speed class. PAM-4 signaling enables higher throughput for a given channel bandwidth compared to traditional non-return-to-zero (NRZ) signaling.

Working groups within the Optical Internetworking Forum - Common Electrical Interface (OIF-CEI 4.0) and IEEE 400G Ethernet (P802.3bs) are leveraging many of the PAM-4 measurements outlined in Clause 94 of IEEE Std 802.3bj-2014. Examples of Standards or Implementation Agreements (IA) that propose PAM-4 signaling include:

• IEEE 400G Ethernet (P802.3bs)
• OIF-CEI-4.0 (56G)
• OIF-CEI-56G-XSR-PAM4 (Extra Short Reach interface)
• OIF-CEI-56G-VSR-PAM4 (Very Short Reach interface)
• OIF-CEI-56G-MR-PAM4 (Medium Reach interface)
• OIF-CEI-56G-LR-PAM4 (Long Reach interface)

While the PAM-4 parameters are still in the development stages, companies are moving forward with their PAM-4 development and need measurement tools to help analyze their designs quickly and accurately.

Debug and Verify Your Designs Quickly and Easily

Transform complexity into simplicity

Keysight N1085A PAM-4 measurement software saves engineers time and money by automating PAM-4 “pre-compliance” measurements for standards that have not yet been ratified.

Based on the 86100D DCA-X Series oscilloscope platform, N1085A is an easy-to-use oscilloscope application that:

• Saves time in understanding details of standards
• Reduces the time it takes to characterize your PAM-4 design from hours to minutes
• Helps to debug your device using custom configurations
• Characterizes up to four lanes in multi-lane devices

Select industry-leading hardware

Configure your oscilloscope for single or multi-channel capability. The 86100D DCA-X wide-bandwidth oscilloscope is a flexible solution that provides ultra-low jitter performance (as low as 45 fs rms) together with an extremely low noise acquisition system. For return loss, the N1085A software controls an N1055A TDR module (or an economy or performance network analyzer) and performs S-parameter measurements.

Configure your measurements

Customize parameters that are specific to your setup, such as data rate and attenuation. Use default values or enter your own settings including number of waveforms taken; type of pattern; and whether or not to remove the effects of test cables. Choose Normal mode to test within limits or choose Debug mode to test to your custom limits and adjust other test parameters.

More Features to Further Streamline Your Development

Generate reports

Users and your customers are interested in the performance of your device. Share a report that shows the test conditions, summary of pass/fail, summary of all tests, and details for each test. Many include a test-specific screen shot of the measured parameter.

Control your device or other equipment

The Automation tab enables you to enter commands to control external devices or equipment, and to further sequence your tests or to control timing.

Configure your solution in three ways

The hardware and software architecture provides wide flexibility. The N1085A PAM4 measurement application may be run as follows:

1. 86100D DCA-X runs N1085A PAM4 software application locally and controls remote ENA/PNA via LAN
2. PC runs N1085A PAM4 software application and controls remote 86100D DCA-X, ENA/PNA via LAN
3. PC runs both N1085A software application and N1010A FlexDCA and controls remote 86100D DCA-X, ENA/PNA via LAN

This lets you use your PC for more processing power and other applications, or you can have all measurement capability consolidated into a compact solution. For return loss measurements, the N1085A can control an N1055A TDR or ENA/PNA vector network analyzer to perform measurements automatically.

Oscilloscope compatibility

Keysight offers a wide range of electrical and optical test solutions to address current and emerging communications standards. When testing PAM-4 electrical designs, you may choose a hardware combination that fits your device data rate and other higher rate tests for other standards. Each row shows the recommended configuration of hardware and software to measure the many parameters. The multi-module approach is useful for designers who may already own a plug-in module.

Perform key PAM-4 measurements

PAM-4 signaling includes many new measurements and challenging tests. The list below shows the transmit parameters tested by the N1085A software application.

Ordering instructions

The N1085A PAM-4 measurement software is a transportable license (-xTP) that can be assigned by the user to an 86100D DCA-X mainframe or a user-supplied PC. The transportable nature of the license allows the user to move the license from one instrument (or PC) to another.