Automated test and validation accelerates measurements in high speed devices

Engineers can test PCIe 6.0 (Base) receivers using the PCIe 6.0 receiver test option developed by Tektronix in collaboration with Anritsu. 

The PCIe 6.0 (64GTransfers per second) automated test runs on the Tektronix DPO70000SX series real time oscilloscope and the Anritsu MP1900A BERT. 

The automated test and validation option is claimed to render faster test times, and has an intuitive user interface.     

The cohesive PCIe 6.0 transmitter and receiver test presents the ability to test increasing amounts of data as it is transferred at increasing speeds. Data-intensive sectors, like AI, cloud, and data centres use PCIe as a de-facto standard, explained Tektronix. While the recently released Gen 6.0 standard provides fast speeds to handle such workloads, testing brings challenges to those charged with integrating PCIe 6.0 on devices. 

PCIe receiver validation is plagued by the sensitivity of calibrating the stressed eye signal across a high loss channel. Tektronix’s PCIe receiver test targets the required bit error rate (BER) while intuitive step-by-step tools provide link training routines for the Anritsu MP1900A BERT to ensure the receiver is tested accurately. 

The Tektronix PCIe 6.0 Base Rx solution includes what is claimed to be the fastest 64GTransfers per second (PAM4) Rx calibration in the industry. Novel algorithms calibrate the transmitter’s additional pre-cursor added to the 6.0 Base specification. 

The Tektronix PAMJET DSP tool provides critical 64GTransfers per second jitter and noise measurements with instrument noise compensation. Tektronix said that the automated test leverages the market’s first 6.0 Base Tx solution and enhances the capabilities to address receiver challenges at the latest data rate introduced by the PCI Special Interest Group (PCI-SIG).

The TekRxTest automation software provides a single control panel with the power to manage a Tektronix oscilloscope and Anritsu BERT during receiver calibration. This intuitive software wizard guides users through short- and long-channel calibration steps with ease, resulting in an accurate and repeatable calibration at 64 GTransfers per second.

Integrating the Anritsu MP1900A and Tektronix DPO70000SX real time oscilloscopes deliver a complete physical layer PCIe test system that can be expanded to PCIe 6.0 as the market continues to develop technologies for high-speed networks, said Kazuhiro Fujinuma, director of solution marketing department service infrastructure division for Anritsu.

Synopsys also collaborated with Tektronix on early validation of the PCIe 6.0 DesignWare IP, providing early-stage prototypes for Tektronix’s partnership with Anritsu. 

“The PCIe 6.0 interface is instrumental to enabling real-time data connectivity with low latency and high throughput in HPC [high performance computing], storage, and AI applications,” said John Koeter, senior vice president of marketing and strategy for IP at Synopsys. “Conducting early, accurate and efficient validation of the Synopsys silicon-proven PCIe 6.0 IP . . . demonstrates that the IP adheres to the latest PCI-SIG specifications, enabling designers to deliver interoperable products that include Synopsys PCIe 6.0 controller, PHY, verification, and integrity and data encryption (IDE) IP faster and with less risk.”

Tektronix’s PCIe 6.0 receiver test is available now worldwide for use with DPO70000SX real time oscilloscopes. 

http://www.Tek.com

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Automotive test suite verifies MIPI A-PHY, says Keysight 

An automotive serialiser / deserialiser (SerDes) receiver (Rx) compliance test has been unveiled by Keysight Technologies. It is able to verify MIPI (mobile industry processor interface) A-PHY devices and helps achieve broadscale interoperability based on the Compliance Test Specification (CTS) requirements.

It was developed in collaboration with BitifEye Digital Test Solutions and Wilder Technologies, with the support of Valens Semiconductor.

Silicon vendors are planning to implement the MIPI A-PHY long-reach physical layer interface for automotive and other surround-sensor applications, including cameras and in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) displays to meet the drive of manufacturers who are continually enhancing vehicles with autonomous functions. These functions should improve safety conditions which has led to the need for data gathered from sensors and cameras to be transmitted accurately, with precision and speed, from any silicon vendor.

Keysight’s Rx compliance test solution recreates a compliant transmitter that generates a controlled distorted signal (worst case) and analyses the impact of the distortions on the receiver’s capability to correctly sample transmitted data. It enables automotive makers and their suppliers, as well as automotive engineers and system integrators, to stress the receiver and validate its performance in the noisy and inherently harsh environment of a car.

“At Keysight, we recognise that it is critical to address the growing market demands for high-speed digital interfaces for next-generation in-vehicle networks,” said Thomas Goetzl, vice president and general manager of Keysight’s Automotive and Energy Solutions business unit.

The Rx compliance test ensures the quality of the digital transmission by measuring the receiver’s ability to recover data from an impaired input signal, with a comprehensive test framework to identify the margin at which a device under test (DUT) is working. There is also a custom fixture that couples the noise to an active link to stress the receiver and accurate and repeatable results with Keysight’s arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) to generate a variety of random and complex noise profiles.

Other features include access to pre-defined noise profiles and all relevant hardware, software and accessories in a single model number, which saves time and money, added Keysight.

There is also automatic report generation in HTML or PDF formats including margin analysis.

BitifEye Digital Test Solutions offers test software which complement Keysight´s product portfolio of integrated and automated application-specific test systems. The partnership has led to what is claimed to be the first solution that can test the receivers of automotive SerDes MIPI A-PHY data links.

“We are excited to engage with Keysight to deliver a new way for the industry to validate receiver devices utilizing MIPI A-PHY,” said Julien Henaut, chief operating officer, BitifEye Digital Test Solutions.

Keysight delivers design and validation test products for software-driven insights and analytics to bring tomorrow’s technology products to market faster across the development lifecycle, in design simulation, prototype validation, automated software testing, manufacturing analysis, and network performance optimisation and visibility in enterprise, service provider and cloud environments. Customers are in the worldwide communications and industrial ecosystems, aerospace and defence, automotive, energy, semiconductor and general electronics markets. 

http://www.keysight.com

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Two models extend R&S signal and spectrum analyser frequency range

Two models have been added to the Rohde & Schwarz signal and spectrum analyser family, taking the available frequency range up to 50GHz.

The R&S FSV3050 and R&S FSVA3050 have been added to the FSV family of high speed analysers with up to 200MHz analysis bandwidth for lab and production 5G NR testing.

The FSVA has a high dynamic range and phase noise of -127dBc/Hz (f_centre is 1.0GHz, 10kHz offset). It has up to 1.0GHz analysis bandwidth to perform demanding measurements such as linearising power amplifiers, capturing short events and characterising frequency agile signals.

The main driver for 50GHz models is 5G NR applications. The FR2 band n262 spans 47.2 to 48.2GHz, covered by these 50GHz models in default configuration. The R&S FSV3-B54G option for the FSVA enables signal analysis up to 54GHz, which also includes the upper edge of the FR2-1 band at 52.6GHz. This is suitable for the aerospace and defence industry in which 47.2 to 50.2GHz and 50.4 to 51.4GHz are filed at the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) for geostationary satellite systems. Applications include the production of components like filters, amplifiers or travelling wave tubes.

The FSV3-B710 enhanced performance option is available for the 50GHz variants. It is available for the two new FSV and FSVA variants, enhancing phase noise performance, lowering DANL (displayed average noise level) and, for FSVA, provides low-end frequency range extended to 2.0Hz.

The R&S FSV3-B54G und R&S FSV3-B710 options for R&S FSV and R&S FSVA family are now available from Rohde & Schwarz. They will be exhibited at European Microwave Week (EuMW) at stand D18. The exhibition runs from 27 to 29 September, 2022 at the Milano Convention Centre, Italy.

Rohde & Schwarz was founded more than 85 years ago. It specialises in test and measurement, technology systems and networks and cybersecurity. company is headquartered in Munich, Germany.

http://www.press.rohde-schwarz.com

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Keysight moves Open RAN architect tests to the cloud

To accelerate deployment and increase flexibility, the Keysight Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN or O-RAN) Architect test suite, or KORA, is moving to cloud-based deployment. 

The KORA suite verifies the functionality and performance of an end-to-end O-RAN wireless infrastructure. A component of KORA is Keysight’s LoadCore 5G core (5GC) testing software. This is now available as a metered, pay as you go model in AWS Marketplace. This will allow users to scale costs with usage, explained the company.

AWS Marketplace is a digital catalogue that enables customers to find, buy, deploy and manage third-party software, data and services to business solutions and run businesses on Amazon Web Services (AWS).

The LoadCore software enables customers to perform network capacity tests, measure device data throughput and model a variety of end user behaviours and mobility scenarios. LoadCore is scalable and can verify that delivered connectivity service remains stable under various demanding conditions such as sudden spikes in network usage caused by disasters or other major events.

“As a cloud-based pay-as-you-go offering, users can purchase and provision KORA test solutions immediately to fit their testing needs,” said Kalyan Sundhar, vice president and general manager of 5G edge to core solutions at Keysight. “This is an exciting new delivery model that offers customers the flexibility and scalability to use Keysight’s test solutions in the environment they want, in the cloud,” he said.

The cloud-based deployment offers customers on-demand scalability to meet changing requirements with a wide range of configurations for different test environments, confirmed Keysight. There is an annual subscription option for customers with high usage of LoadCore for an extended period. LoadCore 5GC testing software with a flexible pay as you go business model will be available to enterprise customers looking to verify their private 5G networks, start ups that need flexibility with specific testing requirements, customers with shorter duration project needs, such as test houses and organisations that want to purchase and test solutions primarily on the cloud.

Keysight Technologies delivers design and validation products that help accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world with software-driven insights and analytics that bring tomorrow’s technology products to market faster across the development lifecycle, in design simulation, prototype validation, automated software testing, manufacturing analysis, and network performance optimisation and visibility in enterprise, service provider and cloud environments. Customers span the worldwide communications and industrial ecosystems, aerospace and defence, automotive, energy, semiconductor and general electronics markets. 

http://www.keysight.com

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