Designers of high bit rate serial data systems are faced with the problem of determining performance margins in cases where error-free operation is possible even when the signal eye is closed. This paper presents a method using Virtual Probing and Equalizer Emulation to measure these signals. Virtual Probing can de-embed probes and interconnects and compensate for their effects allowing designers to see signals that are otherwise inaccessible. Virtual probing improves accuracy by blending measurements from network analyzers and oscilloscopes. Equalizer Emulation implements ideal equalizers including clock and data recovery, linear feed-forward equalizers and decision feedback equalizers allowing the separation of transmitter, receiver, and backplane measurements and for jitter analysis on equalized waveforms.
Michael Schnecker, Product Specialist, LeCroy Corporation
Michael Schnecker, holds an MSEE from the Georgia Institute of Technology and has 18 years of experience in the test and measurement industry. Mr. Schnecker specializes in signal integrity measurements, including jitter, and has been key in specifying and deploying the LeCroy SDA series instruments.
Peter Pupalaikis, Principal Technologist, LeCroy Corporation
Peter Pupalaikis holds a BSEE from Rutgers University and is responsible for new technology development. He has been a Product Marketing Manager for high-speed scopes and holds nine patents in the design of measurement instruments. Mr. Pupalaikis is a member of Tau Beta Pi, Eta Kappa Nu and the IEEE Signal Processing, Microwave, and Communications Societies.
