ETC 21582

Design Considerations for the Am79761 Gigabit
Ethernet Physical Layer GigaPHY™-SD Device
Application Note
This document is intended to assist customers in using AMD’s Gigabit Ethernet Physical Layer
devices. Details concerning application information, circuit design, PCB layout, and component selection are provided to help ensure first-pass success in implementing a functional design which has
optimized signal quality.
INTRODUCTION
This document is applicable to the Am79761
GigaPHY-SD product. This document should be used
in conjunction with the product data sheet. An elementary knowledge of Ethernet and high speed printed circuit layout techniques is assumed. Contact your local
AMD Field Applications Engineer or Sales Office to discuss any questions and concerns you may have.
CLOCK GENERATION
One of the most important aspects of the design is generation of the REFCLK signal. This input provides the
reference clock for the internal PLL which is multiplied
by 10x or 20x to generate the baud rate clock.The rising edge of REFCLK is continuously phase compared
to the internal baud rate clock so that the PLL will
speed up or slow down the VCO in order to keep these
two signals aligned. It is therefore important that the
REFCLK be as jitter-free as possible in order to minimize jitter introduced into the PLL and its baud rate
clock. It is also desirable to have fast rising edges on
this clock to minimize the time in which the signal transitions from a LOW level to a HIGH level. A fast edge
will reduce edge-detection ambiguity in the input buffer
and therefore reduce jitter in the PLL.
Note: The rising edge of this clock also latches the data
on the transmit bus into the input latch so care must be
taken to ensure that the transmit data bus meets the
setup and hold time requirements of the transmitter.
The most desirable solution for generating REFCLK is
to have a crystal oscillator drive the input to an Encoder/Decoder that interfaces to the GigaPHY-SD or
MAC device. In some cases, this oscillator will also
have to drive a clock input to the Encoder/Decoder.
Care must be taken to ensure that good quality signals
are present at all inputs (GigaPHY-SD and Encoder/
Decoder), and that the proper phase relationship is
maintained between the GigaPHY-SD device and Encoder/Decoder chip, since the GigaPHY-SD device
latches data on the rising edge of this clock. The GigaPHY-SD device provides a TTL input buffer which does
not support AC-coupling of the REFCLK signal.
Although oscillators provide the cleanest source for
REFCLK, oscillators over 100 MHz often cost more
than may be acceptable for a specific design. In this
case, customers have used clock generator chips to
provide REFCLK at a lower cost than an oscillator. Unfortunately, the cost reduction is accompanied by a significant increase in REFCLK jitter, which adds jitter to
the transmitted serial data resulting in a reduction in the
maximum transmission distance.
Another configuration is to generate the REFCLK in the
Encoder/Decoder chip. This is desirable where the
REFCLK is used to latch incoming transmit data, since
it may be easier to meet the setup/hold time requirements of the transmitter, especially when using a 10-bit
interface at 125 MHz. When the oscillator drives
REFCLK and the Encoder/Decoder chip, the clock-tooutput delay of the Encoder/Decoder chip impacts the
setup/hold time of the data bus with respect to the REFCLK. When the Encoder/Decoder chip generates REFCLK, the output buffer for REFCLK and the output latch
for transmit data track each other and thereby increase
setup time. However, the penalty for this scheme is increased jitter added by the Encoder/Decoder chip to
the REFCLK. The two configurations for REFCLK generation are shown in Figure 1.
Where possible, it is recommended to let the oscillator
drive both the Encoder/Decoder chip and the GigaPHYSD device in order to provide the cleanest REFCLK.
This document contains information on a product under development at Advanced Micro Devices. The information
is intended to help you evaluate this product. AMD reserves the right to change or discontinue work on this proposed
product without notice.
Publication# 21582 Rev: B Amendment/0
Issue Date: May 1998
Refer to AMD’s Website (www.amd.com) for the latest information.
Encoder/Decoder
GigaPHY-SD
Output
Latch
Input
Register
>
>
Less Jitter
Worse Setup/Hold Time
Oscillator
Input
Register
125 MHz
±100 ppm
REFCLK
>
More Jitter
Better Setup/Hold Time
Oscillator
Figure 1.
21582B-1
Common REFCLK versus Separate REFCLK
HIGH SPEED SIGNAL TERMINATION
The differential high speed outputs of the transmitter
(TX+ and TX-) are PECL outputs, which require unique
termination to ensure proper operation and optimize
signal quality. Since these signals are clocked at 1.25
GHz and transmit 8B/10B encoded data, they carry
digital signals between 125 MHz and 625 MHz. Careful
design and layout of the terminations and traces are required to maximize transmission distance and minimize signal degradation. The multiple media choices
further complicate the use of these circuits. For the purposes of this discussion, four applications will be described for both the transmitter outputs (TX±) and the
receiver inputs (RX±):
■ Single-Ended/Differential Coaxial Cable using 50-Ω
SMA connectors for test equipment connectivity.
■ Single Ended, 75-Ω Coaxial Cable using BNC/TNC
connectors for Fibre Channel and Gigabit Ethernet
compatibility
■ Differential, 150-Ω Duplex Twinax Cable using DB9 connectors for Fibre Channel and Gigabit Ethernet compatibility.
■ Fiber Optic Module interface at 50-Ω.
The transmitter outputs (TX±) are PECL outputs which
are capable of sourcing current but not sinking it.
Therefore a pull-down resistor (traditionally to VDD
2.0 V) is required to drive a LOW on the output when
the output FET is turned off. The resistance of this pulldown is determined by the parametrics of the part and
impedance of the signal trace. Since VDD -2.0 V is usually not present in the system, the output should be terminated to ground (VSS) for convenience. Also, PECL
outputs do not conform to ECL input levels, therefore,
all high speed I/O should be AC-coupled to eliminate
mismatches in signal levels.
2
GigaPHY-SD
Output
Latch
>
REFCLK
125 MHz
±100 ppm
Encoder/Decoder
The receiver inputs (RX±) are differential PECL inputs
which include resistor dividers to set the bias point of
the input (usually at VDD/2). Normally, the user supplies resistors to terminate the transmission line and
minimize reflections. An AC-coupling capacitor is provided to isolate the PECL input from the transmission
line to let the input buffer set its own DC bias point.
Lastly, a mechanism may be added to provide a DC offset, so that if the input is open, the input buffer will not
oscillate. The following sections describe the designs
of various termination schemes which provide some,
but certainly not all, of the options open to the user.
Single-Ended, 50-Ω Termination
This application is ideal for connecting to test equipment
such as oscilloscopes and BERTs but does not conform
to the Gigabit Ethernet specification. On the transmitter
outputs, a 182-Ω pull-down resistor is located near the
pin of the device in order to pull the signal to a LOW level
when the output FET is turned off. The value of 182 Ω is
used with 50-Ω impedance traces/cables. An AC-coupling capacitor (usually 0.01 µF) is added in series to
eliminate the DC component of the output signal allowing general-purpose connectivity.
On the receiver inputs, a 51.1-Ω line termination resistor is provided to match the impedance of the trace and
coaxial cable to reduce reflections and optimize signal
quality. An AC-coupling capacitor is added in series to
allow the input buffer to establish the optimal DC-level
provided by its internal resistor dividers. This will
restore signal levels to meet the input requirements of the
high speed buffer. The unused receiver input is ACcoupled to ground to reduce noise susceptibility, but
keeps the input at the internal bias point. The 50-Ω coaxial cable would normally be connected using SMA
connectors for ease of use with test equipment. The
shells of the SMA connectors are grounded. The typical
circuit for this application is shown in Figure 2.
Design Considerations for the Am79761 Gigabit Ethernet Physical Layer GigaPHY™-SD Device
SMA
C1
TX
SMA
C3
50-Ω Coax
R3
R1
RX
C4
C2
R2
R1=R2=182 Ω, 1%
C1=C2=C3=C4=0.01 µF
R3=51.1 Ω, 1%
21582B-2
Figure 2.
Termination Example: 50-Ω Single-Ended
Single-Ended, 75-Ω Termination
This is a Gigabit Ethernet-compatible application which
is similar to the previous example. However, in this example, the pull down resistors R1=R2=267 Ω, instead
of 182 Ω to match the 75-Ω transmission lines. Also,
the coaxial cabling and connectors are different in
order to meet the 75-Ω impedance required by Gigabit
BNC
(Female)
C1
TX
Ethernet. The connector of the transmit side is a 75-Ω
BNC (female on the board, male on the cable). The
connector on the receive side is a 75-Ω TNC (female on
the board, male on the cable). The shell of the BNC is
grounded, but the TNC shell is left open. These mismatched connectors provide built-in polarization. The
typical circuit for this application is shown in Figure 3.
TNC
(Female)
C3
75-Ω Coax
R3
R1
RX
C4
C2
R2
R1=R2=267 Ω, 1%
C1=C2=C3=C4=0.01 µF
Figure 3.
R3=75 Ω, 1%
21582B-3
Termination Example: 75-Ω Single-Ended
Differential, 150-Ω Twinax Termination
A more popular Gigabit Ethernet-compatible application is for 150-Ω differential signals using 9-pin
DSubminiature connectors (also known as DB-9) and
duplex twinax cable. This provides better signal quality,
longer transmission distance, and reduced emissions
as compared to single-ended configurations. Both outputs from the transmitter are terminated with 267-Ω pull
downs. One percent components are used to maintain
a balanced load between the two differential outputs.
On the receive side, a single 150-Ω line termination resistor is used for impedance matching. This is located
on the receiver side of the AC-coupling capacitors
since this resistor will not affect the DC bias circuit. The
connector for this application is a 9-pin D-Subminiature
(female on the board, male on the cable) with TX+ on
pin 1, TX- on pin 6, RX+ on pin 5, and RX- on pin 9. The
shield of the cable is connected to chassis ground on
both ends to provide a low impedance grounded shield.
A cost-effective duplex twinax cable having an effective
shielding scheme that reduces emissions to the point
that systems pass the FCC-B and CISPR EMI levels is
available from W. L. Gore. The typical circuit for this application is shown in Figure 4.
Design Considerations for the Am79761 Gigabit Ethernet Physical Layer GigaPHY™-SD Device
3
DB-9
C1
TX
DB-9
5
1
R1
C3
R3
150-Ω Twinax
C2
6
9
RX
C4
R2
R1=R2=267 Ω, 1%
C1=C2=C3=C4=0.01 µF
Figure 4.
Many customers wish to use Gigabit Ethernet over fiber
optic cable for increased distance, reduced EMI, or
other reasons. In general, this is a 50-Ω application.
However, each vendor of fiber optic transceivers may
have slightly unique interfacing requirements, so it is
recommended that the user contact the vendor prior to
design. For the purposes of this example, a circuit
7
R1
TX+
which interfaces to Finisar’s FTR-8510 and Methode’s
MTR-8510 800 nm transceiver module is described.
No AC-coupling capacitors are required on the transmit
side, so only 180-Ω pull-down resistors are provided.
This application example assumes short traces (less
than 2 inches), so that termination resistors are not required at the end of the traces on the transmit side. On
the receive side, the normal 51.1-Ω and AC-coupling
capacitor is provided. This is illustrated in Figure 5.
RX+
O/E Module
8
TX–
R2
RX–
22
C1
R3
23
RX
C2
R4
R1=R2=182 Ω, 1%
C1=C2 = 0.01 µF
Figure 5.
R3, R4=51.1 Ω, 1%
21582B-5
Termination Example: Fiber Optic Transceiver
PREVENTING OSCILLATIONS
Since a link can be disconnected or a transmitter can
be disabled, there are times when the receiver’s inputs might not carry a valid signal. In the absence of
a signal, both inputs of the receiver (RX±) will be at
their internally determined bias points which are, by
design, identical. When a differential input buffer’s inputs are identical, the buffer is susceptible to oscillations which could cause noise within the receiver.
AMD’s input buffers do not oscillate normally; however, in a noisy environment oscillations may occur. To
prevent this problem, a Thevenin-equivalent resistor
pair is used to both terminate the transmission line
and provide a small DC offset to the receiver. This offset is kept as low as possible so as not to introduce an
offset under normal conditions, which might add to the
4
21582B-4
Termination Example: 150-Ω Differential
Fiber Optic Module Termination
TX
R3=150 Ω, 1%
input jitter seen by the receiver. An example of this is
shown in Figure 6 with values for both 50-Ω and 75-Ω
impedance applications.
Unused Inputs
In many applications the receiver inputs might not be
used. In this situation, it is important to terminate the inputs so that they will not oscillate. In a single-ended application, the unused receiver input is AC-coupled to
ground to reduce noise susceptibility, but the input at
the internal bias point is kept. If the differential inputs
are not used, then the circuit shown below is recommended. A variety of useful circuits may be used for
this purpose, but two considerations are as follows: (1)
provide a DC-offset and (2) provide a low-impedance
noise attenuation path.
Design Considerations for the Am79761 Gigabit Ethernet Physical Layer GigaPHY™-SD Device
VDD VDD
R1
C1
RX+
R2
+30 mV
RX
–30 mV
C2
RX–
R3
R4
21582B-6
R1=R4=97.6 Ω, 1% R2=R3=102 Ω, 1% for 50 Ω impedance, [72 mV offset]
R1=R4=147 Ω, 1% R2=R3=154 Ω, 1% for 75 Ω impedance, [76 mV offset]
C1=C2=0.01 µF
Figure 6.
Termination Example: Preventing Oscillation
In the circuit shown in Figure 7, 47K Ω external resistors are added in parallel with the internal 3 K Ω pair.
This results in a 50-mV offset. The capacitor across
the inputs provides a low-impedance path to reduce
noise susceptibility.
A readily available, multiple-sourced linear regulator
is the Linear Technology LT1086CM-3.3, which is a
fixed 3.3 V output voltage regulator that provides up to
1.5 A output current. This is more than adequate to
power the GigaPHY-SD device. A simple application
circuit is shown in Figure 8. Minimum values of input
and output capacitance are required to provide stability to the regulator. Additional bypass capacitors must
be added for additional power supply filtering at the
pins of the chip. Similar linear regulators with different
current limits are the LT1117CST-3.3 (800 mA, SOT223) and the LT1586CM-3.3 (4A, TO-220), both from
Linear Technology.
VDD
R1
+50 mV
RX
C1
–50 mV
R2
R1=R2=47K Ω, 5%
C1=0.01 µF
Figure 7.
The advantage of a linear regulator is that it provides
a very quiet output that is isolated from the noise on
the 5 V supply. Since signal jitter is sensitive to power
supply noise, the clean outputs of the linear regulator
contribute to improved signal quality.
21582B-7
Termination Example: Unused Inputs
POWER SUPPLY CONSIDERATIONS
Generating 3.3 V from a Linear Regulator
AMD’s Gigabit Ethernet PHYs operate with a 3.3 V
±5% power supply. Although the migration to 3.3 V
logic power supplies is underway, many systems do
not have an available 3.3 V supply. The easiest, smallest, and cheapest way to convert from a 5 V power
supply to a 3.3 V level is through the use of a linear
regulator. Converting from a +12 V supply to a 3.3 V
supply is more difficult due to the additional power dissipation in the regulator that must be handled correctly. At 5 V ± 10%, the power dissipated in the
regulator is calculated as (5.25 V - 3.3 V)*IDD(max).
Generating 3.3 V from a DC/DC Converter
The limitation of a linear regulator is that it is not efficient, therefore, heat is generated. In applications
where excessive heat is not acceptable, a DC/DC Converter may be used to convert either the 5 V or 12 V
supplies into a 3.3 V supply. The DC/DC converters
available for the current levels needed in this application have excellent efficiency, between 85% and 95%,
which reduces heat generation. However, the DC/DC
converters are more expensive, require more real estate, require more components, are not trivial to use,
and add noise to the 3.3 V supply. The noise is a concern since power supply noise will couple into the PLL
circuits and buffers of the transmitter and receiver,
thereby, increasing jitter generation in the transmitter
and reducing jitter tolerance in the receiver. If a DC/DC
converter is used, extra care should be taken to reduce
output noise.
Design Considerations for the Am79761 Gigabit Ethernet Physical Layer GigaPHY™-SD Device
5
LT1086
CM-3.3
IN
5V
ADJ
OUT
10 µF
Figure 8.
10 µF
0.1 µF
3.3 V
21582B-8
5 V to 3.3 V Conversion using a Linear Regulator
A DC/DC Converter that is appropriate for powering the
GigaPHY-SD device is the Linear Technology, LT1256
1.5A part. The DC/DC converter circuit is not shown
here since excellent application notes are provided by
the manufacturer.
BYPASSING
The method in which bypass capacitors are used to filter the power supply to the GigaPHY-SD device has a
significant impact upon signal quality. First, it is mandatory that the design include a power plane for VSS
(Ground) which is at least 1 oz. copper. Secondly, a
similar power plane for VDD (3.3 V) is strongly recommended. To reduce inductance, vias used to connect to
these planes should not include thermal cut-outs similar to those found on VDD/VSS connections to throughhole components. It is strongly suggested that each
power and ground pin be supplied from their own vias.
Bypass capacitors are more effective when located on
the same side of the PCB as the GigaPHY-SD device.
Of course, the capacitors must be located as closely as
possible to the VDD and VSS pins of the chips. Furthermore, it is recommended that the capacitor be located
between the pin and the via to the plane. The preferred
method for the layout of the bypassing capacitors is
shown in Figure 9. Since AMD’s GigaPHY-SD device
has roughly constant power supply current, there is no
need for exotic bypassing methods (i.e., two capacitors
in parallel aimed at the switching frequency of the internal circuit). It is also recommended that the power and
ground planes remain intact rather than attempting to
steer current paths through sculpted planes. Most customers who have tried to isolate the planes for the
transmitters and receivers usually produce more noise,
rather than reduce noise.
The GigaPHY-SD has internal PLLs which are powered
from separate supply pins usually called AVDD/AVSS
where the “A” denotes analog. These pins are particularly sensitive to noise, so additional care must be
taken to filter out noise. It is recommended that AVDD
pass through a ferrite bead (i.e., TDK CB50-1206) to a
bypass capacitor (at least one 0.1 µF) and the power
pin. The layout shown in Figure 9 indicates the preferred method for layout of this circuit.
Ferrite
TDK CB50
-1206
0.1 µF
0805
DVSS
0.1 µF
0805
DVDD
AVDD
AVSS
GigaPHY_SD
21582B-9
Figure 9.
6
Bypassing Layout Example
Design Considerations for the Am79761 Gigabit Ethernet Physical Layer GigaPHY™-SD Device
LAYOUT CONSIDERATIONS
■ Eliminate or reduce stub lengths.
When implementing a 1-Gbps serial communications
link, the importance of the layout cannot be overstressed. However, following general, simple-to-use
guidelines will ensure success and prove easier than
most designers anticipate. The prioritization of signals
is as follows:
■ Reduce, if not eliminate, vias to minimize impedance discontinuities.
■ High speed serial I/O lines
■ Do not route digital signals from other circuits
across the area of the transmitter and receiver.
■ REFCLK traces
■ Power supplies and bypass capacitors
■ Control signals
■ Data busses
Careful placement of components and the use of passives on both the top and bottom sides will generally
ensure optimal layout. As mentioned previously, a solid
ground and power plane are quite useful in distributing
clean power.
High Speed Serial I/O Layout
These signals contain digital data at frequencies between 125 MHz to 625 MHz and require excellent frequency and phase response up to at least the 3rd
harmonic, if not the 7th harmonic. Improved signal quality and longer practical transmission distances will result when the designer follows the general rules below:
■ Keep traces as short as possible. Initial component
placement should be very carefully considered.
■ The impedance of the traces must match that of the
termination resistors, connectors, and cable in order
to reduce reflections due to impedance mismatches.
■ Impedance matching termination resistors (i.e.,
51.1 Ω, 75 Ω or 150 Ω) should be located as close
as possible to the input pin of the receiver to minimize stub length. Since an AC-coupling capacitor is
often inserted between the pin and the termination
resistor, this is sometimes difficult to optimize.
■ Differential impedance must be maintained in a
150-Ω differential application. Routing two 75-Ω
traces is not adequate. The two traces must be separated by enough distance to maintain 150-Ω differential impedance. A good rule of thumb is that the
trace separation should be at least 2.5 times the
trace width.
■ When routing differential pairs, keep the trace
length identical between the two traces. Differences
in trace lengths translate directly into signal skew.
When separations occur, the differential impedance
may be affected so take care when this is done.
■ Keep differential pair traces on the same side of the
PCB to minimize impedance discontinuities.
■ Use rounded corners rather than 90° or 45° corners.
■ Keep signal traces far from other signals which
might capacitively couple noise into the signals.
This includes the other trace of a differential pair.
■ Do not cut up the power or ground planes in an effort to steer current paths. This usually produces
more noise, not less.
REFCLK Layout
The most difficult issue with regard to the REFCLK is
that the signal goes to multiple inputs which all require
an extremely clean clock with fast edges. This becomes
a clock distribution challenge. Of course, from an emissions point of view, the goal is to eliminate the high-frequency har monics in order to reduce radiated
emissions. Therefore, a system developer may have
contradictory goals requiring a compromise position.
Power Supply Layout
These issues have been discussed previously and will
not be detailed here. Vias used to connect the power
planes to the DVDD and DVSS pins of the chips should
be at least 0.010 inches in diameter, preferably with no
thermal relief and plated closed with copper or solder.
Also, the via should be located on the opposite side of
the bypass capacitor from the pin.
Control Signal Layout
There are no time-critical control signals on the
GigaPHY-SD device. However, it is important to route
control lines to the chips in such a way as to avoid
crosstalk and noise injection.
Data Bus Layout
The problem with the data busses is that there are a lot
of signals in a small area. The only consideration here
is to keep the traces roughly the same length as the
clock used to latch them, so that trace length differences do not reduce the setup/hold times of the chips.
CONCLUSION
Following the general guidelines described in this design guide will help ensure that customers integrating
Gigabit Ethernet components experience first-time
success. Contact your local Field Applications Engineer who will be happy to work with customers in any
way to promote the success of their designs, including
providing schematic and layout reviews.
■ Place any impedance discontinuities close to the
transmitter or receiver and locate them together.
This will minimize their impact on signal quality.
Design Considerations for the Am79761 Gigabit Ethernet Physical Layer GigaPHY™-SD Device
7
COMPONENT SUPPLIER LIST
The following table is a list of vendors who supply
components of interest to Gigabit Ethernet customers. Where applicable, a part number and description
have been provided for key components required for
specific applications.
Component Supplier List
Copper Cable Assemblies
AMP
(800) 52A-MP52
High Frequency Coax, Twinax & Quad Cable Assemblies
Berg
(717) 764-7200
Cable Assemblies
Trompeter Electronics
(818) 707-2020
Coaxial Cable Assemblies
W. L. Gore
(302) 368-2575
Quad Cable, P/N FCN1008-xx, where xx is distance in meters
AMP
(800) 52A-MP52
RF, Coax, DB-9 & Fibre Channel specific (HSSDC) connectors.
E. F. Johnson
(800) 247-8256
RF, Coaxial connectors
Connectors
Fiber Optic Modules
AMP/Lytel
(800) 52A-MP52
O/E Modules
BCP
(407) 984-3671
51T Transmitter & 51R Receiver
Finisar
(415) 691-4000
Gbps O/E Modules at 800 nm, FTR-8510
Force Electronics
(703) 382-0462
2684T Transmitter and 2684R Receiver
Fujikura Technology
(408) 748-6991
O/E Modules
Methode Electronics
(708) 867-9600
Gbps transceivers at 800 nm, MTR-8510.
Fiber Optic Cable
3M Fiber Optics
(908)544-9119
Alcoa/Fujikura
(800)866-3953
Methode Electronics
(800)323-6858
Magnetics
Coilcraft
(800) 322-2654
Transformers for Line interfacing
Technitrol
(215) 426-9105
Active and Passive Equalizer/Buffers
Oscillators
Connor-Winfield
(708) 851-4722
Fox
(888) GET-2FOX
Motorola Semiconductor
(800) 441-2447
PLLs and Clock Distribution ICs
Pletronics
(206) 776-1880
A variety of oscillators, spectrum analyzers, etc.
Saronix
(415) 856-6900
Valpey Fisher
(508) 435-6831 X607
Clock Generators
IC Works
(408) 922-0202
Clock Synthesizer
Trademarks
Copyright © 1998 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. All rights reserved.
AMD, the AMD logo, and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
GigaPHY is a trademark of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Product names used in this publication are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective companies.
8
Design Considerations for the Am79761 Gigabit Ethernet Physical Layer GigaPHY™-SD Device