Tektronix SDX100

SerialXpress is a powerful easy-to-use software package to synthesize high-speed serial data signals for Arbitrary Waveform Generators (AWG). It runs directly on the AWG5000/7000/70000 Series arbitrary waveform generators or from an external PC.

Key Features:

• Flexibility: Jitter generation has become so flexible that the user now has the freedom to try various permutations and combinations of jitter parameters like Pj, Rj, ISI, Noise, Delay, etc.
• Replicate scenarios: The signals are digitally synthesized. All AWG setups can be recalled and the scenarios can be replicated on any other AWG within seconds.
• Analog nature of digital signals: In reality all digital signals are analog in nature and hence SerialXpress exploits the capabilities of an AWG to generate real-world signals.
• Ease of use: It is easy to integrate a multitude of Sj tones into the waveforms at no additional cost. Band-limited Rj can be injected with ease.
• Crest Factor Emulation (CFE): Users can now apply any amount of peak pseudo-random jitter needed to their bit patterns which can reduce test times. Test cases can be repeated accurately enabling fast receiver debug cycles. SerialXpress can also create worst-case scenarios to stress receivers by accurately controlling the Crest Factor of the random jitter.
• Programmable pre/de-emphasis and preshoot: Most of the next-generation standards like PCIe, 10GbE, SAS, or USB 3.0 need more than one tap for pre/de-emphasis signal generation. The SerialXpress Advanced Pre/De-emphasis feature offers the ultimate in flexibility, giving users the ability to program the pre/de-emphasis and preshoot sample by sample.
• Channel emulation through cascaded S-parameter filter: Touchstone files can easily be inserted to simulate the exact behavior of cable emulators, which can be again controlled and modified by adding jitter and other parameters. You can also tweak the imported touchstone file data to adjust the ISI and see how the receiver responds to those variations. The effect of the channel can also be de-embedded by selecting the Inverse filtering option. Closed EYE can be opened up by adding the right amount of pre-emphasis or by varying the rise time. You can also cascade up to 6 touchstone files to emulate a cascaded channel that might include connectors, fixtures, and channel models.
• ISI Direct Dial-in: ISI can be directly dialed-in at ease. It is no longer necessary to use FR4 traces which are inflexible and need frequent calibration when switching from one to another.
• Presets: SerialXpress supports any emerging standard data rate from 500 Kb/s to 8 Gb/s when teamed with the appropriate Tektronix AWG. There are ready-to-use presets that allow you a head-start on your testing.
• Offline mode: SerialXpress applications can run on an external PC, thereby reducing the time taken to synthesize large waveforms and leaving the AWG free for continued testing.

SerialXpress enables creation of exact waveforms required for thorough and repeatable design validation, margin/characterization, and conformance testing of high-speed serial data receivers. It considerably simplifies the signal creation and jitter simulations, thus reducing overall development and test time.

SerialXpress supports generation of jitter (Random, Periodic (Sinusoidal), Inter Symbol Interference (ISI), and Duty Cycle Distortion (DCD)), and also supports Spread Spectrum Clocking (SSC), pre-emphasis, and noise addition. This allows the user to create a combination of various impairments simultaneously to stress the receiver. SerialXpress also allows the waveforms to be captured from Tektronix oscilloscopes and to be replayed using arbitrary waveform generators.