ISL37231
10.3125 Gb/s Retiming Dual-Channel Transceiver
Key Features
- Industry’s lowest power and highest performance 10.3125Gbps active cable solution for STP and twin-axial cables
- Supports 64b/66b encoding
- Fully retimed low jitter outputs
- Up to 16.5dB of adjustable (or adaptive) receiver-side equalization
- 9dB output de-emphasis
- Supports independent SSC on each channel
- On-chip microcontroller and eye monitor
- Multiple loopback modes
- Low power (<420mW) operation with 3mW sleep mode
- Ultra-small 5mmx5mm aQFN package
Description
The ISL37231 is an advanced dual-channel, dual-simplex retimer for active copper cable applications. Endowed with sophisticated functions, such as media optimized (PCB or Cable) and adaptive equalization, de-emphasis, and signal retiming, this IC fortifies sensitive links that break with lesser retiming solutions. The device contains high performance mixed signal processing technology to provide a maximally robust signal integrity solution for datacenter and consumer applications. Such processing includes up to 25dB of media-optimized equalization and versatile retiming capabilities to reset link jitter budgets.
The ISL37231 provides this high level of performance while significantly reducing power consumption relative to other active cable solutions. At well below 500mW, the operating power is the lowest in class, and a sleep mode function can be invoked to reduce the power to a miniscule 3mW.
To facilitate ease of system integration, the ISL37231 provides advanced diagnostic capabilities in the form of loopback and high-resolution on-chip eye monitor functions, both accessed via a UART interface.
The ISL37231 is optimized to work in conjunction with the ISL80083 power management IC, however, it will also operate with appropriate discrete components (voltage regulators and a 33Mhz crystal oscillator).
Applications
- Thunderboltâ„¢ active cables
- Proprietary high-speed active cable assemblies


