Semtech Announces a New PHY IP Platform from its Snowbush IP Group that Supports JESD204B, CPRI and OBSAI

Silicon-Proven IP PHY platform implemented on TSMC’s 28nm HPM process also supports 10GBase-KR, CEI-11G and PCI-Express 3.0

CAMARILLO, Calif.-- July 18, 2013 --Semtech Corporation (Nasdaq: SMTC), a leading supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, today announced the availability of a multi-standard silicon IP (SiIP) PHY that supports the latest new standards for high-speed wireline and wireless networks. The new SBMULTR2T2812G SiIP PHY is silicon-proven and was developed by Semtech’s Snowbush IP Group, which is focused on designing high-speed serial interface IP.

The new platform supports JESD204B (JEDEC Standard), Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI™) and open base station architectural initiative (OBSAI). The IP also supports 10GBase-KR, CEI-11G and PCI-Express 3.0.

The SBMULTR2T2812G SiIP PHY is tuned to meet the performance of each standard through a programmable profile that sets a set of registers that control the operation of the PHY. The programmable register set controls key electrical operations and allows for post-silicon corrections to adjust to different operating environments. The PHY is available today in dual- and quad-lane versions. The platform supports advanced channel equalization and adaptation circuitry to optimize performance while using minimal power at each data rate and in the smallest silicon area.

The new PHY is currently being used by Texas Instruments in its base station devices. “Our team is using the Semtech-Snowbush IP PHY to support the serial standards in our KeyStone-based base station SoCs,” said Sanjive Agarwala, TI Fellow & Director of Worldwide Silicon Development for TI’s Processor business. “Semtech’s IP architecture is quite adaptable to our requirements and the effective integration support and project execution Semtech provided enabled us to quickly integrate their PHY into our SoCs, helping speed development time.”

The Semtech-Snowbush SBMULTR2T2812G SiIP PHY supports the three major enhancements in JESDB, a 12.5Gbps data rate, deterministic latency and harmonic clocking. These features differentiate JESDB from JESDA. The physical interface specification is compliant with the OIF Common Electrical Interface (CEI) 6G-SR at 6.25Gbps and CEI-11G-SR at 12.5Gbps.

The SiIP PHY from Semtech-Snowbush also supports the physical layer data rates of CPRI. CPRI is an industry organization cooperating to define an open and public specification for the key internal interfaces of radio base stations between the radio equipment control (REC) and the radio equipment (RE). The data-rate and electrical performance requirements for the physical layer for CPRI are programmable in the multi-standard PHY. Our other PHY, the SBMULTR2T28HPM, targets the higher data-rate standards of the specification.

The SBMULTR2T28HPM12G SiIP PHY can be programmed to handle the OIF layer 1 data rates of OBSAI. OBSAI was established so that base station companies can work together to define open standards for base station internal architecture and key interfaces. The Semtech-Snowbush IP PHY supports the data rates of OBSAI Reference Point 3 (RP3), version 4.2, Type 1 through Type 5.

Key Features of the SBMULTR2T28HPM12G SiIP PHY

Automatic calibration of key circuits to maximize yields
Programmable Tx driver adjusts amplitude, multi-tap pre-emphasis, and slew rate controls
Rx equalizer featuring CTLE with AGC and DFE for maximizing performance
Compact CMU includes fractional synthesis to support spread-spectrum clock generation and non-integer reference clock frequencies
Sophisticated power management modes for ultra-low power operation
Scope-on-a-chip eye monitor for on-chip performance observation
On-chip PRBS and user-defined pattern generators/checkers
Six separate loopback modes
On-chip periodic jitter injection
Analog DC test pad and digital status test bus
On-chip temperature sensor
AC JTAG, scan chains

Pricing and Availability

The SBMULTR2T28HPM12G is available immediately. Pricing depends on configuration and the number of instantiations on in a design. Contact sales@snowbush.com for additional details.

Semtech-Snowbush offers comprehensive integration assistance, including field- and factory-based support. Information about the SBMULTR2T28HPM12G and other SiIP products is available at www.snowbush.com

About Semtech

Semtech Corporation is a leading supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors for high-end consumer, computing, communications and industrial equipment. Products are designed to benefit the engineering community as well as the global community. The company is dedicated to reducing the impact it, and its products, have on the environment. Internal green programs seek to reduce waste through material and manufacturing control, use of green technology and designing for resource reduction. Publicly traded since 1967, Semtech is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol SMTC. For more information, visit http://www.semtech.com.