High-speed electrical backplane transmission using duobinary signaling

• Published in: IEEE transactions on microwave theory and techniques Vol. 53; no. 1; pp. 152 - 160
• Main Authors: Sinsky, J.H., Duelk, M., Adamiecki, A.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.01.2005; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Backplanes; Bandwidth; Bit error rate; Channels; Circuits; Connectors; correlative coding; Data communication; Data transmission; duobinary; equalization; Exact sciences and technology; Filters; Frequency response; High speed; high-speed data; Microwaves; Optical switches; PAM-4; pre-emphasis; Signal analysis; signal integrity; Systems, networks and services of telecommunications; Tasks; Telecommunications; Telecommunications and information theory; Transmission and modulation (techniques and equipments); PAM-4; Data transmission; Equalization; high-speed data; correlative coding; duobinary; pre-emphasis; Backplanes; NRZ code; High speed; Finite impulse response filter; Pulse amplitude modulation; Signal integrity
• ISSN: 0018-9480; 1557-9670
• DOI: 10.1109/TMTT.2004.839326

High-speed electrical data transmission through low-cost backplanes is a particularly challenging problem. We present for the first time a very effective approach that uses the concept of duobinary signaling to accomplish this task. Using a finite-impulse-response filter, we are able to compensate for the phase and amplitude response of the backplane such that the resulting frequency response of the channel is that of an ideal duobinary filter. At the output of the backplane, we use an innovative pseudodigital circuit to convert the electrical duobinary to binary. For 10-Gb/s data transmission, we demonstrate a bit error rate <10/sup -13/ through electrical backplane traces up to 34 in in length on FR4. A full discussion of the concept, system architecture, and measured results are presented. Analysis is presented that compares and contrasts this approach to PAM-4 and standard nonreturn-to-zero signaling.