LeCroy Introduces Industry Leading Serial Data Capture/Analysis Capability

Chestnut Ridge, NY For Immediate Release October 15, 2003 - LeCroy Corporation has upgraded its highly popular series of Serial Data Analyzers (SDA), with a new serial data trigger. The trigger allows the user of an SDA6000A (6 GHz signal capture bandwidth for data rates up to 3.5 Gbits/sec), SDA5000A (5 GHz signal capture bandwidth for data rates up to 2.5 Gbits/sec) and SDA3000A (3 GHz bandwidth for data rates up to 1.5 Gbits/sec) to trigger on bit streams with data rates up to 2.7 Gbits/sec. The new trigger is the fastest serial data pattern trigger in the oscilloscope industry. Designers of PCI-Express and other high speed serial data protocols will find a high degree of utility in the serial data trigger. Previous scopes, even those with front end analog bandwidth up to 7 GHz, could on trigger on bit patterns up to 1.25 Gbits—not helpful to engineers designing PCI-Express (2.5 Gbits) and other high speed standards. Outputs on the front panel allow this user to access the recovered clock and data signals which can be used with other instruments such as bit error rate test sets. Trigger patterns can be entered in either binary or hex and stored patterns can be recalled from files. The new serial data pattern trigger can also be added to previously delivered LeCroy SDA analyzers at a modest cost ($3495).

Many emerging high speed serial data protocols allow the use of multiple lanes for higher data density. The use of multiple channels allows for scalability by transmitting additional data over a number of links simultaneously. An important requirement for this type of circuit is that it be tested for lane to lane timing skew. The enhanced serial data trigger of the SDA allows this type of measurement to be made by triggering on the synchronization word (K28.5—a comma—for example) and measuring the timing of the appearance of this word in adjacent channels. Accurate lane to lane jitter/timing measurements are possible using the 20 GS/s sampling rate available when the SDA’s are used in 2 channel mode.

These products make it easy to accurately and reliably perform measurements on high speed serial data streams. A wide range of target applications include computer (and computer component) design/validation, testing of high speed differential electrical links and capture/analysis of optical signals (up to and including OC48). The SDA’s are designed with a unique user interface that makes the measurement process easy and incorporate LeCroy’s patent-pending X-StreamTM technology allowing engineers to conduct real time analysis on high-speed, complex data rates at up to 3.5 Gbits/sec. The SDA 6000A features a 20 GS/s maximum sampling rate, 6 GHz input bandwidth, industry leading timebase stability (1 ppm), long acquisition memory and is designed with a number of specialized analysis tools. In addition to locating signal degradation problems, it can also trace the problem back to its origin, allowing for the comprehensive analysis of serial data streams, telecommunications components, transceiver subassemblies and transmission systems. The SDA 5000A (and SDA 3000A) have many of the same features, with 5 GHz (and 3 GHz) bandwidth inputs. Optional accessories include optical to electrical converters and reference receivers with optical bandwidth above 4 GHz.

LeCroy has designed the SDA series specifically for analyzing the high data rates found in optical and high speed electrical serial data systems. It can conduct a number of measurements, including jitter, noise, duty cycle, overshoot, undershoot, extinction ratio, Q-factor, mean optical power, and amplitude. Mask testing of SONET/SDH, gigabit Ethernet, and other standards can also be conducted. Not only can these measurements be made accurately, they can be conducted 10 ~ 100 times faster than with any other similar type of digitizer based communications analyzer presently on the market.

• Serial Data Pattern Trigger
• Jitter and Timing Analysis Package
• Prolink Adapter SMA (4)
• Prolink BNC Adapter (2)
• SVGA touch screen
• CD ROM Drive
• Floppy Disk Drive
• Operator’s Manual
• Quick Reference Guide
• CDROM with Remote Control Manual, utilities and recovery software
• Protective Front cover
• SVGA video, 10/100BaseT, parallel and USB ports
• Optical 3 button wheel mouse
• 3 year warranty
• Performance certificate

Delivery is 6 weeks ARO on all products and on the retrofit upgrade.

Engineers who would like more information can call 800-4LECROY (800-453-2769) or visit www.lecroy.com.

LeCroy, a U.S. corporation established in 1964, designs, manufactures and markets digital storage oscilloscopes, analog oscilloscopes and waveform digitizer instrumentation. Manufacturing facilities are located at corporate headquarters in Chestnut Ridge, NY. Direct sales and service offices are located throughout the United States, in all major European countries, and throughout Asia.

Media contact: Patrick Brightman, SG&W (973) 263-5475

Editors' Technical contact: Dr. Michael Lauterbach, LeCroy (845) 578-6057

Customer contact: LeCroy Customer Care Center (800) 453-2769

Website: www.lecroy.com