Advanced Link Analyzer User Guide

Updated for Intel® Quartus® Prime Design Suite: 17.1

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 Contents

Contents

1 System Requirements and Installation Guide................................................................. 3

1.1 System Requirements............................................................................................ 3
1.2 Installation........................................................................................................... 4
1.3 Program and File Types.......................................................................................... 5
2 Functional Description.................................................................................................... 7
2.1 Advanced Link Analyzer Control Module.................................................................... 7
2.1.1 Constructing Communication Links in the Link Designer Module....................... 7
2.1.2 Link and Simulation Setting.......................................................................13
2.1.3 Transmitter Setting.................................................................................. 31
2.1.4 Receiver Setting...................................................................................... 53
2.1.5 IBIS-AMI Wrapper.....................................................................................73
2.1.6 Channel Setting....................................................................................... 74
2.1.7 Batch Channel Simulation Configuration...................................................... 82
2.1.8 Crosstalk Aggressor Transmitter Setting...................................................... 85
2.1.9 Repeater and Retimer Configurations........................................................... 90
2.1.10 Noise Source Link Component...................................................................98
2.1.11 System Options....................................................................................102
2.2 Advanced Link Analyzer Data Viewer Module..........................................................106
2.3 Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Viewer Module..................................................... 124
2.3.1 Channel Plot Panel..................................................................................127
2.3.2 Channel List Panel.................................................................................. 127
2.3.3 Plot Option Panel....................................................................................129
2.3.4 Output Options Panel............................................................................... 158
2.4 Advanced Link Analyzer Batch Simulation Controller............................................... 160
2.5 Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Designer.............................................................. 162
3 Tutorial: PCI Express 8GT........................................................................................... 186
3.1 Methodology.......................................................................................................186
3.2 Setup and Initialization........................................................................................ 190
3.2.1 Setting Up the Control Module.................................................................. 190
3.2.2 Constructing the Channel......................................................................... 194
3.2.3 Completing the System............................................................................ 197
3.3 Analysis............................................................................................................. 198
4 Document Revision History.......................................................................................... 208

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1 System Requirements and Installation Guide

Advanced Link Analyzer is a high-speed transceiver link simulation. When you design
high-speed, multi-gigabit transceiver links, you must ensure the end-to-end
performance from transmitter (TX) to receiver (RX) and all interconnects in between.

Advanced Link Analyzer's graphical user interface (GUI) and link simulator allow you
to quickly and easily set up and evaluate high-speed link performance early in your
design cycle. Advanced Link Analyzer also helps you identify possible issues in board
level design. With Advanced Link Analyzer, you can quickly estimate optimal link
equalization and other electrical parameter settings for transmitter and receiver. You
can also use Advanced Link Analyzer to predict link performance such as jitter and
noise at a small probability level.

1.1 System Requirements

Advanced Link Analyzer has the following minimum system requirements:
• Microsoft Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, Windows Server 2008
and Windows Server 2012
• 4 GB RAM
• 3 GB storage space
• Microsoft .NET Framework 4

Advanced Link Analyzer requires a Intel® Quartus® Prime software pro/standard

license to perform simulations, design channels, and view channel characteristics.
Contact your Intel sales representative or your system administrator if you have
questions regarding accessing the Intel Quartus Prime software pro/standard license.

Note: Advanced Link Analyzer 15.0 and older versions require a Quartus II subscription
license to perform simulations, design channels, and view channel characteristics.

Related Links
• Download Microsoft .NET Framework 4
• Download Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Library

Intel Corporation. All rights reserved. Intel, the Intel logo, Altera, Arria, Cyclone, Enpirion, MAX, Nios, Quartus
and Stratix words and logos are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other
countries. Intel warrants performance of its FPGA and semiconductor products to current specifications in ISO
accordance with Intel's standard warranty, but reserves the right to make changes to any products and services 9001:2008
at any time without notice. Intel assumes no responsibility or liability arising out of the application or use of any Registered
information, product, or service described herein except as expressly agreed to in writing by Intel. Intel
customers are advised to obtain the latest version of device specifications before relying on any published
information and before placing orders for products or services.
*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
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1.2 Installation
To install Advanced Link Analyzer, perform the following steps:
1. Acquire the Advanced Link Analyzer 17.1 Installation Package from the Intel
Download Center.
2. Execute the installation file to install Advanced Link Analyzer.
a. To improve the performance of the Advanced Link Analyzer 64-bit version in
Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008, the Advanced Link Analyzer Installer
asks for administration-level access rights to install additional Microsoft .NET
components.
b. If the installer cannot get administration-level access in Windows 7 and
Windows Server 2008, the installation installs both 32-bit and 64-bit Advanced
Link Analyzer components. You can install the additional .NET components
after installation when you can grant administration-level access to your
computer.
c. If the installer can acquire the administration-level access (given user
approval/acknowledge) in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008, the installer
automatically includes and installs the additional .NET components. The
installation process is much longer (can exceed ten minutes) than previous
Advanced Link Analyzer releases.
3. Execute Advanced Link Analyzer.exe to start Advanced Link Analyzer. The
Advanced Link Analyzer 17.1 release comes with both 32-bit and 64-bit
executables. 32-bit Advanced Link Analyzer is located in <Advanced Link Analyzer
Installation Directory>\bin and 64-bit Advanced Link Analyzer is in <Advanced
Link Analyzer Installation Directory>\bin64.

Advanced Link Analyzer requires a Intel Quartus Prime software pro/standard license
to perform simulations, design channels, and view channel characteristics. Contact
your Intel sales representative or your system administrator if you have questions
regarding accessing the Intel Quartus Prime software pro/standard license.

Note: Advanced Link Analyzer 15.0 and older versions require a Quartus II subscription
license to perform simulations, design channels, and view channel characteristics.

Advanced Link Analyzer automatically checks the license server specified in the
system environment variable “LM_LICENSE_FILE” for the required license. The license
checking configuration can be configured by editing the following entries in the
configuration file JNEye_Config.dat:
• %% LM_License_File_Name—License file name. If a license server is used, this
entry is ignored. The default value is na. Advanced Link Analyzer automatically
checks whether a license server exists. If a valid license server does not exist,
Advanced Link Analyzer checks the individual license file specified in this entry.
• %% LM_License_Feature_Name—The feature or type of license to be checked
out for Advanced Link Analyzer use. The default value is quartus.

When you execute Advanced Link Analyzer for the first time, Advanced Link Analyzer
may ask permission to create a Advanced Link Analyzer working directory at
<Advanced Link Analyzer Installation Directory>\GUI_Work.

Click Yes to use the default location. To use a different working directory, modify the
“%% GUIWorkDirectory” entry in JNEye_Config.dat.

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If you have problems running Advanced Link Analyzer after installing the program,
follow these instructions:
• Check whether the Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 library is on your system
— If you execute Advanced Link Analyzer in a system that does not have the
Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 library, you will get an error message.
— Download the Visual C++ 2013 library from the Microsoft web site and install
it.
Note: For 64-bit Windows operating systems, the 32-bit version of the Visual C
++ 2013 library is required for running the 32-bit version Advanced Link
Analyzer.
• Check whether Microsoft .NET Framework 4 is on your system
— If you execute Advanced Link Analyzer Release in a system that does not have
Microsoft .NET Framework 4, you will get an error message.
— Download .NET Framework 4.0 from the Microsoft web site and install it.
• 32-bit Windows: Execute dotNetFx40_Client_x86.exe
• 64-bit Windows: Execute dotNetFx40_Full_x86_x64.exe
— You may have to install Windows Imaging Component (WIC) before
installing .NET Framework 4. You can download WIC from the Microsoft web
site.

Related Links
Download Windows Imaging Component

1.3 Program and File Types

Advanced Link Analyzer comes with the following executable files:
• adv_link_analyzer.exe—Advanced Link Analyzer’s main user interface
• adv_link_analyzer_sim_eng.exe—Advanced Link Analyzer simulation engine
• adv_link_analyzer_sim_eng_console.exe—Advanced Link Analyzer
simulation engine (console version)
• adv_link_analyzer_data_viewer.exe—The Advanced Link Analyzer Data
Viewer displays simulation results
• adv_link_analyzer_channel_viewer.exe—The Advanced Link Analyzer
Channel Viewer displays channel characteristics
• adv_link_analyzer_batch_sim.exe—The Advanced Link Analyzer Batch
Simulation Controller runs simulations in batch mode
• adv_link_analyzer_channel_designer.exe—Advanced Link Analyzer’s
channel designer that generate S-parameter channel models for link simulations

Advanced Link Analyzer uses the following file extensions:

• .jne—Advanced Link Analyzer simulation configuration
• .jneschm—Advanced Link Analyzer simulation schematic configuration
• .jnetxdata, .jnerxdata, .jnedevdata, .jneledata, and others—Advanced
Link Analyzer internal data

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When you want to share a Advanced Link Analyzer link configuration, both .jne
and .jneschm files are needed for other users to reload the link configuration in their
Advanced Link Analyzer session. Make sure all other associated files, such as channel
model files and device model files, are included so that simulations can run correctly.
Advanced Link Analyzer provides limited backward compatibility with link configuration
files saved in previous versions.

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2 Functional Description

2.1 Advanced Link Analyzer Control Module

Double-click the adv_link_analyzer.exe icon to launch Advanced Link Analyzer.

Figure 1. Advanced Link Analyzer Control Module

2.1.1 Constructing Communication Links in the Link Designer Module

The Link Designer module allows you to construct communication links.

Intel Corporation. All rights reserved. Intel, the Intel logo, Altera, Arria, Cyclone, Enpirion, MAX, Nios, Quartus
and Stratix words and logos are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other
countries. Intel warrants performance of its FPGA and semiconductor products to current specifications in ISO
accordance with Intel's standard warranty, but reserves the right to make changes to any products and services 9001:2008
at any time without notice. Intel assumes no responsibility or liability arising out of the application or use of any Registered
information, product, or service described herein except as expressly agreed to in writing by Intel. Intel
customers are advised to obtain the latest version of device specifications before relying on any published
information and before placing orders for products or services.
*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
 2 Functional Description
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Figure 2. Advanced Link Analyzer Link Designer Module

Table 1. Supported Transmitter, Channel, and Receiver Components

Transmitter (TX) Component Channel/Link Component Receiver (RX) Component

Stratix® Channel Stratix

• Stratix V GX • Transmission • Stratix V GX
• Stratix V GT • Connector • Stratix V GT
• Intel Stratix 10 L-Tile • Package • Intel Stratix 10 L-Tile (Wrapper support)
• Intel Stratix 10 H-Tile Crosstalk • Intel Stratix 10 H-Tile (Wrapper support)
Arria® • Far-end Crosstalk Arria
• Arria V GZ • Near-end Crosstalk • Arria V GZ
• Intel Arria 10 GX/SX • Far-end Crosstalk w/ Aggressor • Intel Arria 10 GX/SX
• Intel Arria 10 GT • Near-end Crosstalk w/ Aggressor • Intel Arria 10 GT
Generic • Aggressor Transmission w/ Aggressor Generic
• Custom Channel Designer • Custom
• PCI Express* 8 GT • Stripline • PCI Express 8GT
• PCI Express 16 GT • Microstrip • PCI Express 16 GT
IBIS-AMI • Coax RLGC IBIS-AMI
• IBIS-AMI • Ideal Transmission Line • IBIS-AMI
Intel Cyclone® 10 • PCB Via Intel Cyclone 10
• Intel Cyclone 10 GX • Coupled Stripline • Intel Cyclone 10 GX
• Coupled Microstrip
• Channel Designer Module
• PCB Stackup
Basic Component
• AC Coupling Capacitor
• Shunt Capacitor
• Series Inductor
Link Component
• Repeater/Retimer TX
• Repeater/Retimer RX
• Noise Source w/ Channel

Advanced Link Analyzer supports the following simulations:

• Intel/Altera TX to Intel/Altera RX
• Intel/Altera TX to non-Intel/Altera RX
• Non-Intel/Altera TX to Intel/Altera RX

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Note: • Non-Intel/Altera to non-Intel/Altera link simulations are not supported.

• For Intel devices that are not listed in Table 1 on page 8, please contact your Intel
support team and acquire the IBIS-AMI models.
• Devices supported with Wrapper technology can be added, removed or updated to
Advanced Link Analyzer after the tool is installed. Please refer to section "IBIS-AMI
Wrapper" for further details.

A link consists of a transmitter, a receiver, and one or more channel/link components.

Select the transmitter, receiver, and channel/link components from the menus at the
top of the Link Designer workspace.

After the link components are placed into the workspace, click Connect to connect the
components. In connect mode, one or two connectors are shown on each component.
Connect the link components by dragging the line from one connector to another. Two
types of connections are provided in Link Designer: Right Angled Line and Straight
Line. Right Angled Line is the default connection method. Test points can be manually
placed into the link by clicking Test Point and connecting to the desired location in
the link.

The following rules of link construction apply to the Link Designer module:
• A transmitter can only have one output port or connector
• A receiver can only have one input port or connector
• A channel/link component has one input and one output port
• A test point can only be connected to an input port
• A connection between two components can be established from an output port to
an input port
• A transmitter cannot be connected directly to a receiver

A link establishment checking algorithm runs constantly in the background, checking

whether a link is established for simulations. When a link is established between a
transmitter and receiver, the link lines become bold and color-coded. Bold black lines
indicate signal paths, green lines indicate crosstalk signal paths, and purple lines point
to test point port locations. The following figure shows an example link topology. A
table of link components is displayed in the Channel tab for reference.

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Figure 3. Advanced Link Analyzer Link Designer with Channel Table

When a channel component (for example, a transmission line, connector, far-end

crosstalk (FEXT), near-end crosstalk (NEXT), package, AC coupling capacitor, or shunt
capacitor) is chosen, the Channel Wizard helps you verify or set the channel
configuration.

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Figure 4. Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Wizard

The Channel Wizard displays the channel characteristics and allows you to verify the
correctness of the channel component, such as a component represented by an S-
parameter. The Channel Wizard allows you to select the following components:
• channel type
• port configuration
• signal lanes (for multiple-lane S-parameters with eight and more ports)
• crosstalk aggressor location (for multiple-lane S-parameters)
• aggressor
• series inductance value (in nH)
• AC coupling capacitor value (in nF)
• shunt capacitance value (in pF)

The Channel Wizard checks the integrity of the channel component in terms of
passivity and causality characteristics. When the Channel Wizard detects passivity and
causality violations, it displays messages about the severeness of the violations in the
text box on the left of the OK button. The levels of channel integrity violation are
listed in the following tables. Advanced Link Analyzer provides the option to enforce or
improve causality of the selected channel during a simulation when the Enforce
Causality check box is turned on.

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Note: Channel integrity checking can be disabled or bypassed by setting Channel Integrity
Check in the System Options window. We have found that Advanced Link Analyzer's
Channel Integrity Checking algorithm is compatible and reliable for majority of
channels. However, we also saw some exceptions, such as a S-parameter with an
extensive amount of measurement noise across frequencies, that can lead to
computation convergence issues. If this is the case, please disable Channel Integrity
Checking.

Table 2. Channel Passivity Check Results and Recommendations

Passivity Violation Check Results Impact on Link Simulation Accuracy Recommendations

No Passivity Violation No impact No action needed

Slight Passivity Violation There may not be a noticeable effect in The channel model can be further
the simulation result improved but the improvement in
terms of simulation results accuracy
can be small.

Minor Passivity Violation There may be a noticeable effect in the The channel model can be further
simulation result improved. Simulation result accuracy
can be reduced.

Passivity Violation Simulation result will be impacted The channel model needs to be
regenerated (by design tools) or re-
taken (by instruments). The confidence
of simulation results using this channel
model is low.

Table 3. Channel Causality Check Results and Recommendations

Causality Violation Check Results Impact on Link Simulation Accuracy Recommendations

Channel is causal No impact No action needed

Slight non-causal There may not be a noticeable effect in The channel model can be further
the simulation result improved but the improvement in
terms of simulation results accuracy
can be small.

Somewhat non-causal There may be a noticeable effect in the The channel model can be further
simulation result improved. Simulation result accuracy
can be reduced.

Non-causal Simulation result will be impacted The channel model needs to be

regenerated (by design tools) or re-
taken (by instruments). The confidence
of simulation results using this channel
model is low.

To select another S-parameter within the Channel Wizard, click Change Channel.

Note: Intel recommends that you replace or change a channel with one of the same channel
type. Link Designer allows channel changing with different channel types, but you
might see inconsistent channel icons in the design workspace.

An existing channel can be changed by adding a new channel component or by

modifying an existing channel component. Right-click in the Link designer module and
select Properties.

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When using the package channel component, follow these guidelines:

• Package models should be placed next to the devices.
• Each device can have only one package model. Therefore, the external package
model can only be used when the device’s package type is “Custom”.
• The package model type is used by the simulation engine to identify the boundary
of the devices and generate a waveform for observation and analysis.
• The package model is treated the same way as the “Transmission” channel type.
Therefore, use the “Transmission” channel type even if the model represents a
physical package (in your system) but it is not a package of the TX and RX.

Related Links
IBIS-AMI Wrapper on page 73

2.1.2 Link and Simulation Setting

The Link and Simulation Setting tab sets the global link parameters and simulation
configurations.

Figure 5. Link and Simulation Setting Tab

The Link and Simulation Setting dialog box contains the following fields.

Data Rate

Link data rate is specified in Gbps.

Simulation Length

Simulation length is specified in the number of bits running at the specified data rate.
Simulation length should be at least 4096 bits. Intel recommends that the length is a
power-of-2 factor for the best computation efficiency. The simulation length does not
apply in Statistical mode.

Note: Simulation length is adjusted automatically to the closest power-of-2 factor.

Target BER

Target bit error rate (BER) is used to calculate the jitter and noise at low BER
conditions. If the simulation length is greater than the inverse of the target BER, the
link performance is directly assessed and calculated. If the simulation length is shorter
than the inverse of the specified target BER, Advanced Link Analyzer uses specific

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methodology and algorithms to calculate the link performance. The methodology of

jitter and noise at low BER can be found in HST Jitter and BER Estimator Tool User
Guide for Stratix IV GT and GX Devices.

Test Pattern

Allows you to specify the test pattern used in the simulation. The following test
patterns are available:
• PRBS-7, PRBS-9, PRBS-11, PRBS-15, PRBS-23, and PRBS-31
— The PRBS test patterns are generated using Advanced Link Analyzer’s built-in
pattern generator.
— If the whole PRBS pattern is shorter than the simulation length, the PRBS
pattern is inverted and repeated. The inversion is applied to achieve DC
balance of the generated PRBS test pattern.
— If the PRBS patterns are longer than the simulation length, a partial test
pattern of the PRBS pattern is used. The default initial condition of PRBS test
pattern generation is with logic 1s in all shift registers for the valid PRBS
patterns.
— The most commonly used PRBS test patterns are listed in the Test Pattern
menu. Other PRBS test pattern can be selected or configured in the Pattern
Designer.

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• Pattern Designer—Allows you to specify your own custom test patterns. The
following figure shows the Pattern Designer user interface.

Figure 6. Advanced Link Analyzer Pattern Designer

The Pattern Designer includes the following test pattern generation methods:
— PRBS—Provides an extensive list of common PRBS test patterns. You can also
specify custom PRBS polynomials and seeds. The internal linear feedback shift
register (LFSR) engine uses the information to generate the desired test
pattern. Other options include selecting how the test pattern is repeated or
extracted when the simulation length is longer or shorter than the generated
test patterns. There are two options for selecting the partial test patterns:
• Use First Part of Generated PRBS Sequence
• Include Longest Run-Length Bit Sequence—The longest run-length
test pattern will be located at the ending portion of the test bit sequence.
— Consecutive Bit Patterns—Defines the test patterns with repeating patterns.
— Clock—Generates a clock-like pattern.
— All 1's—Generates an all-ones test pattern that usually feeds into a coder or
scrambler.
— All 0's—Generates an all-zeros test pattern that usually feeds into a coder or
scrambler.
— Encoder and Scrambler—Advanced Link Analyzer supports the following
encoders and scramblers: 8B/10B, 64B/66B, 64B/67B, and 128B/130B.

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• Custom—Click the open-file dialog button to select a custom test pattern file.

Figure 7. Custom Test Pattern File Browser Button

The custom pattern files are in the following formats:

— Hexadecimal—Hexadecimal strings start with 0x. For example, a PRBS-7 test
pattern can be specified by 0x8cd501fbe7ae1ba62b05e3b64a4272d0. The
custom file name must have a .hex extension.
— Binary—Binary strings have a format such as "001000111…". Blank
characters and new lines/returns are allowed in the input binary string file.
The custom file name must have a .bin extension.
Note: The custom test pattern has a maximum text length of 262,142 characters
(about 1M bits with a hexadecimal text format or about 246K bits with a
binary text format). Intel recommends that the test pattern string
(hexadecimal or binary) is specified in a single row without spaces,
especially for long custom test patterns. If a custom test pattern is input
with multiple lines of text, the line returns or end-of-line control characters
on each line of text are counted as an item or entry by the text parser.

Modulation Scheme

Advanced Link Analyzer support NRZ and PAM4 modulation schemes. Choose PAM4
only when the device supports it.

Forward Error Correction (FEC)

FEC is a coding scheme that encodes the data pattern with additional code words that
can help the receiver to recover bit errors. Intel Intel Arria 10 and Intel Stratix 10
devices support FEC schemes. In Advanced Link Analyzer 17.1, the FireCode, Reed-
Solomon RS (528, 514), and RS (544, 514) FEC model are supported. When FEC is
enabled, Advanced Link Analyzer will produce additional FEC related results. The
default FEC setting is Off.

Reference Clock

Specifies the reference clock that feeds into the transmitter. The supported clock
frequencies are shown in MHz. By default, the reference is assumed to be ideal
without any noise or jitter. You can configure and specify the reference clock
characteristics by clicking Reference Clock Option.

The reference clock can be fed to a transmitter with or without enabling a phase-
locked loop (PLL) module. When the transmitter PLL is disabled or not present, the
reference clock noise and jitter directly affects the serial output signal.

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With integer PLLs, Advanced Link Analyzer supports an integer divider ratio between
the data rate and the reference clock frequency. If the ratio is not an integer, the
reference clock frequency is rounded to the closest integer-divided-ratio frequency.
The actual reference clock frequency used in the simulation is displayed in the
message box next to the pull-down menu. With fractional-N PLLs, fractional divider
ratios are allowed.

In the simulation with specific transmitter devices, such as Intel Arria 10 GX/SX/GT,
Stratix V GT, Stratix V GX, and Arria V GZ devices, the supported data rate to
reference clock divider ratios are limited. If a specific combination of data rate, PLL
divider ratio, and reference clock frequency cannot be found, the reference clock used
in the simulation can be further adjusted.

The reference clock frequencies listed are commonly used in most serial link protocols.
If you cannot find the exact reference clock frequency from the list, you can add your
reference clock frequency with the following procedure:
1. Close Advanced Link Analyzer.
2. Navigate to the Advanced Link Analyzer installation directory. Typically, Advanced
Link Analyzer is installed in C:\intelFPGA\17.1\adv_link_analyzer\.
3. Under the Database folder, find RefCLK_List.jnetxdata.
4. Edit the file by adding your desired reference clock frequencies.
5. Save the change and exit the editor.
6. Restart Advanced Link Analyzer.

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Reference Clock Option

The reference clock option user interface allows you to configure the characteristics of
the reference clock used in the simulation. The reference clock can be specified with
the following methods:
• Ideal Reference Clock—With this setting, the reference clock is ideal without
any noise or jitter.

Figure 8. Ideal Reference Clock Setting

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• Option 1: Reference Clock Jitter

Figure 9. Reference Clock Option 1: Reference Clock Jitter

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Option 1 configures the reference clock with the following options:

• Random Jitter— Specify the frequency range (in ps).
Note: Intel recommends that the maximum frequency range (fMAX) of the phase
noise be set to the reference clock frequency. If the fMAX is less than the
reference clock frequency, Advanced Link Analyzer uses linear extrapolation
to calculate the phase noise at fMAX, which can lead to inaccurate results.
• Periodic Jitter Type—Specify the shape profile, frequency (in Hz), and amplitude
(in ps). The shape profile can be:
— Triangle
— Hershey with programmable Hershey shape parameter
— Sharkfin with programmable Sharkfin shape parameter
— Sinusoidal
• Spurs—Specify clock spectrum spurs with individual frequency (in Hz) and
amplitude (in dBc). For example, if the reference clock has three spurs: –110 dBc
at 100 KHz, –90 dBc at 1 MHz, and –80 dBc at 10 MHz, you can input the
following text into the Spurs text box:
100e3 -110
1e6 -90
10e6 -80

• Spur Phase Offset

Use the Spur Phase Offset pull-down menu to configure the initial phase of spur
noises. The options are:
— Auto—Advanced Link Analyzer automatically selects the default initial spur
noise phase. The default initial spur phase is 0 rad.
— Random—Advanced Link Analyzer randomly sets the initial spur noise phases.
— Zero—Advanced Link Analyzer sets the initial spur noise phase to 0 rad.
— Specified—You can manually specify the initial spur phase individually by
adding the phase value after the amplitude value. The following example
shows the initial spur noise phases are 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 rad.
100e3 -110 1.0
1e6 -90 2.0
10e6 -80 3.0

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• Option 2: Phase Noise

Figure 10. Reference Clock Option 2: Phase Noise

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Option 2 configures the reference clock with the following options:

• Phase Noise—Specify reference clock jitter using a phase noise profile. Reference
clock phase noise is specified with the noise power spectrum described with
frequency and amplitude. The above figure demonstrates a phase noise profile
with a measured reference clock phase noise data set.
Note: Intel recommends that the maximum frequency range (fMAX) of the phase
noise be set to the reference clock frequency. If the fMAX is less than the
reference clock frequency, Advanced Link Analyzer uses linear extrapolation
to calculate the phase noise at fMAX, which can lead to inaccurate results.
• Spurs—Specify clock spectrum spurs with individual frequency (in Hz) and
amplitude (in dBc). For example, if the reference clock has three spurs: –80 dBc
at 100 KHz, –90 dBc at 1 MHz, and –96 dBc at 10 MHz, you can input the
following text into the text box:
100e3 -80
1e6 -90
10e6 -96

• Spur Phase Offset—Same as in Option 1 Reference Clock Jitter.

• Periodic Jitter Type—Same as in Option 1 Reference Clock Jitter.
• Plot / Update Plot—You can plot the input phase noise and spurs in the plotting
area and confirm the reference clock characteristics.

Link Optimization Method

Advanced Link Analyzer can find optimal transmitter and receiver equalization settings
with a user-specified link configuration.

Note: The TX/RX joint link optimization function is supported for all of Advanced Link
Analyzer's native Intel device models: Stratix V GX/GT, Arria V GZ, Intel Arria 10
GX/SX/GT, and Custom transmitter/receiver. Link optimization support for IBIS-AMI
models is limited.

Table 4. Link Operation Modes Supported by Advanced Link Analyzer

Transmitter Mode Receiver Mode Notes

Manual Manual Both TX and RX equalizations are manually set.

Auto / Manual Advanced Link Analyzer finds optimal TX equalization setting. RX

Auto with Manual EQ setting is manually set.
Starting Point

Manual Auto TX EQ is manually set. Advanced Link Analyzer finds optimal RX EQ

setting.

Auto / Auto Advanced Link Analyzer finds both TX and RX EQ settings.

Auto with Manual
Starting Point

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Advanced Link Analyzer has four link optimization methods for finding the optimal link
setting, such as a transmitter pre-emphasis and receiver CTLE and DFE with a given
link configuration.
• FIR=>CTLE=>DFE— (default) Optimizes the link performance by finding the
optimal transmitter setting, receiver equalization setting, or both. This method
prioritizes the transmitter equalization, such as pre-emphasis, de-emphasis, or
FIR-based, over receiver equalization schemes. However, the optimization
algorithm is also capable of detecting and utilizing optimal receiver equalization.
In practice, this usually implies that most of the "heavy-lifting" in channel
compensation is performed by the transmitter equalization.
• FIR=>CTLE+DFE—Extends the FIR=>CTLE=>DFE method by enabling RX DFE
(Decision Feedback Equalizer) when RX optimization is performed. This method
exploits DFE capabilities by possibly reducing the channel compensation from CTLE
(depending on the channel characteristics).
• CTLE=>FIR=>DFE—Prioritizes the receiver's CTLE capability over the
transmitter's equalization. Most of the channel compensation is performed by the
receiver's CTLE while the TX equalization provides additional compensation if
needed. RX DFE is adapted in the final stage. This method is supported in non-
IBIS-AMI devices. For Intel transmitters, you can manually set initial TX FIR
configurations so the link optimizations can yield better solutions with shorter
simulation time when the initial conditions are proper.
• CTLE=>FIR+DFE—Extends the CTLE= FIR=>DFE method by joint-optimizing
TX pre-emphasis/FIR and RX DFE. This method allows co-optimization between
the TX FIR and RX DFE. For Intel transmitters, you can manually set the initial TX
FIR configurations so the link optimizations can yield better solutions more quickly
when the initial conditions are proper.
• CTLE=>FIR=>CTLE=>DFE—Extends the CTLE=>FIR=>DFE method by
performing an additional CTLE adaptation stage after FIR setting is found.
• CTLE=>FIR+DFE=>CTLE+DFE—Extends the CTLE=>FIR+DFE method by
performing an additional CTLE+DFE adaptation stage.

Use the following guidelines for choosing the best link optimization method:
• FIR=>CTLE=>DFE is a good choice for most applications or channels for time
efficient link optimizations. It is the default link optimization method in Advanced
Link Analyzer.
• For heavy insertion loss channels such as when insertion loss > 25 dB at Nyquist
frequency, FIR=>CTLE=>DFE provides good coverage.
• For strong impedance discontinuities, CTLE=>FIR=>DFE and CTLE=>FIR=>
CTLE=>DFE methods provide better performance in general.
• For large crosstalk noises, choose FIR=>CTLE+DFE for high loss channels or
CTLE=>FIR+DFE and CTLE=>FIR+DFE=>CTLE+DFE for moderate loss
applications.

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Notes:
• Advanced Link Analyzer supports link optimization for selected IBIS-AMI models
for the link optimization modes and the methods shown above. Refer to the IBIS-
AMI model support sections for details.
• For a transmitter equalization sweep simulation, Advanced Link Analyzer provides
batch simulation capability using the Advanced Link Analyzer Batch
Simulation Controller tool. Refer to the Advanced Link Analyzer Batch
Simulation Controller section for details.

FOM of Link Optimization

Use this menu to select the figure of merit (FOM) for optimizing the serial link. There
are three options: Area, Width, and Height. The signal conditioning mechanisms,
which include transmitter pre-emphasis, de-emphasis, and receiver equalizers, use
these selections to optimize the waveform so that it has the best eye diagram opening
in terms of area, width, or height.

Note: For PAM4 link simulations, Intel recommends to use Height as the FOM to get better
results.

Compliance Mask

Advanced Link Analyzer plots link compliance eye diagram masks after the simulations
are completed. Use a compliance mask to examine whether the waveform or eye
diagram meets the receiver's requirements at certain conditions (such as BER target).
PCI Express 8GT receiver eye masks are provided.

Notes:
• Device intrinsic jitter can be included in the link simulation by using the
Characterization Data Access function in Advanced Link Analyzer. When both
transmitter and receiver jitter are extracted from the Characterization Data Access
and included in the simulation, the simulation results at the end of the link
represent the link margin at the specified bit error rate (BER) target. Link margin
simulation using transmitter and receiver jitter provides better accuracy than the
conventional eye mask method.

Eye Diagram Mask Designer

Advanced Link Analyzer supports custom eye diagram mask definitions at various
locations within a link. When the Eye Diagram Mask Designer option is selected,
the custom eye diagram mask configuration window opens. You can then specify the
dimension of the eye diagram mask. The custom eye diagram mask is used in the
simulation. Two eye diagram mask types are supported. Four different eye diagram
masks cane be specified for transmitter output, channel output, receiver CTLE output,
and link/receiver output. Each eye diagram mask can be individually configured and
enabled.

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Figure 11. Hexagon-Shaped Eye Diagram Mask Editor

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Figure 12. Diamond-Shaped Eye Diagram Mask Editor

A custom eye diagram mask can be saved and loaded for future use.

Project Name

A user-defined name for the current task/project. Currently, the session name is the
saved user configuration file name when the simulation configuration is saved.

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Notes:
• The simulation results are automatically written to a directory with the same
project name.
• The location of the output directory can be configured as one of the following:
— The same location as the project configuration file (.jne/.jneschm) (this is the
default).
— A location you specify in the System options. Refer to the System Options
section for details.
• Intel recommends that there should be no space (or bland) characters in the
project name.

Simulation Mode

Advanced Link Analyzer provides three simulation modes (statistical, full waveform,
and hybrid) to meet your simulation and link analysis preferences and needs. Hybrid
mode is the default.

Table 5. Simulation Modes

PDF = Probability Density Function

Statistical Mode Full Waveform Mode Hybrid Mode (Default)

Simulation Method Statistical Method Time-domain Method Time-domain and Statistical

Methods

Jitter Injection and Statistical Domain (PDF-based) Time Domain Mixed Domain (Time Domain
Simulation and PDF-based)

Noise Injection and Statistical Domain (PDF-based) Time Domain Mixed Domain (Time Domain
Simulation and PDF-based)

Simulation Speed Fast Slow Optimal

(to meet your specified BER
target)

Accuracy Lower Best Optimal

Recommended Simulation N/A (You do not need to >500,000 bits ~60,000 bits
Length specify simulation length in
statistical mode.)

Further information and comparisons among the three simulation modes can be found
in the following papers:
1. Comparison of Two Statistical Methods for High-Speed Serial Link Simulation by
M. Shimanouchi, M. Li, and H. Wu. DesignCon, 2013, Santa Clara, CA.
2. Advancements in High-Speed Link Modeling and Simulation by M. Li, M.
Shimanouchi, and H. Wu. IEEE Custom Integrated Circuits Conference, 2013.
3. High-Speed Link Simulation Strategy for Meeting Ultra Long Data Pattern under
Low BER Requirements by H. Wu, M. Shimanouchi, and M. Li, DesignCon, 2014,
Santa Clara, CA.

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Output Options
• Data Viewer—When simulation is complete, a new Advanced Link Analyzer Data
Viewer opens and the results are shown. The simulation results can be loaded and
viewed at a later time with Advanced Link Analyzer Data Viewer.
• Data Viewer with Image Output—When simulation is complete, all the
simulation results are also saved as image files that can be used in
documentation. Advanced Link Analyzer supports three image output options:
PNG, JPEG, and GIF. The saved images are located in the same directory as the
simulation results for each project.

Test Point Options

Advanced Link Analyzer provides the following default test point options:
• Data Latch Only—Simulation results at the data latch will be saved and
displayed. Data latch can be at DFE output, CTLE output, or input stage of receiver
depending on the link or device configuration. Custom test points will be neglected
and the simulation results at test points will not be shown.
Note: For simulation length longer that 1 million bits, it is suggested to use Data
Latch Only mode to reduce overall simulation time.
• TX/Channel/CTLE-/DFE-Latch—Advanced Link Analyzer automatically sets up
to four test points for the link:
— Transmitter output—(default option) If a transmitter package model is
present (for example, the package model is embedded, as in Intel devices and
PCI Express 8GT) or external (for example, using the "Custom" package
option), the output appears after the package model. If no package model is
present, the output appears at the transmitter output.
— Channel output—The second test point is at the end of channels.
— CTLE output—If you enable the receiver CTLE, the third test point is at the
output of the CTLE.
— DFE output—The fourth test point is at the output of the receiver DFE.
Note: Custom test points are neglected with this test point option.
• Custom Test Point and Data Latch—Advanced Link Analyzer plots the output at
custom test points and the final data latch point.

Probe Type

Advanced Link Analyzer provides two type of probes:

• Ideal—With an ideal probe, the waveform, signal, or eye diagram is plotted by
assuming that the link is terminated with an ideal 50 ohms termination at the
probe location.
• High-Impedance—With a high-impedance probe, the waveform, signal, or eye
diagram is plotted by emulating a high-impedance probe sensing the probe
location.

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Jitter Analysis Options

Advanced Link Analyzer can perform jitter decomposition and analysis on a waveform
at specified test points. The jitter analysis feature is in the beta testing stage in the
Advanced Link Analyzer 17.1 release.
• Disable—Jitter analysis is disabled.
• Jitter Component—Using proprietary algorithms, Advanced Link Analyzer
performs a series of spectrum and probability density function (PDF) analyses on
the time-interval-error (TIE) record of the simulated waveforms. The jitter
decomposition algorithms extract various jitter components as shown in the
following figure.

Figure 13. Jitter Component Supported in Advanced Link Analyzer Jitter Analysis
Feature

The jitter decomposition process (conceptual) is shown in the following figure.

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Figure 14. Jitter Decomposition Process (Conceptual)

In Advanced Link Analyzer 17.0, the following jitter components are extracted and
reported:
• PJ—Periodic jitter (peak-peak)
• DCD—Duty cycle distortion (peak-peak)
• ISI—Inter-symbol interference (peak-peak)
• BUJ—Bounded uncorrelated jitter (peak-peak)
• RJ-RMS—Random jitter (RMS)

Note: In Advanced Link Analyzer 17.1, jitter analysis is available in Hybrid simulation mode
only.

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Related Links
• Advanced Link Analyzer Batch Simulation Controller on page 160
• HST Jitter and BER Estimator Tool User Guide for Stratix IV GT and GX Devices

2.1.3 Transmitter Setting

The transmitter generates signals based on the transmitter clock and test pattern
conditions.

Figure 15. Advanced Link Analyzer Transmitter Settings

Transmitter

The following transmitter types are supported:

• Stratix V GX
• Stratix V GT
• Intel Stratix 10 L-Tile
• Intel Stratix 10 H-Tile
• Arria V GZ
• Intel Arria 10 GX/SX
• Intel Arria 10 GT
• Intel Cyclone 10 GX
• IBIS-AMI
• Custom
• PCI Express 8 GT
• PCI Express 16 GT

The transmitter type determines what other transmitter settings you can select. When
a transmitter is chosen, it is automatically inserted into the Link Designer, ready to
connect to other link components.

Package

Select a package type for the transmitter device. For Intel products and IBIS-AMI
models, the package models are included in the device models. For Custom devices,
the package model is specified in the channel setting. When you select the Custom
package type (for any transmitter devices), the embedded package model (if
available) is disabled. You can then add a channel component (such as an S-

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parameter) with type Package in the Link Designer workspace. The Custom package
model must be placed next to the transmitter module so it can be simulated and
analyzed correctly. If you choose the Custom package type but do not add a channel
component with Package type to the Link Designer workspace, the transmitter is
simulated without any package model.

Advanced Link Analyzer comes with the following transmitter package models:
• Stratix V GX
• Stratix V GT
• Arria V GZ
• Intel Arria 10 GX/SX
Options: Additional package models (shown in the following figure) are available
for Intel Arria 10 devices. The package model is specified as its trace length inside
the package. These models are chosen to cover the range of package trace
lengths in Intel Arria 10 transceiver transmitters.
— Default—The default package model is the same as the 14 mm option
— 14mm
— 16.5mm
— 20mm
— 24mm
Contact your Intel representative if you would like to know how to pair your design
with the Intel Arria 10 package model options.

Figure 16. Intel Arria 10 Transmitter Package Options

• Intel Stratix 10 L-Tile—Typical, Min, and Max package models are provided
• Intel Arria 10 GT—Same options as Intel Arria 10 GX/SX
• PCI Express 8GT
• Stratix 10 H-Tile— Same options as Stratix 10 L-Tile
• Intel Cyclone 10 GX— Options: 3 package models are included: Typ/Min/Max

VOD Selection

Select the VOD (differential output voltage) for the transmitter. VOD selections can be
either by voltage level or by index, depending on the transmitter selected. For
supported devices, the target VOD value is displayed in the Transmitter tab page. The
VOD value depends on the device type, supply voltage, and PVT.

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Slew Rate

Select the transmitter output signal slew rate. Slew rate options are available for
selected devices. For details, refer to the associated transceiver user guides.

Pre-Emphasis

Select or specify the transmitter pre-emphasis, de-emphasis, or TX-FIR configuration

in one of the following modes:
• Auto—Advanced Link Analyzer uses its link optimization algorithm to find the
optimal transmitter FIR settings.
• Auto with Manual Starting Point—Specify the initial TX pre-emphasis or FIR
configuration. Advanced Link Analyzer’s link optimization engine uses the TX
settings as initial conditions.
• Manual—For non-Intel devices, you can manually input the tap coefficients. For
Intel devices, select individual FIR levels from the menus for each FIR tap. The FIR
selection for Intel devices is VOD dependent. Therefore, changing the VOD or
device type can reset the TX FIR menu contents. For a generic transmitter type, a
set of typical FIR coefficients is included in the pull-down menu.
• Off

Estimated TX EQ AC Gain

Select pre-tap and post-tap values to estimate the AC gain in dB scale. The TX EQ AC
gain is calculated as the gain between the DC (0 Hz) and the Nyquist frequency of the
link. This gain assumes a FIR type of transmitter pre-emphasis scheme and an ideal
transmitter output waveform..

Note: This is a rough analytical estimate of TX EQ AC gain that may differ from the actual AC
gain generated by the transmitter.

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PLL Type and Bandwidth

Select the type and bandwidth of the PLL used in the transmitter to generate the
transmitter clock.
• Ideal Clock—The default PLL setting. The PLL is disabled and the clock is passed
from the external reference clock.
• For Intel transmitters, PLL models and configurations are automatically set
based on the following settings:
— Data rate
— Reference clock frequency
— Oscillator type:
• Stratix V GX and Arria V GZ—ATX (LC) or CMU
• Stratix V GT—ATX (LC)
• Intel Arria 10 GX/SX/GT—ATX (LC), Fractional PLL, or CMU
• Intel Stratix 10 10 L-Tile—ATX (LC), Fractional PLL, or CMU
• Intel Stratix 10 H-Tile— ATX (LC), Fractional PLL, and CMU
• Intel Cyclone 10 GX— ATX (LC), Fractional PLL, or CMU
— PLL bandwidth
— Intel transmitter PLL configurations such as internal divider ratios
Intel recommends that you follow Intel’s reference clock selection and PLL
configurations recommendations when setting up the transmitter PLL. Without
following the reference clock and PLL guidelines, you might operate and simulate
an unstable PLL and see unexpected results.
• For Custom transmitters, PLL models and configuration are set automatically
based on settings similar to that of Intel PLLs while more comprehensive PLL
configuration capabilities are under development. With custom transmitters, the
VCO can be either LC type or ring oscillator (Ring) type. More PLL to reference
clock divider ratios are supported in the custom PLL type. Follow Intel's PLL and
reference clock guidelines when setting up transmitter PLLs to avoid unexpected
results.
• PLL is currently not supported for native IBIS-AMI transmitters.

Supply Voltage

For supported devices, you can choose the supply voltage.

Intel Arria 10 GX/SX/GT

• 0.95 V (Intel Arria 10 GX/SX/GT)
• 1.03 V (Intel Arria 10 GX/SX/GT)
• 1.12 V (Intel Arria 10 GT)

Intel Stratix 10 L-Tile

• 1.03 V
• 1.12 V

Intel Stratix 10 H-Tile

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• 1.03 V
• 1.12 V

Intel Cyclone 10 GX
• 0.95 V
• 1.03 V

Vcm

Vcm is the common voltage of the transmitted signal.

Scope Option

Advanced Link Analyzer has four options for TX output scope emulation:
• Default
• BW = Data Rate / 1667 (default value)
• BW = 4 MHz
• Disable

PVT

Select the process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) models for the selected
transmitter device. PVT model support varies depending on device type, device data
availability, and model coverage. A message is shown on the Transmitter tab page to
indicate the PVT model coverage. Transmitter PVT model coverage and conditions are
shown in the following table.

Table 6. Transmitter PVT Model Coverage

Transmitter Type Waveform PVT Model Jitter/Noise PVT Model

Stratix V GX Typical Process: Typical/Fast/Slow Voltage: Typical/

High/Low Temperature: –40°C to 100°C

Arria V GZ Typical Process: Typical/Fast/Slow Voltage: Typical/

High/Low Temperature: –40°C to 100°C

Stratix V GT Typical Process: Typical/Fast/Slow Voltage: Typical/

High/Low Temperature: 0°C to 100°C

Intel Arria 10 GX/SX Typical/Fast/Slow Slow

Intel Arria 10 GT Typical/Fast/Slow Slow

Intel Stratix 10 L-Tile Typical/Fast/Slow Slow

Intel Stratix 10 H-Tile Typical/Fast/Slow Slow

Intel Cyclone 10 GX Typical/Fast/Slow Slow

IBIS-AMI Provide by IBIS-AMI model Provide by IBIS-AMI model

Custom None None

PCI Express 8GT None None

PCI Express 16GT None None

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Temp Range

For Arria 10, the device model have temperature range dependency. The temperature
range for Industrial is -40C to 105C, 0C tp 105C for Extended, and -40C to 105C for
Automotive. The default setting is Industrial temperature range.

Advanced Link Analyzer to Intel Quartus Prime Parameter Translation for

Intel Arria 10 GX/SX/GT Transmitters

The following table provides a translation from Advanced Link Analyzer Intel Arria 10
GX/SX/GT transmitter parameter names to the equivalent Intel Quartus Prime
parameter names. Use the Intel Quartus Prime software to transfer optimum device
settings from a Advanced Link Analyzer simulation to an actual device configuration.

Table 7. Advanced Link Analyzer to Intel Quartus Prime Parameter Translation for
Intel Arria 10 GX/SX/GT and Intel Stratix 10 L-Tile Transmitters, Intel
Cyclone 10 GX
Advanced Link Analyzer Name Intel Quartus Prime Name

Vod Selection Transmitter Output Swing Level

Post-Tap 1 (1) Transmitter Pre-Emphasis First Post-Tap Magnitude

Post-Tap 2 (1) Transmitter Pre-Emphasis Second Post-Tap Magnitude

Pre-Tap 1 (1) Transmitter Pre-Emphasis First Pre-Tap Magnitude

Pre-Tap 2 (1) Transmitter Pre-Emphasis Second Pre-Tap Magnitude

Sign of Post-Tap 1 (1) Transmitter Pre-Emphasis First Post-Tap Polarity (2)

Sign of Post-Tap 2 (1) Transmitter Pre-Emphasis Second Post-Tap Polarity (2)

Sign of Pre-Tap 1 (1) Transmitter Pre-Emphasis First Pre-Tap Polarity (2)

Sign of Pre-Tap 2 (1) Transmitter Pre-Emphasis Second Pre-Tap Polarity (2)

PLL Type Intel Quartus Prime PLL Type

• ATX(LC) • Intel Arria 10 Transceiver ATX PLL
• Fractional PLL • Intel Arria 10 fPLL
• CMU • Intel Arria 10 Transceiver CMU PLL

Slew Rate XCVR_A10_TX_SLEW_RATE_CTRL

PLL Bandwidth Bandwidth in PLL Configuration Options in selected PLL type

2.1.3.1 Jitter/Noise Component

The Jitter/Noise panel allows you to input or import jitter and noise parameters.
Advanced Link Analyzer provides extensive transmitter jitter and noise modeling and
configuration capabilities.

The following figure shows the jitter decomposition diagram and the breakdown of
jitter components.

(1) In Advanced Link Analyzer when Pre-emphasis is selected as Manual or Auto with Manual
Starting Point
(2) “0” = non-inverted which is positive tap selections in Advanced Link Analyzer; “1” = inverted
which is negative tap selections in Advanced Link Analyzer.

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Figure 17. Transmitter Jitter Decomposition

Table 8. Transmitter Intrinsic Jitter and Noise Types

Name Description Unit Support Comments
in
Advanced
Link
Analyzer

DJ Deterministic Unit Interval Yes DJ can be generated using a uniform distribution, dual-
Jitter (UI) Dirac, or truncated Gaussian method. Select the DJ
generation method in the Transmitter Jitter/Noise
Options Window. The default DJ method is dual-Dirac. DJ
consists of periodic jitter, bounded uncorrelated jitter, inter-
symbol interference, and duty-cycle distortion. The DJ value
is used in the simulation when the DJ/RJ-DN/RN method is
selected.

ISI Inter-Symbol UI Yes ISI can be generated using a uniform distribution, dual-
Interference Dirac, or truncated Gaussian method. Select the ISI
generation method in the Transmitter Jitter/Noise
Options Window. The default ISI method is dual-Dirac.

DCD Duty Cycle UI Yes The DCD parameter models two types of jitter: Positive
Distortion pulse width jitter (PPWJ) and Clock DCD. The PPWJ shortens
or lengthens the logic 1 waveform. The Clock DCD emulates
distorted clock waveform effects on the transmitter output
waveform. You can select the DCD generation method in the
Transmitter Jitter/Noise Options Window. The default
DCD method is PPWJ – (shortened positive waveform).
continued...

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Name Description Unit Support Comments

in
Advanced
Link
Analyzer

BUJ Bounded UI Yes Same as Deterministic Jitter. The default BUJ method is
Uncorrelated Uniform distribution.
Jitter

RJ Random Jitter UI-RMS or ps- Yes RJ is assumed to be Gaussian. RJ can be specified in either
RMS pico-second (ps-RMS) or UI-RMS.

SJ Sinusoidal Jitter Amplitude: UI Yes Sinusoidal jitter can be specified with amplitude and
Frequency: MHz frequency.

DN Deterministic mV Yes DN can be generated using a uniform distribution, dual-

Noise Dirac, or truncated Gaussian method. You can select the DN
generation method in the Transmitter Jitter/Noise
Options Window. The default DN method is uniform.

BUN Bound mV Yes Same as DN. The default method is Truncated Gaussian
Uncorrelated method with a Peak-to-RMS ratio of 14. You can select the
Noise BUN generation method and parameters in the Transmitter
Jitter/Noise Options Window.

RN Random Noise mV-RMS Yes RN is assumed to be Gaussian.

Jitter PDF Jitter Probability Jitter amplitude, Yes Jitter PDF defines the jitter probability density function. The
Density Probability input format is jitter amplitude in second and probability.
Function (PDF) (Jitter The following is a jitter PDF example:
amplitude can -5e-12 1e-10
be in absolute
-4e-12 3e-7
time or UI (unit
interval) unit) -3e-12 1e-4
-2e-12 1e-2
-1e-12 0.29
0 0.4
1e-12 0.29
2e-12 1e-2
3e-12 1e-4
4e-12 3e-7
5e-12 1e-10

Noise PDF Noise Noise Yes Noise PDF defines the noise probability density function. The
Probability amplitude, input format is Noise amplitude in volt and probability. The
Density Probability following is a noise PDF example:
Function -50e-3 1e-10
-40e-3 3e-7
-30e-3 1e-4
-20e-3 1e-2
-10e-3 0.29
0 0.4
10e-3 0.29
20e-3 1e-2
30e-3 1e-4
40e-3 3e-7
50e-3 1e-10

CMN Common Mode mV-rms Yes It injects common noise into the link. User can specify the
Noise location of the noise injection either after the package or
after the die.

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Click Jitter/Noise Options to further configure each jitter and noise type. There are
two jitter/noise modes for Advanced Link Analyzer’s transmitters: Jitter/Noise
Component mode and DJ/RJ-DN/RJ mode. Only one jitter/noise mode is active at
a time and you must determine which mode to use in your simulations.
• Jitter/Noise Component mode—Advanced Link Analyzer uses a flat jitter/noise
structure that assumes no overlapping among all the jitter and noise components.
Avoid double counting when inputting or importing jitter/noise figures. In the
following figure, there are six specific jitter components: DCD, ISI, SJ, BUJ, RJ,
and jitter PDF. The noise components DN, BUN, RN, and noise PDF must also be
specified separately.

Figure 18. Specifying Transmitter Jitter and Noise in Jitter/Noise Mode

Figure 19. Transmitter Jitter/Noise Configuration in Jitter/Noise Component Mode

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• DJ/RJ-DN/RJ mode—All deterministic jitter/noise components are included in DJ

and DN.

Figure 20. Specifying Transmitter Jitter and Noise in DJ/RJ-DN/RJ Mode

Figure 21. Transmitter Jitter/Noise Configuration in DJ/RJ-DN/RJ Method

Note: Jitter specified in the Transmitter Noise/Jitter panel is the transmitter’s intrinsic jitter
and noise. Jitter specified in the Reference Clock configuration window is external
reference clock jitter. You must distinguish between these two parts and avoid double-
counting jitter from the same source.

2.1.3.2 Transmitter Options

Transmitter options provide further configuration and setting options for transmitters.
The additional options are only displayed or valid for transmitter devices that allow
custom configurations.

Note: Not all transmitter options are available for all transmitter devices.

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Termination tab

This section specifies the transmitter impedance.

Figure 22. Transmitter Advanced Options Window: Transmitter Termination

For selected Intel devices, use the TX Impedance pull-down menu to select a
termination configuration. You can also customize the termination configuration by
selecting the Custom option. When the Custom TX Impedance method is chosen, the
termination can be configured as follows:
• Ideal TX termination—The transmitter is ideal with a 50 ohms (single-ended)
termination.
• Non-ideal TX termination—Select one of the following options:
— R—Transmitter impedance is modeled as a resistance R ohms (single-ended).
— R//C1—Transmitter impedance is modeled as an RC network with a parallel
resistor (in ohms) and a capacitance (in pF).
— File Input (Frequency Real Imaginary)—Transmitter impedance is modeled by
a frequency-dependent complex impedance table described in the input file.

For an Intel transmitter, the default termination configurations are automatically

selected and specified.

Pulse Shaping tab

Advanced Link Analyzer supports two pulse shaping methods for Custom transmitters:
• Edge Rate—A pulse-shaping filter is generated by using a Gaussian low-pass filter
that matches the specified edge rate.
• S-parameter—A pulse-shaping filter is specified by your S-parameter file. Only
the differential insertion loss (for example, Sdd21), is applied in the pulse shaping.

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Figure 23. Transmitter Options: Pulse Shaping Configuration

PAM-n Options
• PAM-n Codec Method— Select PAM-n coder/decoder method. The selections are
Default, Gray, and Linear. The default setting is Gray coding.
• PAM-n Gray Coding Option— Select Gray coding options. Selections are Default,
MSB first, and LSB first. The default setting is MSB first.
• PAM-n TX Linearity— Set the linearity of PAM-n output waveform. PAM-n
linearity means mismatch between amplitude levels. The default value is 1.0. The
PAM-n TX linearity is defined in the same way as specified in IEEE 802.3 PAM-4
transmitter linearity (RLM).

FIR / Pre-emphasis tab

Specify the length of the TX FIR and the location of the main cursor tap. This setting is
only valid for the Custom transmitter type.

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Figure 24. Transmitter Options: Transmitter FIR, Pre-emphasis, and De-emphasis

Configuration

TX Analysis

Configure transmitter output analysis options.

• TX FIR Fitting— TX FIR Fitting measures the effective transmitter equalization
approximated by FIR (finite impulse response) coefficients. The selections are
Default, IEEE 802.3bj/CEI-25G-LR, CEI-56G-MR, Custom, and Disable. The default
setting is Disable.
• TX SNDR— TX SNDR measures the signal-to-distortion-and-noise ratio of
transmitter output. The selections are Default, IEEE 802.3bj/CEI-25G-LR,
CEI-56G-MR, Custom, and Disable. The default setting is Disable.
• Enforce Fitting Length— This setting is in effect when custom TX FIR Fitting is
selected. The selections are Default, Enable, and Disable. When Enable is selected,
the fitting algorithm will neglect the transmitter configuration and perform FIR
fitting per the tap-length specified in Fitting Length and Fitting Pre-cursor Length
settings. When Disable is selected, the FIR fitting will use transmitter's FIR
configuration to perform the fitting calculation. The default setting is Enable.
• Fitting Length— TX FIR fitting length.
• Fitting Pre-cursor Length— TX FIR fitting pre-cursor tap length.

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Figure 25. Transmitter Analysis Configuration

PLL tab

Use this panel to set the custom PLL divider ratio. This panel provides an alternative to
Advanced Link Analyzer’s automatic divider ratio configuration. For example, Intel
transmitters provide three programmable dividers: L, M, and N. You can set the
divider ratio manually. Refer to Intel transceiver documentation for PLL setting
recommendations.

Note: Advanced Link Analyzer does not support the N divider.

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Figure 26. Transmitter Options: PLL Configuration

Misc tab

Reserved. This tab is blank.

2.1.3.3 Characterization Data Access

Characterization Data Access—Transmitter jitter values can be retrieved from the

built-in device characterization database.

Note: Advanced Link Analyzer supports Intel Arria 10 GX/SX/GT, Stratix V GT, Stratix V GX
and Arria V GZ, Intel Stratix 10 L-Tile and Intel Stratix 10 H-Tile characterization
database access upon request. If you need this capability, contact your Intel
representative or supporting team for details.

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Use the following guidelines for characterization data access:

• When Stratix V GX, Stratix V GT, Arria V GZ and Intel Arria 10 GX/SX/GT,
Intel Stratix 10 L-Tile or Intel Stratix 10 H-Tile is selected, the
Characterization Data Access button appears and you can include the transmitter
jitter parameters in the simulation.
• Characterization Data Access covers PVT variations. You can select appropriate
process, voltage, and temperature conditions that best match the desired
operation conditions.
• After clicking the button, Characterization Data Access configures Advanced Link
Analyzer to use the characterization data by:
— Selecting Jitter/Noise Component Mode for characterization data entries
— Setting the Jitter/Noise Data Lock check box
— Importing device characterization data based on the jitter unit selection
• RJ—Unit selection can be UI (RMS) or ps (RMS)
• Other Jitter—Unit selection can be UI (pk-pk), UI (pk), ps (pk-pk), or ps
(pk)

These actions inform the Advanced Link Analyzer simulation engine to use the
characterization data from the database.

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Note: • The characterization data is displayed in the text box for reference purposes. The
Advanced Link Analyzer simulation engine uses proprietary algorithms to
accurately model the jitter and noise in the simulations.
• You can unlock the jitter and noise contents by turning off the Jitter/Noise Data
Lock check box. However, the jitter and noise models and values can be different
from those when the Jitter/Noise Data Lock check box is checked.
• Characterization Data Access is supported when the data rate is in the following
range:
— Stratix V GX: 5 Gbps to 14.1 Gbps
— Stratix V GT: 19.6 Gbps to 28.1 Gbps
— Intel Stratix 10 L-Tile: 3 Gbps to maximum data rate specified in the data
sheet (Typical PVT only)
— Arria V GZ: 5 Gbps to 14.1 Gbps
— Intel Arria 10 GX/SX: 3 Gbps to 17.4 Gbps
— Intel Arria 10 GT: 3 Gbps to maximum data rate specified in the data sheet
— Intel Stratix 10 L-Tile: As per Intel Stratix 10 L-Tile specifications
— Intel Stratix 10 H-Tile: As per Intel Stratix 10 H-Tile specifications
When the data rate is out of the specified range, Advanced Link Analyzer displays
a warning message and no jitter data is retrieved. If you change the data rate,
you must retrieve the new jitter data by clicking Characterization Data Access.
• After changing the link and device configurations, such as data rate, VOD, PLL
type and bandwidth, and PVT condition, you must update the jitter value by
clicking Characterization Data Access.
• When the Jitter/Noise Data Lock check box is checked, Advanced Link Analyzer
examines whether the jitter data matches the simulation configuration during the
following conditions:
— Start simulation
— Save link configuration
— In batch simulation mode, jitter data is retrieved and calculated based on the
link configuration
When the link configuration exceeds the supporting range of Characterization Data
Access, a warning message (conditions 1 and 2) is shown and jitter is reset (all
conditions).

Figure 27. Characterization Data Access: PVT Conditions and Jitter/Noise Lock Check
Box

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Figure 28. Characterization Data Access Usage and Message

Related Links
Jitter/Noise Component on page 36

2.1.3.4 IBIS-AMI Transmitter Configuration

Advanced Link Analyzer supports IBIS-AMI transmitter modeling. When IBIS-AMI
Transmitter is selected, the IBIS-AMI Transmitter page is shown.

Figure 29. Transmitter IBIS-AMI Model IBIS Configuration

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• Package—Package models are required in all IBIS models. Advanced Link

Analyzer includes the IBIS package model in the simulation by default. You can
choose other package models by changing the Package selection to Custom and
specifying the external package model (Channel type Package) as a channel
component.
Note: Make sure there is only one package model for the IBIS-AMI transmitter.
Use either package type IBIS-AMI or package type Custom with external
package model in the schematic. Simulation errors may occur if you have
more than one transmitter package model in the link.
• IBIS Files—Click the file open button next to the IBIS File text box to select an
IBIS model file. Advanced Link Analyzer scans through the IBIS file and allocates
all available transmitter components and models. If Advanced Link Analyzer
encounters the following issues in opening or interpreting the IBIS-AMI model, a
warning message is displayed.
— No transmitter component or model can be located.
— The DLL for the computer platform cannot be located. The IBIS-AMI model is
platform dependent. For example, a 32-bit DLL is required to simulate in a 32-
bit link simulator and a 64-bit DLL is required to simulate in a 64-bit simulator.
A 32-bit DLL cannot simulate in a 64-bit DLL simulator.
— The DLL occupies too much memory and Advanced Link Analyzer was not able
to load it. However, Advanced Link Analyzer might be able to run the
simulation with such a DLL because of memory allocation differences in the
Advanced Link Analyzer GUI and the simulation engine.
• Component—Select an IBIS component from the IBIS model.

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• IBIS tab—The IBIS tab shows the following configuration parameters:

— Model—Select a device model within a component of an IBIS model.
— Model Selector—Select a model from the model selector list.
— Corner—Select the corner type of a device model. The choices are Typ, Min,
and Max.
— AMI File—Shows the AMI file specified in the IBIS model.
Note: Advanced Link Analyzer currently only supports device models with AMI
modeling components.
— DLL File—Shows the DLL file specified in the IBIS model.
— Use External Termination—A checked box indicates that an external
termination is used in the simulation. The external termination (single-ended)
is specified in the text box on the right. The default setting is not using
external termination and the default external termination (if applicable) is 50
ohms (single-ended).
— Use Rising/Falling Waveform—If rising/falling waveforms are available in
the IBIS model, the rising/falling waveforms are used to model the transmitter
by default. If you turn off this option, ramp data (in the IBIS model) is used in
the simulation.
— Automatic Jitter/Noise Update—A checked box allows automatic jitter/
noise updates from the IBIS-AMI model (available for models which are
compliant with IBIS-AMI 6.0 and later).
Note: If you experience unexpected long delay when loading an IBIS-AMI
model, you can disable the Automatic Jitter/Noise Update by unchecking
it. It was seen that certain IBIS-AMI models perform computation-
intensive functions (such as equalization adaptation) during the jitter/
noise retrieval. You can still retrieve jitter/noise numbers by manually
clicking the Manual Jitter/Noise Update button.
— Manual Jitter/Noise Update—When the Automatic Jitter/Noise Update
option is disabled, turning on this option allows you to manually update the
jitter/noise figures from the IBIS-AMI model (available for models which are
compliant with IBIS-AMI 6.0 and later).
— DLL_Path—Specify a folder or path name where the supporting files of an
IBIS-AMI model are stored. Refer to the IBIS standards for details.

AMI tab

The AMI tab shows the following AMI configuration parameters.

Figure 30. Transmitter IBIS-AMI Model AMI Configuration Tab

• Model Name—IBIS-AMI model name

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• Reserved Parameters:
— The IBIS-AMI reserved parameters are shown. The reserved parameters are
meant for the Advanced Link Analyzer simulation configuration.
— IBIS-AMI Rev 5.0 and 6.0 jitter parameters (Tx_Jitter) are extracted and
automatically set in the Transmitter's Jitter/Noise window with the
interpretation shown in the following table:

Table 9. IBIS-AMI Jitter Parameters

IBIS-AMI Tx_Jitter Parameter Advanced Link Analyzer Interpretation

(Tx_Jitter (Usage Info)(Type Float) DJ = <mean> UI (pk) or ps (pk). Uniform

(Format Gaussian <mean> <sigma>)) distribution
RJ = <sigma> UI (RMS) or ps (RMS)

(Tx_Jitter (Usage Info)(Type Float) DJ = (<mean> + <mean>)/2 UI (pk) or ps

(Format Dual-Dirac <mean> <mean> <sigma>)) (pk). Dual-Dirac distribution
RJ = <sigma> UI (RMS) or ps (RMS)

(Tx_Jitter (Usage Info)(Type Float) DJ = <maxDJ> UI (pk) or ps (pk). Uniform

(Format DjRj < minDj > < maxDj > <sigma>)) distribution
RJ = <sigma> UI (RMS) or ps (RMS)

(Tx_Jitter (Usage Info)(Type Integer Float/UI Float) Refer to the transmitter jitter description in the
(Format Table (Labels Row_No Time or UI Probability) Jitter/Noise Component section.
(-5 -5e-12 1e-10)
(-4 -4e-12 3e-7) … ))

IBIS-AMI Tx_DCD Parameter Advanced Link Analyzer Interpretation

(Tx_DCD (Usage Info)(Type Float) DCD = <typ or min or max based on corner
(Format Range <typ> <min> <max>)) selection> UI (pk) or ps (pk), Clock jitter
distribution

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• Model Specific Parameters—This section lists all the model specific parameters
that the IBIS-AMI model provides. You can use their selections or specify
parameters for the simulation.

Figure 31. Transmitter IBIS-AMI Parameter Type Designation for Link Optimization

Advanced Link Analyzer 17.0 supports link optimization with IBIS-AMI transmitter
models. On the left are the model specific parameters. For each parameter that
Advanced Link Analyzer determines is sweepable, a pull-down menu allows you to
assign the transmitter parameters. The types of transmitter parameters are as
follows:
— No Sweep—No sweeping or link optimization is performed
— Sweep—Advanced Link Analyzer sweeps or performs link optimization using
available options provided by the IBIS-AMI model
— Sweep as TX Main Tap—Advanced Link Analyzer treats this parameter as
the main cursor tap of transmitter equalizer in link optimization
— Sweep as TX Main Tap Sign—Advanced Link Analyzer treats this parameter
as the sign bit of the main cursor tap in link optimization
— Sweep as TX Post-Tap n—Advanced Link Analyzer treats this parameter as
the n-th post-cursor tap of transmitter equalizer in link optimization
— Sweep as TX Post-Tap n Sign—Advanced Link Analyzer treats this
parameter as the sign bit of the n-th post-cursor tap in link optimization
— Sweep as TX Pre-Tap n—Advanced Link Analyzer treats this parameter as
the n-th pre-cursor tap of transmitter equalizer in link optimization
— Sweep as TX Pre-Tap n Sign—Advanced Link Analyzer treats this parameter
as the sign bit of the n-th pre-cursor tap in link optimization
With the information provided in the IBIS-AMI model and parameter type
selections, Advanced Link Analyzer determines the link optimization approach and
conducts the simulation. All link optimization methods are supported with IBIS-
AMI transmitter models, but generally the CTLE=>FIR=>DFE and CTLE=>FIR
+DFE methods are more efficient (in terms of simulation time) and effective. If
you cannot determine the nature of the model specific parameters, consult with
the IBIS-AMI vendors. An example of transmitter IBIS-AMI parameter type
designations is shown in the above figure.

Note: As mentioned in the Advanced Link Analyzer transmitter jitter and noise section,
Advanced Link Analyzer assumes no overlapping between jitter and noise components.
Examine the IBIS-AMI Tx_Jitter parameters when they are imported into Advanced
Link Analyzer. Consult device vendors or model providers about the scope or definition
of the DJ component and DCD component in the IBIS-AMI model to avoid double-
counting their effects. For example, if the imported DJ already contains DCD, the DCD
effect should be subtracted from the DJ figure.

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Status tab

The Status tab shows the parameters that are fed into the IBIS-AMI model for
simulations.

Figure 32. Transmitter IBIS-AMI Model Status Tab

Consider the following for the IBIS-AMI transmitter modeling support in Advanced Link
Analyzer:
• Advanced Link Analyzer only supports the IBIS model with an AMI component. An
IBIS model without an AMI component will not be simulated.
• Transmitter PLL is not supported when the IBIS-AMI transmitter is selected.
• Advanced Link Analyzer supports IBIS-AMI transmitter models with the on-die S-
parameter model (IBIS BIRD 158.3) using the txic or Tstonefile IBIS-AMI
keyword. When Advanced Link Analyzer detects the txic or Tstonefile keyword,
the Channel Wizard helps you determine the on-die S-parameter configuration.

2.1.3.5 Transmitter Pulse Fitting

Click the Transmitter Pulse Fitting button to perform transmitter FIR fitting and
analysis. The fitting and analysis are implemented according to IEEE 802.3bj and OIF
CEI 56G standards. The transmitter fitting results provide an indication of effective
emphasis level that was observed at transmitter output.

Transmitter Pulse Fitting can be customized to suite specific transmitter configurations.

Please see "TX Analysis" section of "Transmitter Options" for details.

2.1.3.5.1 Transmitter SNDR

Click the Transmitter SNDR button to perform transmitter SNDR (Signal to Distortion
and Noise Ratio) analysis. The calculation and analysis are implemented according to
IEEE 802.3bj and OIF CEI 56G standards. The result provides an indication of
transmitter output quality.

2.1.4 Receiver Setting

A receiver receives waveforms from the channel and processes the waveforms through
the receiver equalizer and clock and data recovery module.

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Figure 33. Advanced Link Analyzer Receiver Settings

Advanced Link Analyzer provides the following settings and configurations for
receivers:

Receiver

The following receiver types are supported:

• Stratix V GX
• Arria V GZ
• Stratix V GT
• Intel Arria 10 GX/SX
• Intel Arria 10 GT
• Intel Stratix 10 L-Tile (Wrapper support)
• Intel Stratix 10 H-Tile (Wrapper support)
• IBIS-AMI
• Custom
• PCI Express 8GT

Parameters or selections within the receiver setting are specific to the receiver type.
For example, package model, available CDR (Clock and Data Recovery) type and
bandwidth, available CTLE (Continuous Time Linear Equalizer) selections, DFE
operation mode and settings, and additional receiver options, are set and shown when
a new device is selected. When a new receiver is chosen, it is automatically inserted
into the Link Designer, ready for connecting to other link components.

Package

Select the package type for a receiver device. For Intel products and PCI Express 8GT
receivers, the package models are included in the receiver models. For Custom
devices, you can specify package models in the channel setting by inserting a
“Package” channel component. When you select the Custom package type (for any
transmitter devices), the embedded package mode (if available) will be disabled and
you can add a channel component (such as an S-parameter) with type Package in the
Link Designer workspace. The Custom package model must be placed adjacent to the
receiver module so it can be simulated and analyzed correctly. If you choose the
Custom package type but do not add a channel component with Package type to the
Link Designer workspace, the receiver is simulated without any package model.

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Advanced Link Analyzer comes with the following receiver package models:
• Stratix V GX
• Arria V GZ
• Stratix V GT
• Intel Arria 10 GX/SX
Options: Additional package models (shown in the following figure) are available
for Intel Arria 10 devices. The package model is specified as its trace length inside
the package. These models are chosen to cover the range of package trace
lengths in Intel Arria 10 transceiver receivers.
— Default—The default package model is the same as the 14 mm option
— 14mm
— 16.5mm
— 20mm
— 24mm
Contact your Intel representative if you would like to know how to pair your design
with the Intel Arria 10 package model options.

Figure 34. Intel Arria 10 Receiver Package Options

• Intel Arria 10 GT—Same options as Intel Arria 10 GX/SX

• Intel Stratix 10 L-Tile/H-Tile (Wrapper support)—Typical, Min, and Max package
models are provided
• PCI Express 8GT

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CTLE Setting

Select or specify the CTLE (Continuous-Time Linear Equalizer) operation mode and
model. Auto, Manual, and Off (if available) settings are supported.
• Intel device receivers:
— Stratix V GX, Arria V GZ, Stratix V GT, Intel Arria 10 GX/SX and Intel Arria 10
GT CTLE models are embedded in Advanced Link Analyzer.
— Both Auto and Manual settings are supported.
— In Manual setting, EQ Bandwidth, AC Gain, and DC Gain menus are shown for
user selection.
— In Auto setting, you select the EQ bandwidth and maximum CTLE DC gain
level (if available) that you want to use.
— Advanced Link Analyzer uses Intel’s proprietary algorithm to find optimal CTLE
setting in Auto setting.
Note: In IBIS-AMI wrapper mode, the CTLE Setting menu can contain parameter
selections originated from the underlying IBIS-AMI models. Please refer to
the user guide of the IBIS-AMI model for operating mode definition.
• Custom receiver and PCI Express 8GT/16GT receiver—You can select or
input the CTLE gain (in dB) listed in the pull-down menu. The custom CTLE model
can use the PCI Express 8GT CTLE behavior model template and IEEE 802.3cd
COM CTLE model template. Refer "Receiver Options" sections for further
information.

VGA Bandwidth

The VGA Bandwidth selection is available when an Intel Arria 10 GX/SX/GT model is
selected. The available VGA bandwidth settings are listed in the pull-down menu. The
default setting is 4 (highest bandwidth).

VGA Gain

The VGA Gain selection is available when an Intel Arria 10 GX/SX/GT, Intel Stratix 10
L-Tile, or Intel Stratix 10 H-Tile model is selected. The available VGA gain settings are
listed in the pull-down menu. If Auto (default setting) is selected, the VGA gain
setting is determined by the receiver model.

Note: In IBIS-AMI wrapper mode, automatic VGA Gain tuning is part of automatic CTLE
tuning. There is no "Auto" in the wrapped mode.

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DFE Mode

The DFE can operate in Auto mode, Manual mode, or be disabled.

• Intel receivers:
— Stratix V GX, Arria V GZ, Intel Arria 10 GX/SX and Intel Arria 10 GT models
are supported in both Auto mode and Manual mode.
— In Auto mode, Advanced Link Analyzer finds the optimal DFE setting for the
given link configuration.
— In Manual mode, you select and set each DFE tap level.
— For Intel Arria 10 GX/SX/GT, the floating DFE tap is no longer supported. To
disable the floating DFE tap function, select Off in the First Floating DFE Tap
pull-down menu.
• Custom receiver and PCI Express receivers—Advanced Link Analyzer
implements a generic behavior DFE model. You can customize the DFE model with
the Receiver Options Window.

CDR Type and CDR Bandwidth

Select the type of Clock and Data Recovery (CDR) module used in the receiver. There
are two options: Ideal Clock and supported CDR type. When you select the ideal clock
option, the eye diagram is plotted using the ideal system clock. When you enable
CDR, both ideal clocked and CDR retimed eye diagrams are shown.
• Intel Receivers—Stratix V GX, Arria V GZ, Stratix V GT, Intel Arria 10 GX/SX and
Intel Arria 10 GT, Intel Cyclone 10 GX Hybrid CDR models are supported. The CDR
models and configurations are automatically set according to the data rate and
CDR bandwidth setting. Consult Intel design guides for CDR bandwidth
configurations. With Intel devices supported by IBIS-AMI wrapper technology, CDR
will be modeled within the underlying receiver IBIS-AMI model. Refer to IBIS-AMI
model's user guide for details.
• Custom receiver and PCI Express 8GT/16GT receivers—A generic CDR, with
bang-bang phase detector, is supported. The CDR bandwidth for the generic
receiver is 18 MHz (low bandwidth), 26 MHz (medium bandwidth), and 34 MHz
(high bandwidth).

Supply Voltage

For supported devices, you can choose the supply voltage. In Advanced Link Analyzer
17.1, the Intel Arria 10 GX/SX/GT and Intel Cyclone 10 GX receiver model provides
the following supply voltages:
• 0.95 V (Intel Arria 10 GX/SX/GT and Intel Cyclone 10 GX)
• 1.03 V (Intel Arria 10 GX/SX/GT and Intel Cyclone 10 GX)
• 1.12 V (Intel Arria 10 GT)

Vcm

Vcm is the common voltage of the receiver input signal. Vcm options are only available
when CTLE mode is QPI.

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PVT

Select the process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) models for the selected receiver
device. PVT model support varies depending on device type, device data availability,
and model coverage. A message is shown on the Receiver tab page to indicate the PVT
model coverage. Receiver PVT model coverage and conditions are shown in the
following table.

Table 10. Receiver PVT Model Coverage

Receiver Type Waveform PVT Model Jitter/Noise PVT Model

Stratix V GX Typical Process: Typical/Fast/Slow Voltage:

Typical/High/Low Temperature: –40°C
to 100°C

Arria V GZ Typical Process: Typical/Fast/Slow Voltage:

Typical/High/Low Temperature: –40°C
to 100°C

Stratix V GT Typical Process: Typical/Fast/Slow Voltage:

Typical/High/Low Temperature: 0°C to
100°C

Intel Arria 10 GX/SX Typical/Fast/Slow Slow

Intel Arria 10 GT Typical/Fast/Slow Slow

Intel Stratix 10 L-Tile and H-Tile Typical/Fast/Slow Slow

Intel Cyclone 10 GX Typical/Fast/Slow Slow

IBIS-AMI Provide by IBIS-AMI model Provide by IBIS-AMI model

Custom None None

PCI Express 8GT/16GT None None

Temp Range

For Arria 10, the device model have temperature range dependency. The temperature
range is -40C to 105C dor industrial, 0C tp 105C for Extended, and -40C to 105C for
Automotive. The default setting is Industrial temperature range.

Advanced Link Analyzer to Intel Quartus Prime Parameter Translation for

Intel Arria 10 GX/SX/GT Receivers

The following table shows the mapping between the Advanced Link Analyzer’s Intel
Arria 10 GX/SX/GT receiver model parameters and the Assignments Editor entries
in the Intel Quartus Prime software. Unless otherwise noted, values translate directly
between the two domains.

Table 11. Advanced Link Analyzer to Intel Quartus Prime Parameter Translation for
Intel Arria 10 GX/SX/GT and Intel Stratix 10 L-Tile Receivers, Intel Cyclone
10 GX
Advanced Link Analyzer Name Intel Quartus Prime Name

Receiver Options ➤ Termination ➤ R Receiver On-Chip- Termination

Supply Voltage Vccer/Vccet Power

CTLE Setting / Mode Eq_bw_sel (Equalizer bandwidth Selection)

continued...

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Advanced Link Analyzer Name Intel Quartus Prime Name

If Receiver High Data Rate Mode Equalizer = 1

• 1: Advanced Link Analyzer CTLE Setting / Mode = High
Data Rate, Peak Freq 1
• 2: Advanced Link Analyzer CTLE Setting / Mode = High
Data Rate, Peak Freq 2
• 3: Advanced Link Analyzer CTLE Setting / Mode = High
Data Rate, Peak Freq 3
• 4: Advanced Link Analyzer CTLE Setting / Mode = High
Data Rate, Peak Freq 4
If Receiver High Data Rate Mode Equalizer = 0
• 1: Advanced Link Analyzer CTLE Setting / Mode = High
Gain, Low BW
• 2: Advanced Link Analyzer CTLE Setting / Mode = High
Gain, High BW

VGA BW VGA_bandwidth_Select

CTLE Setting / Mode Receiver High Data Rate Mode Equalizer

If Receiver High Data Rate Mode Equalizer =1
• Advanced Link Analyzer CTLE Setting / Mode = High
Data Rate
If Receiver High Data Rate Mode Equalizer =0
• Advanced Link Analyzer CTLE Setting / Mode = High
Gain

CTLE Setting Refer to the Intel Arria 10 Transceiver PHY User Guide
• Auto
• Manual

AC Gain with CTLE Setting = Manual Mode = High Data Receiver High Data Rate Mode Equalizer
Rate AC Gain Control

AC Gain with CTLE Setting = Manual Mode = High Gain Receiver High Gain Mode Equalizer
AC Gain Control

DC Gain with CTLE Setting = Manual Mode = High Gain Receiver High Gain Mode Equalizer
DC Gain Control

VGA Gain Receiver Variable Gain Amplifier

Voltage Swing Select

DFE Mode Receiver Decision Feedback Equalizer Mode

DFE Tap 1 Receiver Decision Feedback Equalizer Fix Tap One

Coefficient

DFE Tap 2 Receiver Decision Feedback Equalizer Fix Tap Two

Coefficient

DFE Tap 3 Receiver Decision Feedback Equalizer Fix Tap Three

Coefficient

DFE Tap 4 Receiver Decision Feedback Equalizer Fix Tap Four

Coefficient

DFE Tap 5 Receiver Decision Feedback Equalizer Fix Tap Five

Coefficient

DFE Tap 6 Receiver Decision Feedback Equalizer Fix Tap Six Coefficient

DFE Tap 7 Receiver Decision Feedback Equalizer Fix Tap Seven

Coefficient

RX Impedance Receiver On-Chip- Termination

continued...

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Advanced Link Analyzer Name Intel Quartus Prime Name

(R in Receiver Options / Termination)

CDR Type Intel Arria 10 Transceiver CMU PLL

Hybrid

CDR Bandwidth Bandwidth in PLL Options

2.1.4.1 Jitter/Noise Setting

Advanced Link Analyzer provides extensive jitter and noise modeling and configuration
capabilities. The receiver intrinsic jitter and noise types are categorized in the
following table. You can configure each jitter and noise type by clicking Receiver
Jitter Options, which leads to the Receiver Jitter/Noise Configuration window.

Advanced Link Analyzer uses a flat jitter/noise structure that assumes no overlapping
among the jitter and noise components. Avoid double counting when inputting or
importing jitter/noise figures. In the following figure, DJ contains DCD, ISI, PJ, and
BUJ. This implies that when you specify DCD and BUJ, the DJ should not be used or
the DJ figure should not contain any DCD and BUJ components.

Table 12. Receiver Intrinsic Jitter and Noise Types

Name Description Unit Support in Comments
Advanced Link
Analyzer

DJ Deterministic UI Yes You can generate the receiver DJ by using a uniform

Jitter distribution, dual-Dirac, or truncated Gaussian method.
You can select the DJ generation method in the
Receiver Jitter/Noise Configuration Window. The
default receiver DJ method is dual-Dirac.

BUJ Bounded UI Yes Same as receiver’s Deterministic Jitter. The default

Uncorrelated method is Uniform distribution. You can select the BUJ
Jitter generation method in the Receiver Jitter/Noise
Configuration Window.

RJ Random Jitter UI-RMS or Yes RJ is assumed to be Gaussian. You can specify the
ps-RMS receiver RJ in eighth pico-second (ps-RMS) or unit-
interval (UI-RMS).

DN Deterministic mV Yes You can generate the receiver DN by using a uniform

Noise distribution, dual-Dirac, or truncated Gaussian method.
You can select the DN generation method in the
Receiver Jitter/Noise Configuration Window. The
default DJ method is uniform.

BUN Bound mV Yes Same as receiver DN above. The default method is

Uncorrelated Truncated Gaussian method. You can select the BUN
Noise generation method in the Receiver Jitter/Noise
Configuration Window.

RN Random Noise mV-RMS Yes RN is assumed to be Gaussian.

Jitter Jitter Probability Jitter amplitude, Yes Jitter PDF defines the jitter probability density function.
PDF Density Function Probability The input format is jitter amplitude in second and
(PDF) (Jitter amplitude probability. The following is a jitter PDF example:
can be in -5e-12 1e-10
absolute time or
-4e-12 3e-7
UI (unit interval)
unit) -3e-12 1e-4
-2e-12 1e-2
-1e-12 0.29
continued...

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Name Description Unit Support in Comments

Advanced Link
Analyzer

0 0.4
1e-12 0.29
2e-12 1e-2
3e-12 1e-4
4e-12 3e-7
5e-12 1e-10

Noise Noise Probability Noise amplitude, Yes Noise PDF defines the noise probability density
PDF Density Function Probability function. The input format is Noise amplitude in volt
and probability. The following is a noise PDF example:
-50e-3 1e-10
-40e-3 3e-7
-30e-3 1e-4
-20e-3 1e-2
-10e-3 0.29
0 0.4
10e-3 0.29
20e-3 1e-2
30e-3 1e-4
40e-3 3e-7
50e-3 1e-10

InpN Input Referred V2/GHz Yes (Except Receiver input referred noise is specified as one-sided
Noise IBIS-AMI model noise spectral density in the unit of V2/GHz. It
and IBIS-AMI produces receiver-setting dependent noise figure for
wrapper model) link margin calculation.

Figure 35. Advanced Link Analyzer Receiver Jitter/Noise Configuration Window

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2.1.4.2 Characterization Data Access

You can retrieve the receiver jitter values from the built-in device characterization
database. Advanced Link Analyzer supports Intel Arria 10 GX/SX/GT, Stratix V GT,
Stratix V GX and Arria V GZ characterization database access upon request. If you
need this capability, contact your Intel representative or supporting team for
details.

Use the following guidelines for characterization data access:

•
• When Stratix V GX, Stratix V GT, Arria V GZ or Intel Arria 10 GX/SX/GT is
selected, the Characterization Data Access button appears and you can include
the receiver jitter parameters in the simulation.
• Characterization Data Access covers PVT variations. You can select the appropriate
process, voltage, and temperature conditions that best match the desired
operation conditions.
• After clicking Characterization Data Access, Advanced Link Analyzer is
configured to use the characterization data by:
— Setting Jitter/Noise Component Mode for characterization data entries
— Setting the Jitter/Noise Data Lock check box
— Importing device characterization data based on the jitter unit selection
• RJ—Unit selection can be UI (RMS) or ps (RMS)
• Other Jitter—Unit selection can be UI (pk-pk), UI (pk), ps (pk-pk), or ps
(pk)

The Advanced Link Analyzer simulation engine uses this characterization data from the
database.

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Note: • Intel Stratix 10 receiver's jitter and noise values will be sourced from the IBIS-AMI
models or from user inputs per the IBIS-AMI model's documents.
• The characterization data is displayed in the text box for reference purposes. The
Advanced Link Analyzer simulation engine uses proprietary algorithms to
accurately model the jitter and noise in the simulations.
• You can unlock the jitter and noise contents by turning off the Jitter/Noise Data
Lock check box. However, the jitter and noise models and values can be different
from those when the Jitter/Noise Data Lock check box is checked.
• Characterization Data Access is supported when the data rate is in the following
range:
— Stratix V GX: 5 Gbps to 14.1 Gbps
— Stratix V GT: 19.6 Gbps to 28.1 Gbps
— Arria V GZ: 5 Gbps to 14.1 Gbps
— Intel Arria 10 GX/SX: 3 Gbps to 17.4 Gbps
— Intel Arria 10 GT: 3 Gbps to maximum data rate specified in the data sheet
When the data rate is out of the specified range, Advanced Link Analyzer displays
a warning message and no jitter data is retrieved. If you change the data rate,
you must retrieve the new jitter data by clicking Characterization Data Access.
• After changing the link and device configurations, such as data rate, bandwidth,
and PVT condition, you must update the jitter value by clicking Characterization
Data Access.
• When the Jitter/Noise Data Lock check box is checked, Advanced Link Analyzer
examines whether the jitter data matches the simulation configuration during the
following conditions:
— Start simulation
— Save link configuration
— In batch simulation mode, jitter data is retrieved and calculated based on the
link configuration
When the link configuration exceeds the supporting range of Characterization Data
Access, a warning message (conditions 1 and 2) is shown and jitter is reset (all
conditions).

Figure 36. Characterization Data Access: PVT Conditions and Jitter/Noise Lock Check
Box

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Figure 37. Characterization Data Access Usage and Message

A message box appears when the Characterization Data Access button is clicked.

Note: The characterization data is only included in the simulation when the compliance mask
is disabled (set to Off). Refer to the Compliance Mask section for references.

Figure 38. Intel Receiver Jitter Data Usage Message Window

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2.1.4.3 Receiver Options

Receiver options provide further configuration and setting options for receivers.
• Termination tab—This section specifies receiver impedance.

Figure 39. Receiver Termination Configuration

For selected Intel devices, use the RX Impedance pull-down menu to select a
termination configuration. You can also customize the termination configuration by
selecting the Custom option. When the Custom RX Impedance method is chosen,
the termination can be configured as follows:
— Ideal RX termination—The receiver is ideal with a 50 ohms (single-ended)
termination.
— Non-ideal RX termination—Select one of the following options:
• R—Receiver impedance is modeled as a resistance R ohms (single-ended).
• R//C1—Receiver impedance is modeled as an RC network with a parallel
resistor (in ohms) and a capacitance (in pF).
• File Input (Frequency Real Imaginary)—Receiver impedance is modeled
by a frequency-dependent complex impedance table described in the input
file.
For an Intel receiver, the default termination configurations are automatically
selected and specified.

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• Equalization tab—For Intel Arria 10 GX/SX/GT, Stratix V GX, and Arria V GZ

devices, the DFE model is embedded in the Advanced Link Analyzer with limited
configurability. For Custom and PCI Express 8GT/16GT receivers, the DFE
configuration options are provided.

Figure 40. Advanced Link Analyzer Receiver Options: Equalization Configuration

EQ Options tab:
— DFE Tap Length—For supported Intel devices, you can manually reduce the
DFE tap length. If the selected DFE tap length is larger than the device's
original DFE tap length, the change will not be applied in the simulation. For
Intel Arria 10 devices, manually setting the DFE tap length disables floating
DFE tap capability in the simulation.
Custom RX FFE/DFE tab:
— Algorithm—The DFE is adapted using the LMS algorithm and its variations.
— DFE Tap Length—Number of DFE taps. This option is only available for
Custom and PCI Express 8GT receivers.
— FFE Tap Length— Number of FFE (Feed Forward Equalizer) taps. This option
is only available for Custom and PCI Express 8GT/16GT receivers.
— Step Size—Step size of the LMS algorithm. This parameter controls the speed
of the LMS adaptation. The default value is 0.01.
— Summation Node Model—Advanced Link Analyzer supports two generic/
custom summation node modeling methods:
• 3dB Bandwidth (RC filter)—Use a first-order RC filter to perform low-
pass filtering of the DFE adjustment.
• S-parameter—Use your S-parameter file to specify a pulse-shaping filter.
Only the differential insertion loss (Sdd21) is applied in the pulse shaping.
— Reference Tap— The location of main cursor tap in the FFE.

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• Custom RX CTLE tab:

— CTLE Configuration & Gain Control tab:
• VGA Configuration
— Target Level: The target voltage level of VGA output
— Max VGA Gain (linear scale): The maximum VGA gain in linear scale
— Gain Granularity: When VGA is in auto mode, the step size of VGA
gain
Note: Custom RX's VGA has flat gain across frequencies.
• CTLE Kernel Options:
— CTLE Kernel Type: Choices are Default and COM. Default method uses PCI-
Express 8GT reference CTLE model which scales with data rate relative to 8
Gbps, i.e. PCI-Express 8GT's data rate. COM method uses IEEE 802.3cd COM
reference CTLE model. Advanced Link Analyzer allow users to modify the
frequency divider of pole and zero locations and frequency scaling.

Figure 41. Advanced Link Analyzer Receiver Options: CTLE Configuration & Gain Control,
Kernel Options

• Misc tab—Reserved. This tab is blank.

IBIS-AMI Receiver—Advanced Link Analyzer supports IBIS-AMI receiver modeling.

When you select the IBIS-AMI receiver, the IBIS-AMI Receiver page appears. The
IBIS-AMI page includes three tabs for additional settings of the IBIS-AMI model.

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Figure 42. Receiver IBIS-AMI Model IBIS Configuration Page

• Package—Package models are required in all IBIS models. Advanced Link

Analyzer includes the IBIS package model in the simulation by default. You can
choose other package models by changing the Package selection to Custom and
specifying the external package model (Channel type Package) as a channel
component.
Note: Make sure there is only one package model for the IBIS-AMI receiver. Use
either package type IBIS-AMI or package type Custom with external
package model in the schematic. Simulation errors may occur if you have
more than one receiver package model in the link.
• IBIS Files—Click the file open button next to the IBIS File text box to select an
IBIS model file. Advanced Link Analyzer scans through the IBIS file and allocates
all available receiver components and models. If Advanced Link Analyzer
encounters any of the following issues in opening or interpreting the IBIS-AMI
model, a warning message will be shown.
— No receiver component or model can be located.
— The DLL for the computer platform cannot be located. Note that the IBIS-AMI
model is platform dependent. For example, a 32-bit DLL is required to
simulate in a 32-bit link simulator. A 64-bit DLL is required to simulate in a 64-
bit simulator. A 32-bit DLL cannot simulate with a 64-bit DLL in the same
simulation.
— The DLL occupies so much memory that Advanced Link Analyzer was not able
to load it. However, Advanced Link Analyzer might be able to run the
simulation with such a DLL because of memory allocation differences in the
Advanced Link Analyzer GUI and the simulation engine.
• Component—Select an IBIS component from the IBIS model.

IBIS tab
• Model—Select a device model within a component of an IBIS model.
• Model Selector—Select a model from the model selector list.
• Corner—Select the corner type of a device model. The choices are Typ, Min, and
Max.
• AMI File—Shows the AMI file specified in the IBIS model.
Note: Advanced Link Analyzer currently only supports device models with AMI
modeling components.
• DLL File—Shows the DLL file specified in the IBIS model.

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• Check [R series] during model load time— Check this option if you want
Advanced Link Analyzer to scan [R series] settings when the IBIS model is loaded
which can take extra loading time especially when the IBIS model is large. When
you experience long loading time when reading an IBIS-AMI model, you can
optionally disable this feature. Use of R series is not common in most IBIS-AMI
models. Please check the IBIS-AMI model description or consult model vendor for
usage of R series.
• Use External Termination—A checked box indicates that an external termination
is used in the simulation. The external termination (single-ended) is specified in
the text box on the right. The default setting is not using external termination and
the default external termination (if applicable) is 50 ohms (single-ended).
Note: Advanced Link Analyzer automatically enables the external termination
option when it detects that the IBIS-AMI model is using [series pin
mapping] with [R series] configuration.
• Automatic Jitter/Noise Update—A checked box allows automatic jitter/noise
updates from the IBIS-AMI model (available for models which are compliant with
IBIS-AMI 6.0 and later). Automatic Jitter/Noise Update is disabled by default.
Note: If you experience unexpected long delay when loading an IBIS-AMI model,
you can disable the Automatic Jitter/Noise Update by unchecking it. It was
seen that certain IBIS-AMI models perform computation-intensive functions
(such as equalization adaptation) during the jitter/noise retrieval. You can
still retrieve jitter/noise numbers by manually clicking the Manual Jitter/
Noise Update button.
• Manual Jitter/Noise Update—When the Automatic Jitter/Noise Update
option is disabled, turning on this option allows you to manually update the jitter/
noise figures from the IBIS-AMI model (available for models which are compliant
with IBIS-AMI 6.0 and later).
• DLL_Path—Specify a folder or path name where the supporting files of an IBIS-
AMI model are stored. Refer to the IBIS standards for details.
• CDR Type—Three options are available:
— IBIS-AMI—If the receiver IBIS-AMI model contains a CDR model, Advanced
Link Analyzer uses the IBIS-AMI model's clock tick output to analyze the link
performance. If there is no embedded CDR model in the IBIS-AMI model, the
ideal clock is used to access the link's performance.
— Ideal Clock—Advanced Link Analyzer always uses the ideal click to access
link performance.
— Bang-Bang—Advanced Link Analyzer uses its internal bang-bang CDR model
to access the link performance. If the embedded CDR model is present in the
IBIS-AMI model, it is neglected.
• Bandwidth—When the Bang-Bang CDR is selected, the CDR loop bandwidth can
be set to Low, Medium, or High. (This is the same as the generic custom
receiver's CDR settings.)

AMI tab

The AMI tab shows the following AMI configuration parameters.

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Figure 43. Receiver IBIS-AMI Model AMI Configuration Tab

• Model Name—IBIS-AMI model name

• Reserved Parameters:
— The IBIS-AMI reserved parameters are shown. The reserved parameters are
meant for the Advanced Link Analyzer simulation configuration.
— Advanced Link Analyzer supports the IBIS-AMI Rev. 5.0 and 6.0 jitter format.
IBIS-AMI receiver jitter parameters (Rx_Clock_PDF) are extracted and
automatically set in the Receiver's Jitter/Noise window with the interpretation
shown in the following tables:

Table 13. IBIS-AMI Receiver Jitter Parameters—Rx_Clock_PDF Parameter

IBIS-AMI Rx_Clock_PDF Parameter Advanced Link Analyzer Interpretation

(Rx_Clock_PDF (Usage Info)(Type Float) DJ = <mean> UI (pk) or ps (pk), Uniform

(Format Gaussian <mean> <sigma>)) distribution
RJ = <sigma> UI (RMS) or ps (RMS)

(Rx_Clock_PDF (Usage Info)(Type Float) DJ = (<mean> + <mean>)/2 UI (pk) or ps

(Format Dual-Dirac <mean> <mean> <sigma>)) (pk), Dual-dirac distribution
RJ = <sigma> UI (RMS) or ps (RMS)

(Rx_Clock_PDF (Usage Info)(Type Float) DJ = <maxDJ> UI (pk) or ps (pk), Uniform

(Format DjRj < minDj > < maxDj > <sigma>)) distribution
RJ = <sigma> UI (RMS) or ps (RMS)

(Rx_Clock_PDF (Usage Info)(Type Integer Float/UI Float) Refer to receiver jitter PDF
(Format Table (Labels Row_No Time or UI Probability)
(-5 -5e-12 1e-10)
(- 4 - 4e-12 3e-7) … ))

Table 14. IBIS-AMI Receiver Jitter Parameters—Rx_Receiver_Sensitivity Parameter

IBIS-AMI Rx_Receiver_Sensitivity Parameter Advanced Link Analyzer Interpretation

(Rx_Receiver_Sensitivity (Usage Info)(Type Float) DN = <value>*1000 (unit is mV) with uniform

(Format Value <value>)) distribution

(Rx_Receiver_Sensitivity (Usage Info)(Type Float) DN = <typ>, <min>, or <max> *1000 (unit is

(Format Range < typ > <min> <max>)) mV) with uniform distribution

(Rx_Receiver_Sensitivity (Usage Info)(Type Float) DN = <typ>, <slow>, or <fast> *1000 (unit is

(Format Corner < typ > <slow> <fast>)) mV) with uniform distribution

Table 15. IBIS-AMI Receiver Jitter Parameters—Rx_Noise Parameter

IBIS-AMI Rx_Noise Parameter Advanced Link Analyzer Interpretation

(Rx_Noise (Usage Info)(Type Float) RN = <value>*1000 (unit is mV-rms)

continued...

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IBIS-AMI Rx_Noise Parameter Advanced Link Analyzer Interpretation

(Format Value <value>))

(Rx_Noise (Usage Info)(Type Float) RN = <typ>, <min>, or <max>*1000 (unit is

(Format Range < typ > <min> <max>)) mV-rms)

(Rx_Noise (Usage Info)(Type Float) RN = <typ>, <slow>, or <fast>*1000 (unit is

(Format Corner < typ > <slow> <fast>)) mV-rms)

Table 16. IBIS-AMI Receiver Jitter Parameters—Rx_Dj Parameter

IBIS-AMI Rx_Dj Parameter Advanced Link Analyzer Interpretation

(Rx_Dj (Usage Info)(Type Float) DJ = <value>*1012 (unit is ps-pk)

(Format Value <value>))

(Rx_Dj (Usage Info)(Type Float) DJ = <typ>, <min>, or <max>*1012 (unit is

(Format Range < typ > <min> <max>)) ps-pk)

(Rx_Dj (Usage Info)(Type Float) DJ = <typ>, <slow>, or <fast>*101212 (unit is

(Format Corner < typ > <slow> <fast>)) ps-pk)

(Rx_Dj (Usage Info)(Type UI) DJ = <value>*1012 (unit isUI-pk)

(Format Value <value>))

(Rx_Dj (Usage Info)(Type UI) DJ = <typ>, <min>, or <max>*1012 (unit is

(Format Range < typ > <min> <max>)) UI-pk)

(Rx_Dj (Usage Info)(Type UI) DJ = <typ>, <slow>, or <fast>*1012 (unit is

(Format Corner < typ > <slow> <fast>)) UI-pk)

Table 17. IBIS-AMI Receiver Jitter Parameters—Rx_Rj Parameter

IBIS-AMI Rx_Rj Parameter Advanced Link Analyzer Interpretation

(Rx_Rj (Usage Info)(Type Float) RJ = <value>*1012 (unit is ps-rms)

(Format Value <value>))

(Rx_Rj (Usage Info)(Type Float) RJ = <typ>, <min>, or <max>*1012 (unit is

(Format Range < typ > <min> <max>)) ps-rms)

(Rx_Rj (Usage Info)(Type Float) RJ = <typ>, <slow>, or <fast>*101212 (unit is

(Format Corner < typ > <slow> <fast>)) ps-rms)

(Rx_Rj (Usage Info)(Type UI) RJ = <value> (unit is UI-rms)

(Format Value <value>))

(Rx_Rj (Usage Info)(Type UI) RJ = <typ>, <min>, or <max> (unit is UI-

(Format Range < typ > <min> <max>)) rms)

(Rx_Rj (Usage Info)(Type UI) RJ = <typ>, <slow>, or <fast> (unit is UI-

(Format Corner < typ > <slow> <fast>)) rms)

• Model Specific Parameters— This section lists all the model specific parameters
that the IBIS-AMI model provides. You can use their selections or specify
parameters for the simulation.

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Figure 44. Receiver IBIS-AMI Parameter Type Designation for Link Optimization

Advanced Link Analyzer 17.0 supports link optimization with IBIS-AMI receiver
models. On the left are the model specific parameters. For each parameter that
Advanced Link Analyzer determines is tunable, a pull-down menu allows you to assign
the receiver parameters. The types of receiver parameters are as follows:
• No Sweep—No sweeping or link optimization is performed
• Sweep—Advanced Link Analyzer sweeps or performs link optimization using
available options provided by the IBIS-AMI model. This parameter is not
supported in the Advanced Link Analyzer 17.0 release.
• CTLE Adapt Controller—This receiver parameter enables or disables automatic
adaptation of the CTLE or analog equalizer. This sweep parameter is used when
the link optimization method is CTLE=>FIR=>DFE,
CTLE=>FIR=>CTLE=>DFE, CTLE=>FIR+DFE, or CTLE=>FIR+DFE=>CTLE
+DFE.
• DFE Adapt Controller—This receiver parameter enables or disables automatic
adaptation of the DFE. This sweep parameter is used when the link optimization
method is CTLE=>FIR=>DFE, CTLE=>FIR=>CTLE=>DFE, CTLE=>FIR+DFE,
or CTLE=>FIR+DFE=>CTLE+DFE.
• Sweep as CTLE—This receiver parameter is swept as the CTLE or analog
equalizer with all available options.
• Sweep as CTLE AC Gain—This receiver parameter is swept as the CTLE’s AC gain
controller. This sweep parameter is generally used in conjunction with the Sweep
as CTLE DC Gain parameter.
• Sweep as CTLE DC Gain—This receiver parameter is swept as the CTLE’s DC gain
controller. This sweep parameter is generally used in conjunction with the Sweep
as CTLE AC Gain parameter.

With the information provided in the IBIS-AMI model and parameter type selections,
Advanced Link Analyzer determines the link optimization approach and conducts the
simulation. If you cannot determine the nature of the model specific parameters,
consult with the IBIS-AMI vendors. An example of transmitter IBIS-AMI parameter
type designations is shown in the above figure.

Note: Advanced Link Analyzer assumes no overlapping between jitter and noise components.
Examine the IBIS-AMI Rx_Clock_PDF parameters when they are imported into
Advanced Link Analyzer. Consult device vendors or model providers about the scope
or definition of the DJ component and DCD component in the IBIS-AMI model to avoid
double-counting their effects.

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Status tab

The Status tab shows the parameters that are fed into the IBIS-AMI model for
simulations.

Figure 45. Receiver IBIS-AMI Model Status Tab

Note: Consider the following for the IBIS-AMI receiver modeling support in Advanced Link
Analyzer:
• Advanced Link Analyzer only supports the IBIS model with an AMI component. An
IBIS model without an AMI component will not be simulated.
• Receiver CDR is supported by the IBIS-AMI model itself
• Advanced Link Analyzer supports IBIS-AMI receiver models with the on-die S-
parameter model (IBIS BIRD 158.3) using the rxic or TstonefileIBIS-AMI
keyword. When Advanced Link Analyzer detects the rxic or Tstonefile keyword,
the Channel Wizard helps you determine the on-die S-parameter configuration.

2.1.5 IBIS-AMI Wrapper

With the IBIS-AMI wrapper feature, we bring additional capabilities and flexibilities in
supporting Intel’s transceiver devices. The benefits include:
1. Provide enhanced feature on top of the IBIS-AMI models such as:
• Joint transmitter and receiver link optimization
• Reference clock modeling
• Transmitter PLL modeling
• Incremental accuracy improvement
2. Improve user experiences
• Integrate IBIS-AMI settings with Advanced Link Analyzer Control Module’s
graphical user interface
• Single click to select and configure Intel’s IBIS-AMI models
• Automatically configure the device according to link settings
3. Plug-and-Play device models
• Allow post-installation model updates

Procedure to install a new Intel transceiver model with wrapper support:

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1. Close Advanced Link Analyzer

2. Acquire the IBIS-AMI model from Intel support web site or your Intel support
personal
3. Create a new folder under your <Advanced Link Analyzer installation directory>
\database\ with folder name instructed. For example, for Intel Stratix 10 L-Tile
transceiver, the folder name is “S10L”. For Intel Stratix 10 H-Tile transceiver, the
folder name is “S10H”.
4. Copy all files associated with IBIS-AMI model into the folder created in step 3
5. Copy all package models into the folder created in step 3
6. Optionally, additional files to be copied into the database folder

After installing the Intel IBIS-AMI model and restarting the Advanced Link Analyzer,
the new device will appear in the device selection menu and is ready for use.

Advanced Link Analyzer 17.1 supports the IBIS-AMI Wrapper Phase 1 features, which
include:
1. IBIS-AMI GUI integration
2. Package model encapsulation
3. Joint transmitter (embedded model only) and receiver link optimization

Note: The IBIS-AMI Wrapper only supports selected Intel devices. Please use Advanced Link
Analyzer's IBIS-AMI model interface for 3rd party and other Intel transceivers.

2.1.6 Channel Setting

The channel connects the transmitter and the receiver. It contains transmission media
such as PCB traces, connectors, backplanes, cables, and device packages. A channel is
a combination of numerous components described by channel models. Advanced Link
Analyzer’s channel processing engine first interprets the channel models and then
connect and cascades channels to construct one channel component for link
simulations.

Advanced Link Analyzer supports single-ended Touchstone 1.0 and selected types of
Touchstone 2.0 S-parameter channel models. It can access and process n-port S-
parameters and extract transmission responses and crosstalk responses. After
successfully extracting the channel characteristics, it performs differential-pair channel
cascading for subsequent link simulation.

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Note: Advanced Link Analyzer supports key Touchstone 2.0 features for high-speed serial
link simulations. Highlights of Touchstone 2.0 support in the current release include:
• Touchstone 2.0 headers.
• Matrix format is supported.
• Mixed-mode S-parameter is partially supported. Advanced Link Analyzer currently
requires the whole mixed-mode S-parameter or only the differential-input-
differential-output response to be present. This means that either all sections,
which include differential-differential, differential-common, common-differential,
and common-common sections of all ports and differential pairs are present, or
only the differential-differential section is present. Partial mixed-mode S-
parameters are not allowed.
• S-parameter files with an odd number of ports or odd number of differential pairs
are not supported.
• Noise data and associated data formats can be included in the file but will not be
processed.
• Arbitrary port reference is not supported.

Advanced Link Analyzer supports Channel Designer components such as stripline,

microstrip, coax, RLGC, ideal transmission line, coupled stripline, and coupled
microstrip. When you select a Channel Designer component, you can choose different
configurations in the associated channel designer GUI. PCB stackup is also supported,
in which you can enter PCB substrate and stackup information. Supported channel
models, which include stripline, microstrip, coupled stripline, and coupled microstrip,
can utilize any available PCB stackup dataset in the design. Multiple PCB stackup
dataset is supported in Advanced Link Analyzer. Refer to the Advanced Link Analyzer
Channel Designer section for detailed information about the usage of channel designer
components.

Advanced Link Analyzer implements the Link Designer, which allows you to graphically
construct the communication link. In the following figure, the Channel List shows a
channel construction example with one transmission channel (such as a loss channel
or a victim channel) and two crosstalk channels.

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Figure 46. Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Setting with Link Design and Channel List

An S-parameter channel component such as a connector, cable, or backplane can be

described by the following parameters or information:
• ID—Sequence or location of the channel component. The top channel is connected
to the transmitter and the bottom channel is connected to the receiver.
Note: Embedded package models (such as Package models for Intel devices and
PCI Express Gen3 devices) are not shown in the channel list or Link
Designer.
• Channel Name—An S-parameter file that describes the channel component. The
S-parameter can be 4-port, 8-port, 12-port, 16-port, and so forth. When your
cursor hovers on a channel list, a tooltip shows the S-parameter file location. This
information is useful if you share Advanced Link Analyzer configuration files.
• Type—Specify the type of channel characteristics to be used in the link simulation.
The type of channel characteristics can be insertion loss (Loss), far-end crosstalk
(FEXT), or near-end crosstalk (NEXT). You can change the channel (or channel
type) by selecting the channel from the Link Designer using the Channel Wizard.
• Port Configuration—Depending on the S-parameter measurement condition, the
port configuration can be one of the following types. Use the Channel Wizard to
change the port configuration of an S-parameter.

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Figure 47. S-parameter with Port Configuration – Type 1

Figure 48. S-parameter with Port Configuration – Type 2

Figure 49. S-parameter with Port Configuration – Type 3

Figure 50. S-parameter with Custom Port Configuration

If the S-parameter file is not Type 1, Type 2, or Type 3, you can use the Custom
option in the Channel Wizard’s Port Config pull-down menu, as shown in the following
figure. When a Custom port configuration is selected in the Channel Wizard, a text box
named Port Map appears below the port configuration figure (one of the

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configurations in the above figure). Enter the port numbers in the sequence [P1, P2,
P3, …Pn], where n is the number of ports, as illustrated in the figure above that
matches the selected S-parameter model. In the figure below, the Port Map sequence
1 3 2 4 corresponds to a 4-port (n=4) S-parameter model with port configuration Type
2 where P1=1, P3=Pn/2+1=2, P2=3, and P4=Pn/2+2=4. When a custom port
configuration is assigned to an S-parameter model, it is displayed as port
configuration Type 4 in the channel table.

Figure 51. Custom Port Configuration in Channel Wizard

• Lane—This field lists the channel lane ID number. For channel lane S-parameters
that are 8-port and above, a channel lane must be chosen for link simulations. For
example, the above figures show a 12-port 3-lane S-parameter. After loading the
channel file, Advanced Link Analyzer assigns the center lane as the default
simulating channel (or victim channel for crosstalk simulations). Use the Channel
Wizard to change the lane ID. For 2-port or 4-port S-parameter models, the lane
ID is ignored.
• Rev—This field indicates whether the channel signal flow direction is to be
reversed. This is generally used for the device package model when you want to
make sure transmitter and receiver devices are connected to the die side of the
package S-parameter model. Refer to the S-parameter comment section for S-
parameter signal flow configuration.
• AC Cap—This field records AC coupling capacitor value in nF (nano-Farad, 10-9 F).
• Shunt Cap—This field records shunt capacitance value in pF (pico-Farad, 10-12 F).

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A crosstalk aggressor has the following parameters:

• Source—Each crosstalk aggressor can be of Inline, Transmitter, or Aggressor
type.
— With an inline aggressor, the input to the crosstalk channel is the input
waveform at the last transmission/victim channel segment.
— With a transmitter aggressor, the aggressor waveform is the same as the
victim transmitter with the above aggressor effects, such as frequency offset,
delay, and relative amplitude, applied.
— If the aggressor type is “Aggressor X”, the aggressor is modeled by the Xth
aggressor type as shown in the Aggressor Transmitter tab (refer to the
Crosstalk Aggressor Transmitter Setting section).
The following figure shows the three crosstalk aggressor transmitter types. Inline
aggressor means the signal feeding into the crosstalk channel comes from the
immediate victim channel in parallel with the XTLK channel (as shown in the red
dotted arrow line). TX Aggressor means that, regardless of where the XTLK
channel is located, this XTLK always uses the VICTIM TX output as its signal
source (shown in the green dotted line). The Individual Aggressor TX is similar to
the Victim TX Aggressor, but it can be generated separately.

Figure 52. Crosstalk Aggressor Types

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• Location—For multiple channel/lane S-parameters simulating crosstalk effects,

you must specify the aggressor location. For example, the above figures show four
possible crosstalk configurations from a 12-port S-parameter model. Use the
Aggressor Location menu in the Channel Wizard to change the aggressor
location. The Aggressor ID field is ignored for a victim channel (Loss type).
Note: The Aggressor ID index excludes victim lanes. For example, in a 12-port S-
parameter, there are three lanes. If the middle lane (Lane ID 2) is a victim
lane, the two aggressor channels have Aggressor ID 1 and 2, not 1 and 3.
• Relative Amplitude—Each crosstalk aggressor can have different aggressor
amplitude relative to its original amplitude. The default value for aggressor is 1.0,
which indicates the aggressor has its original amplitude. The Aggressor ID field is
ignored for a victim channel (Loss type).
• Delay—Each crosstalk aggressor can have individual delay or time offset. The
delay is input in picoseconds (ps, 10-12 second). Positive values in aggressor delay
indicate the aggressor is lagging behind the victim waveform. Negative values
indicate the aggressor is ahead of the victim signal waveform. The Aggressor ID
field is ignored for a victim channel (Loss type).
• Frequency Offset—Each crosstalk aggressor can run on an offset frequency
compared to the victim channel’s transmitter. The frequency offset is given in
negative ppm (parts per million). The maximum frequency is –950,000 ppm.

The Channel Viewer button is a convenient way of observing channel characteristics in

the current channel list. Click Channel Viewer to transfer the channels to a new
Channel Viewer window. You can then observe various parts of channel characteristics
in either frequency- or time-domain. Use the Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Viewer
to view cascaded channel characteristics if multiple channel components are used in
the victim signal path. The following figure illustrates the Channel Viewer plot of the
channel construct shown in Figure 53 on page 81.

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Figure 53. Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Viewer Example

Refer to the Tutorial: PCI Express 8GT chapter for step-by-step channel setup
instructions.

Automatic S-parameter Configuration Check (ASCC)

Advanced Link Analyzer uses a proprietary Automatic S-parameter Configuration

Checker (ASCC) to help you set and connect the S-parameter in the channel chain.
With ASCC, Advanced Link Analyzer inspects the S-parameter model and determines
the port number and port configuration. ASCC also selects the middle lane as the
victim channel (insertion loss channel) and sets the Lane and Aggressor pull-down
menus for user configuration. Channel configuration information is saved individually
for each channel. Therefore, S-parameters with different port numbers and/or port
configurations can be mixed and cascaded in Advanced Link Analyzer.

Related Links
• Tutorial: PCI Express 8GT on page 186
• Crosstalk Aggressor Transmitter Setting on page 85
• Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Designer on page 162

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2.1.7 Batch Channel Simulation Configuration

Advanced Link Analyzer provides a convenient way to set up batch channel
simulations. Batch channel simulation generation can be accomplished when the
following conditions are met:
• A complete link is graphically configured. This requires that:
— The link contains a transmitter, receiver, and at least one transmission
channel.
— In the Link Designer, the connection lines from the transmitter to the receiver
are bold black lines.
• The link configuration is complete and ready for simulating with a variety of
channels. Link configurations such as data rate, test pattern, BER target, reference
clock setting, transmitter and receiver operation mode, and link optimization
method are set and ready for simulations.

When these conditions are met, perform the following steps to set up a batch
simulation. This example creates a batch simulation using the same transmitter,
receiver, and other link settings while evaluating a group of channels at the place of
the channel 20in_4mils.s4p, as shown in the following figure.

Figure 54. Example Link Configuration for Creating Batch Channel Simulations

1. Choose a connected channel from the Link Designer work space. Right-click on the
channel to bring up a context menu.

Figure 55. Batch Channel Simulation Configuration Selection

The Advanced Link Analyzer Batch Simulation Channel Selection window appears.

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Figure 56. Batch Simulation Channel Selection Window

2. Click Add Channel to select channel files. A file browser helps you select the
channel files you want. You can select multiple channels within the file browser.
You can also click Add Channel repeatedly to add more channels. The added
channel is listed in the Channel list box with channel type, port configuration, lane
(if the channel is 8-port or more), and aggressor identification (if the channel is a
crosstalk channel within a multiple-lane S-parameter).
• Advanced Link Analyzer uses the Automatic S-parameter Configuration
Check (ASCC) algorithm to automatically detect S-parameter models’ port
configuration and designate default transmission lane.
• To observe a channel’s characteristics or change a channel’s configuration, you
can:
— Select the channel and then click View using Channel Wizard. The
Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Wizard helps you configure the channel.
— To see all channels' characteristics, click View All using Channel Viewer
to start the Channel Viewer (refer to the Advanced Link Analyzer Channel
Viewer Module sections for details).
— Use the pull-down menus or buttons below the channel list boxes to
change individual channel configuration.
• Optionally, you can edit the batch simulation file name header in the pull-down
menu or the text box below the channel list boxes. By default, Advanced Link
Analyzer uses the Date-Time string as the file name header. You can also
type the desired header name in this box.

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Figure 57. Example of Batch Channel Selections

3. When channel selection is complete, click Generate Simulation Configuration

to generate Advanced Link Analyzer simulation configuration files with the selected
channels.
Note: In the current implementation of Advanced Link Analyzer, all of the
simulation configuration files generated from step 3 will be saved in
Advanced Link Analyzer installation directory.

After completing these steps, a series of Advanced Link Analyzer simulation

configuration files are generated. For example, by using the Date-Time header option,
four sets of Advanced Link Analyzer simulation configuration files are generated.

Figure 58. Batch Generated Advanced Link Analyzer Simulation Configuration Files

Launch Advanced Link Analyzer Batch Simulation Controller to run the generated link
simulations (refer to the Advanced Link Analyzer Batch Simulation Controller section
for details). The following figure shows the generated batch channel simulations added
in the Advanced Link Analyzer Batch Simulation Controller and ready for batch
simulations.

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Figure 59. Added Generated Batch Channel Simulation Configuration in Advanced Link
Analyzer Batch Simulation Controller

Related Links
• Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Viewer Module on page 124
• Advanced Link Analyzer Batch Simulation Controller on page 160

2.1.8 Crosstalk Aggressor Transmitter Setting

Aggressor transmitter configurations allow you to configure crosstalk aggressors
individually with different transmitter types, pre-emphasis settings, amplitudes, data
rates, and so forth. The following figure shows a 2-aggressor link with three different
aggressor transmitters.

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Figure 60. Aggressor Transmitter with Two Individual Aggressor Transmitters

Follow the steps described in the previous section to set up a link with crosstalk
channels. In the Channel Wizard window, in the Signal Source menu of the Crosstalk
Aggressor panel, select the Inline, Transmitter, or one of the eight available
Aggressor types.

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Figure 61. Setting Up the Crosstalk Aggressor for a Crosstalk Channel

Advanced Link Analyzer supports up to eight individual crosstalk aggressor

transmitters. However, a crosstalk aggressor transmitter can be shared among
crosstalk channels. By combining the aggressor relative amplitude, frequency offset,
and delay setting, Advanced Link Analyzer can generate a variety of crosstalk
aggressor signal sources.

After completing the configuration in the Channel Wizard, go to the Advanced Link
Analyzer GUI and select the Aggressor Transmitter tab.

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Figure 62. Aggressor Transmitter Tab

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Within the Aggressor Transmitter tab, there are eight aggressor types associated with
the aggressor types in the Channel Wizard’s Signal Source menu. Each aggressor can
be configured as follows:
• Data Rate—Data rate of the selected aggressor transmitter in Gbps.
• Test Pattern—Aggressor transmitter’s test pattern. Advanced Link Analyzer
supports the following test patterns:
— Same as victim TX
— PRBS-7, PRBS-9, PRBS-11, PRBS-15, PRBS-23, PRBS-31
• VOD—Differential output voltage of the aggressor transmitter in volts.
• Transmitter Type—Aggressor transmitter can be one of the following transmitter
types:
— Same as victim TX
— Stratix V GX
— Arria V GZ
— Stratix V GT
— Custom
• Pre-emphasis / FIR—Pre-emphasis or FIR setting of the aggressor transmitter.
You can set it to be the same as the victim TX or you can type in the setting.
Note: — In manual pre-emphasis/FIR input mode, the pre-emphasis/FIR setting
must be in the same format as used in the Transmitter tab. This does
not mean that the aggressor transmitter must be the same type as the
victim transmitter, but that the pre-emphasis setting format must be in
the format as if it is a victim transmitter. For example, if the aggressor
transmitter type is Intel Stratix V GX, the pre-emphasis/FIR setting will
be in a list of TX-FIR levels such as -1, 0, 20, 3, where -1 is the pre-tap
1 value, 20 is the post-tap 1 value, and 3 is the post-tap 2 value. The
main tap can be any value, because Advanced Link Analyzer determines
the main tap's value based on the values of other FIR taps.
— If the user input TX pre-emphasis /FIR is invalid for the selected
transmitter type, pre-emphasis/FIR will be disabled.

If the transmitter type is Custom, the following parameters are also used:
• Edge Rate—Advanced Link Analyzer generates a transmitter output waveform
with the specified edge rate. Edge rate is in the format of ps/Volt.
• TX-FIR Length—Length of TX-FIR for custom aggressor transmitter.
• Main-Tap Location—Location of main tap of aggressor transmitter.

The example shown in Figure 62 on page 88 indicates an aggressor transmitter, which

is a custom transmitter type, running at 6.5 Gbps with the PRBS-23 test pattern and a
VOD of 1.2 V. The TX FIR coefficients are [-0.1, 0.8, -0.1] with a TX-FIR length of 3
and the main tap is at 2nd tap. According to the link configuration shown in Figure 60
on page 86, this aggressor transmitter is associated with Crosstalk (FEXT) channel ID
= 2.

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2.1.9 Repeater and Retimer Configurations

Advanced Link Analyzer supports repeater and retimer simulations. A repeater is a
device that can be placed within a link where it can provide additional equalization
capabilities. It is typically constructed with two major stages: an equalizer stage and a
driver stage. The equalizer stage usually contains continuous-time linear equalizer
(CTLE) circuitry that compensates the channel before and, possibly, after the repeater
depending on the design of the driver stage. The driver stage usually amplifies the
equalized signal and may contain an emphasis function so that it may compensate the
channel after the repeater. Depending on the driver stage design, a repeater can be a
linear repeater, where the driver maintains linear characteristics within the majority of
the signal amplitude range, or a non-linear repeater, where a limiting amplifier
between the equalizer stage and driver stage can sharpen the waveform’s transition
time. Both linear and non-linear repeater simulations are supported in Advanced Link
Analyzer.

Similar to a repeater, a retimer is a device that can be placed within a link where it
provides additional equalization and jitter/noise cleaning capabilities. A retimer is
constructed with two major stages: an equalizer stage, which is equipped with the
clock data recovery (CDR) circuitry, and a driver stage. The equalizer with a CDR
stage will first compensate the channel effects for the link before the retimer and then
the CDR will recover the bit time and data for its output. During this process, it not
only compensates for channel effects, but also resets or reduces jitter and noises that
may come from the reference clock, transmitter, or other channel components. Also,
with the presence of a CDR, more advanced equalization schemes, such as decision
feedback equalizer (DFE), can be incorporated in a retimer. The driver stage is similar
to that of a repeater. A retimer is non-linear by nature as both the bit time and
amplitude are re-generated.

Advanced Link Analyzer supports repeater and retimer simulations with the following
conditions:
1. Simulation mode: Hybrid mode or Full Waveform mode. Repeater/Retimer
simulations in Statistical simulation mode are not supported.
2. Repeater and retimer model format: The repeater and retimer models must be in
IBIS-AMI format. IBIS version 6.0 (and later) officially supports repeater and
retimer simulations and models are available from vendors. The only exception is
that, for certain linear repeaters, vendors may provide their models in S-
parameter format. If this is the case, users can just treat the repeater S-
parameter as a regular channel component and place/connect it in the schematic
editor.

A repeater/retimer IBIS-AMI model consists of two internal models: an IBIS-AMI

receiver model, i.e. the equalizer/CDR stage, and an IBIS-AMI transmitter model, i.e.
the driver stage. In Advanced Link Analyzer, a user will explicitly place a pair of
receiver link component (Repeater/Retimer RX) and transmitter link component
(Repeater/Retimer TX) in the schematic editor for a repeater/retimer model. Figure
63 on page 91 shows the repeater/retimer GUI entries and Figure 64 on page 92
shows a typical repeater/retimer link configuration. Note that while Advanced Link
Analyzer does enforce or limit how the link components are connected within a link, a
user has to make sure the repeater/retimer RX and repeater/retimer TX model are
connected in the correct signal flow order and no other link or channel component is
placed between the repeater/retimer RX and TX models.

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Note that the repeater and retimer IBIS-AMI model may be provided in various
formats. The equalizer/CDR stage model, which is with IBIS receiver component type,
and the driver stage, which is with IBIS transmitter component type, may belong to
the same IBIS model or may be provided in two separate IBIS models. Please consult
the vendors for the usage.

Figure 63. Link component GUI entries

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Figure 64. Typical link topology with a repeater/retimer

2.1.9.1 Repeater/Retimer RX Configuration

• IBIS Files: Click the file open button next to the IBIS File text box to select an
IBIS model file. Advanced Link Analyzer scans through the IBIS file and allocates
all available receiver components and models. If Advanced Link Analyzer
encounters any of the following issues in opening or interpreting the IBIS-AMI
model, a warning message will be shown.
— No receiver component or model can be located.
— The DLL for the computer platform cannot be located. Note that the IBIS-AMI
model is platform dependent. For example, a 32-bit DLL is required to
simulate in a 32-bit link simulator. A 64-bit DLL is required to simulate in a 64-
bit simulator. A 32-bit DLL cannot simulate with a 64-bit DLL in the same
simulation.
— The DLL occupies so much memory that Advanced Link Analyzer was not able
to load it. However, Advanced Link Analyzer might be able to run the
simulation with such a DLL because of memory allocation differences in the
Advanced Link Analyzer GUI and the simulation engine.
• Component: Select an IBIS component from the IBIS model.

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• IBIS tab
— Model: Select a device model within a component of an IBIS model.
— Model Selector: Select a model from the model selector list.
— Corner: Select the corner type of a device model. The choices are Typ, Min,
and Max.
— AMI File: Shows the AMI file specified in the IBIS model.
Note: Advanced Link Analyzer currently only supports device models with AMI
modeling components.
— DLL File: Shows the DLL file specified in the IBIS model.
— Use External Termination: A checked box indicates that an external
termination is used in the simulation. The external termination (single-ended)
is specified in the text box on the right. The default setting is not using
external termination and the default external termination (if applicable) is 50
ohms (single-ended).
Note: Advanced Link Analyzer automatically enables the external termination
option when it detects that the IBIS-AMI model is using [series pin
mapping] with [R series] configuration.
— Automatic Jitter/Noise Update : A checked box allows automatic jitter/
noise updates from the IBIS-AMI model (available for models which are
compliant with IBIS-AMI 6.0 and later).
Note: If you noticed very slow GUI response with certain IBIS-AMI models,
please uncheck Automatic Jitter/Noise Update to see if the condition
improves. You can import jitter/noise number using Manual Jitter/
Noise Update.
— Manual Jitter/Noise Update: When the Automatic Jitter/Noise Update
option is disabled, turning on this option allows you to manually update the
jitter/noise figures from the IBIS-AMI model (available for models which are
compliant with IBIS-AMI 6.0 and later).
— DLL Path: Specify a folder or path name where the supporting files of an
IBIS-AMI model are stored. Refer to the IBIS standards for details.
— User Rising/Falling Waveform: Internal testing feature. Do not use and left
as is.
— Receiver Mode: Used to select the function or behavior of the receiver
model. Select Auto Detect to let Advanced Link Analyzer determine the
operating mode based on the model’s capabilities. Select Repeater to force
Advanced Link Analyzer to use this model as a repeater’s equalization stage.
Select Retimer to ask Advanced Link Analyzer to treat, if possible, this model
as the equalizer/CDR stage of a retimer. The default setting is Auto Detect.
— CDR Retime Modeling Options / Retime Method: Select Precision to ask
Advanced Link Analyzer to assume the return clock ticks are precise
sufficiently that accumulated clock times will equals to the simulation time
line. Select Speed to ask the simulation engine to process the returned clock
times with a limited window of time frame. Select Default is the same as the
Speed option.
• AMI tab: Refer to IBIS-AMI Receiver in the Receiver Options section for details.
• Jitter/Noise: Refer to IBIS-AMI Receiver in the Receiver Options section for
details.
• Status tab: Refer to IBIS-AMI Receiver in the Receiver Options section for details.
• Jitter/Noise Options: Internal use only. Do not use and let it remain in its
default state.

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Figure 65. Repeater/Retimer RX IBIS-AMI model configuration

Figure 66. Repeater/Retimer RX model’s AMI

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Figure 67. Repeater/Retimer RX model’s Status Tab

Related Links
Receiver Options on page 65

2.1.9.2 Repeater/Retimer TX Configuration

• IBIS Files: Click the file open button (see Figure 68 on page 97) next to the
IBIS File text box to select an IBIS model file. Advanced Link Analyzer scans
through the IBIS file and allocates all available transmitter components and
models. If Advanced Link Analyzer encounters the following issues in opening or
interpreting the IBIS-AMI model, a warning message is displayed.
— No transmitter component or model can be located.
— The DLL for the computer platform cannot be located. The IBIS-AMI model is
platform dependent. For example, a 32-bit DLL is required to simulate in a 32-
bit link simulator and a 64-bit DLL is required to simulate in a 64-bit simulator.
A 32-bit DLL cannot simulate in a 64-bit DLL simulator.
— The DLL occupies too much memory and Advanced Link Analyzer was not able
to load it. However, Advanced Link Analyzer might be able to run the
simulation with such a DLL because of memory allocation differences in the
Advanced Link Analyzer GUI and the simulation engine.
• Component: Select an IBIS component from the IBIS model

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• IBIS tab
— Model: Select a device model within a component of an IBIS model.
— Model Selector: Select a model from the model selector list.
— Corner: Select the corner type of a device model. The choices are Typ, Min,
and Max.
— AMI File: Shows the AMI file specified in the IBIS model.
Note: Advanced Link Analyzer currently only supports device models with AMI
modeling components.
— DLL File: Shows the DLL file specified in the IBIS model.
— Use External Termination: A checked box indicates that an external
termination is used in the simulation. The external termination (single-ended)
is specified in the text box on the right. The default setting is not using
external termination and the default external termination (if applicable) is 50
ohms (single-ended).
— Use Rising/Falling Waveform: If rising/falling waveforms are available in
the IBIS model, the rising/falling waveforms are used to model the transmitter
by default. If you turn off this option, ramp data (in the IBIS model) is used in
the simulation.
— Automatic Jitter/Noise Update: A checked box allows automatic jitter/
noise updates from the IBIS-AMI model (available for models which are
compliant with IBIS-AMI 6.0 and later).
Note: If you noticed very slow GUI response with certain IBIS-AMI models,
please uncheck Automatic Jitter/Noise Update to see if the condition
improves. You can import jitter/noise number using Manual Jitter/
Noise Update.
— Manual Jitter/Noise Update: When the Automatic Jitter/Noise Update
option is disabled, turning on this option allows you to manually update the
jitter/noise figures from the IBIS-AMI model (available for models which are
compliant with IBIS-AMI 6.0 and later).
— DLL_Path: Specify a folder or path name where the supporting files of an
IBIS-AMI model are stored. Refer to the IBIS standards for details.
— Model Option: Choose Default.
— Ideal Front-end Limiting Amplifier: If the check box is checked, Advanced
Link Analyzer will insert an ideal limiting amplifier before the repeater/retimer
driver stage with waveform differential amplitude of 1 V.
• AMI tab: Refer to IBIS-AMI Transmitter in the Characterization Data Access
section for details.
• Jitter/Noise: Refer to IBIS-AMI Transmitter in the Characterization Data Access
section for details.
• Status tab: Refer to IBIS-AMI Transmitter in the Characterization Data Access
section for details.
• Jitter/Noise Options: Internal use only. Do not use and let it remain in its
default state.

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Figure 68. Repeater/Retimer TX IBIS-AMI Configuration

Figure 69. Repeater/Retimer TX AMI Tab

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Figure 70. Repeater/Retimer TX Status Tab

Related Links
Characterization Data Access on page 45

2.1.10 Noise Source Link Component

Advanced Link Analyzer supports noise source generation and simulation in the link
level. While most high-speed serial links’ noise are generated by the transmitter and
receivers (and their supporting networks and components like power supplies,
reference clock, and crosstalk), many industrial standards use external noise sources,
which are applied on pre-defined test points within a link, for channel or device
compliance tests. Notable industrial standards such as PCISIG and IEEE 802.3 use
such external noise injection schemes. With the support of noise source generation
and simulation capabilities, we can accurately model such compliance test conditions
in Advanced Link Analyzer.

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Figure 71. Noise source GUI entry

Figure 71 on page 99 shows the GUI entry for noise source generator. After selecting
the Noise Source w/ Channel icon, the Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Wizard will
show up (see Figure 72 on page 100). By default, an ideal channel (no loss with ideal
impedance) is chosen. If there is a channel between the noise generator and the test
point, you can click the Change Channel button and select a different channel file.
Note that the Signal Source pull-down menu is set to NoiseSouce1 by default. A user
can also configure or modify the noise source’s relative amplitude, delay, or frequency
offset in the same way as setting a crosstalk aggressor. After click OK button, the
noise source can be placed in the schematic design space. A typical link topology with
a noise source is shown in Figure 73 on page 100.

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Figure 72. Noise source channel configuration

Figure 73. Typical link topology with a noise source

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The noise configuration are located in the Aggressor Transmitter tab page (see Figure
74 on page 101). The noise source can be configured with the following parameters:
• DN: Deterministic noise in mV. DN can be generated using a uniform distribution,
dual-Dirac, or truncated Gaussian method. The default DN method is uniform.
• BUN: Bound uncorrelated noise in mV. The noise characteristics selection is same
as DN. The default method is Truncated Gaussian method with a Peak-to-RMS
ratio of 14.
• SN: Sinusoidal noise with peak-peak amplitude in mV with specified frequency in
GHz.
• RN: Random noise in mV-rms. RN can further be bandwidth limited to user-
specified frequency in GHz.
• Noise PDF: Not supported.

Figure 74. Noise source configuration

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2.1.11 System Options

Use the System Option windows to set the simulation setting.
• System tab

Figure 75. Advanced Link Analyzer System Options Window: System Tab

— Output Directory—Specify an output directory for the simulation results

according to the Output Directory Mode setting.
— Output Directory Mode
• Sync with .jne file location—Automatically sets the output directory to
the directory location when .jne/.jneschm is created by a user with the
Save or Save as command.
• As specified in the Output Directory—Sets the output directory to the
location specified in the Output Directory text box.
— Default Output Image Format—Set the default output image format to
PNG, JPG, or GIF.
— Generate Plots Measured with Ideal Clock
• Yes—Always generate plots that are measured with the ideal clock.
• Do not plot when RX CDR is enabled—Skip ideal clock-based plots in
RX outputs. (default value)
• Do not plot when TX scope is enabled—Skip ideal clock-based plots in
TX outputs.
• Do not plot when TX scope and/or RX CDR are enabled—Skip ideal
clock-based plots when the TX scope and/or RX CDR are enabled.

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• — Jitter Sensing Sensitivity—Select the sensitivity of jitter detection when

Advanced Link Analyzer performs jitter analysis (Beta feature in the 17.0
release). The selections are: Default, Ideal, Low, Medium, and High. The
Default setting is equivalent to the Ideal setting.
— Link Optimization Option— The choices are Accuracy or Speed. The default
is Accuracy. By selecting Speed, the link optimization process runs faster at
the cost of possibly less optimal solutions.

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• Simulation tab

Figure 76. System Options Window: Simulation Tab

— Default Eye Diagram Plot Length—This parameter controls the waveform

length used to construct the eye diagram when the Build Eye Diagram w/
Whole Waveform option is disabled. You can increase the length as long as
the length is less than the simulation length. The default value is 4096 bits.
— Build Eye Diagram w/ Whole Waveform—If Enable is selected, Advanced
Link Analyzer uses the whole simulated waveform to build the eye diagrams. If
the simulation length is large, this will take more time. The default setting is
Enable.
— Channel Generation Max Frequency—Sets the default maximum frequency
of the channel models generated in Advanced Link Analyzer. The default value
is 35 GHz.
— Channel Generation Frequency Step—Sets the default frequency step of
the channel models generated in Advanced Link Analyzer. The default value is
10 MHz.
— S-parameter Caching—If Enable is selected, the last read S-parameter file
is cached in memory for faster access and processing. Doing this greatly
improves GUI performance when reading a multiple-lane S-parameter file with
large file size. You can disable this feature.

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• Channel Model tab

Figure 77. System Options Window: Channel Model Tab

— S-Parameter Extrapolation Options

• Extrapolation Usage Method—This menu selects the method used in the
extrapolation S-parameter channel model.
— Default—The S-parameter is extrapolated but will be capped at the
final amplitude value.
— Always Apply—The S-parameter is extrapolated without restriction.
• Extrapolation Method—This menu selects the extrapolation method.
— Default—Linear extrapolation.
— IL Fitting Extrapolation—Extrapolation will be done by insertion loss
fitting method.
— Channel Integrity Options—Enable or disable channel integrity checking in
Advanced Link Analyzer. The default setting is Enable. Choose Disable if
Advanced Link Analyzer has issues opening or accessing certain S-parameter
models.
— S-parameter Causality Check Extrapolation Options
• Extrapolation Usage Method—Same as the same name entry in the S-
Parameter Extrapolation Options. This entry only applies during S-
parameter causality checking.
• Extrapolation Method—This menu selects the extrapolation method
during S-parameter causality checking.
— Default—Insertion loss fitting based extrapolation method.
— Last Amplitude Value—Linear extrapolation will be used but the
amplitude will be capped by the last amplitude value.

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• — S-parameter Touchstone Option—Touchstone 2.0 Support.

• Enable—Enable Touchstone 2.0 support. (default value)
• Disable—Disable Touchstone 2.0 support.
— Integrity Enforcement— Select how the integrity, e.g. causality,
enforcement is applied in the simulation.
• Type 1: Enforce integrity on individual channel components
• Type 2: Enforce integrity on overall channel after cascading
• Type 3: Enforce integrity both on individual channel component and after
channel cascading
• Disable: Disable integrity enforcement. Default setting is Disable.

2.2 Advanced Link Analyzer Data Viewer Module

The Advanced Link Analyzer Data Viewer displays simulation and analysis results. The
Data Viewer can be started in the following ways:
• Automatically start after the completion of a simulation
• Click Data View in Advanced Link Analyzer’s main GUI
• Double-click adv_link_analyzer_data_viewer.exe

Advanced Link Analyzer uses the Data Viewer to show various types of simulation and
analysis results. It can show multiple plots. Use the list box in the left panel to select
the plots.

Figure 78. Advanced Link Analyzer Data Viewer User Interface

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The following GUI capabilities are provided in the Data Viewer:

• Zoom control
— In an eye diagram plot—Click Zoom In or click and drag a rectangle box to
show the details of a plot. Click Zoom Out to restore the plot scale.
— Others—Right-click to bring up a menu with Zoom Out, Select, Zoom, Pan,
and waveform commands.
• Data Cursor—Select Data Cursor to show the data cursor boxes. You can select
and drag a data cursor box with the data values shown in the box. The data values
are colored according to the data lines.
Note: The Data Cursor button may not be present in certain types of plots such
as waveform plots. If you move the cursor over a data point, a pop-up
window shows the data value.

Figure 79. Data Cursor Example

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Figure 80. Data Cursor Example for Waveform Plot

• Legends—Plot legends are shown when plots are generated. Use the Page-Up,
Page-Down, Home, and End keys on the keyboard to move the legend box. Turn
the Legends check box on or off to show or hide the legend box.

Within the Data Viewer, you can modify the link’s BER target using the BER Target
menu. The Advanced Link Analyzer Data Viewer recalculates the jitter and the eye-
opening height and width dynamically, because the Advanced Link Analyzer Simulation
Engine has pre-calculated the results at different BER targets in the simulation range.

Use the Colormap menu to change the color map of eye diagrams within the Data
Viewer. Advanced Link Analyzer provides eight different color maps that you can
choose from, depending on your analysis purpose and visual preferences. The color
maps can be divided into two groups:
• Logarithmic Color Scale—Default, Blue, Heat, and Bone
• Linear Color Scale—Default Linear, Blue Linear, Heat Linear, and Bone Linear

The logarithmic color scale provides good visual performance in displaying low
probability data points such as the low BER portion of an eye diagram. The linear color
scale is more suitable for showing minor differences in close-range data values. The
Blue/Blue Default Linear is good for showing deterministic simulation results when no
jitter or noise is present. Advanced Link Analyzer automatically chooses the most
suitable color map based on the type or configuration of a simulation. The default
color map is either Default or Blue.

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• The Image Output menu allows you to generate output images in .png, .jpg,
or .gif format. This is useful when you want to generate images after simulation is
done previously. (Refer to Figure 92 on page 124.)
• When Save Selected Plot is clicked, a file browser helps you select the image file
to be saved. An image file of the currently selected plot is saved in the format
specified in the Image Output.
• When Save All Plots is clicked, a folder browser helps you select the folder
location where all image files will be saved. Image files of all plots are saved in the
format specified in the Image Output.
• When Save Waveform is clicked, a file browser helps you select and specify the
location and file name where the waveform data is saved.

The Advanced Link Analyzer Data Viewer Module shows the following types of
simulation results:

Probability Density Function (PDF) Eye Diagram

This scope shows the PDF eye diagram (with probability color map), horizontal
histogram at slicer voltage level (fixed at 0 V in the Advanced Link Analyzer), vertical
histogram at Ideal Clock or CDR sampling phase, and eye diagram opening width and
height information. Device settings such as transmitter pre-emphasis/FIR setting and
receiver equalization settings are shown in the text display area below the plots.

Figure 81. Advanced Link Analyzer Data Viewer PDF Eye Diagram and Plots

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Cumulative Distribution Function (CDF) Eye Diagram

This scope shows the CDF eye diagram (with probability color map), horizontal BER
bathtub curve (fixed at 0 V in Advanced Link Analyzer), vertical BER bathtub curve (at
ideal clock or CDR sampling phase), and eye diagram opening width and height. The
eye diagram compliance mask is plotted when it is enabled and applicable.

Figure 82. Advanced Link Analyzer Scope CDF and Plots

BER Contour

The Data Viewer shows the BER contour and eye diagram opening width and height.
The eye diagram compliance mask is plotted when it is enabled and applicable.

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Figure 83. Advanced Link Analyzer Scope BER Contour and Plots

Q-Factor Curve

A different view of the BER bathtub curve using Q-factor.

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Figure 84. Advanced Link Analyzer Data Viewer Q-Factor Plot (Time Axis)

Figure 85. Advanced Link Analyzer Data Viewer Q-Factor Plot (Amplitude Axis)

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Transmitter Reference Clock Phase Noise Analysis and Plots

Advanced Link Analyzer plots the phase noise power spectrum through the link. The
transmitter reference clock’s phase noise travels through the transmitter PLL,
emulated scope, channel, and the RX CDR. In this process, phase noise is shaped by
the TX PLL, scope (pass through only), and RX CDR. At the same time, the transmitter
and receiver also generate their own intrinsic jitter which is mixed with the jitter
caused by the shaped phase noise. The Advanced Link Analyzer simulation engine
processes and records the phase noise characteristics transition and the amount of
random jitter the device contributed internally.

Figure 86. Transmitter Reference Phase Noise Analysis (At Transmitter Output)

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Figure 87. Transmitter Reference Phase Noise Analysis (At Receiver Output)

TX pre-emphasis, de-emphasis, or FIR coefficients are displayed with the transmitter

output.

The CTLE setting is displayed for the test point after CTLE.

DFE coefficients are displayed for the test point after DFE.

Time Interval Error (TIE) Plots

TIE plots capture the time differences between the waveform transition time (across
data sensing threshold) and ideal/reference waveform transition time. If Jitter
Analysis is enabled and the simulation mode is Hybrid, jitter analysis results are
displayed under the TIE plot.

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Figure 88. Time Interval Error (TIE) Plot with Jitter Analysis Results

Time Interval Error (TIE) Histogram Plots

This plot shows the histogram of TIE records. Five histograms are displayed:
• All transitions
• Rising edge transitions
• Falling edge transitions
• Even-bit edge transitions
• Odd-bit edge transitions

If Jitter Analysis is enabled and the simulation mode is Hybrid, jitter analysis results
are displayed under the TIE plot.

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Figure 89. Time Interval Error (TIE) Histogram with Jitter Analysis Results

Waveform Spectrum Plots

The frequency spectrum of the waveform is plotted.

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Figure 90. Waveform Spectrum Plot

Rise/Fall Time Histogram Plots

Advanced Link Analyzer calculates the rise/fall time across the bit time boundary.

Note: Advanced Link Analyzer computes the rise/fall time based on the presented waveform.
Advanced Link Analyzer assumes there are no over- or under-shootings that are
commonly seen when transmitter and receiver equalization effects are present.
Furthermore, with a channel effect such as ISI, the waveform transition time may be
slowed down dramatically compared to a transmitter output waveform. Therefore, you
may see rise/fall times exceed the bit time boundary. You must use proper judgment
when interpreting the rise/fall time results.

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Figure 91. Rise/fall Time Histogram Plot

Waveform

For Hybrid mode or Full Waveform mode simulations, a waveform of each test point is
plotted. The Data Viewer, by default, displays the final 4096 bits of the waveform. Use
the following settings to specify the location of the waveform:
• Plot—The Plot menu specifies the reference location of the simulated waveform. It
has the following choices:
— Beginning—plots the waveform from the beginning of the simulation.
— End—displays the last part of simulated waveform.
— Custom—you specify the starting and ending bit locations.
• Length—If the Plot selection is Beginning or End, the length of waveform (in
bits) to be plotted is specified.
• From/to—If the Plot selection is Custom, these two entries specify the start and
end points of waveform (in bits) to be plotted.

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Simulation Report

A simulation report is shown in the last page of the output windows. The simulation
report is organized as follows:
• Simulation Log—If link optimization is performed, the link optimization FOM (figure
of merit) transition is reported here.
• User-Defined Link Configuration—Link configuration is listed in this section which
includes:
— Transmitter Reference clock configuration
— Transmitter configuration
— Receiver configuration
— Channel configuration
• Simulation Record—Report the simulation results at each test points
• Simulation Result Summary
— TX-FIR/Pre-emphasis, RX CTLE, and DFE Settings
— Eye Diagram Widths, Heights, and Margins to the eye diagram mask

---------------------------------------------------------------
Simulation Log
Fri Aug 18 11:12:32 2017
Link Optimization Mode: TX = Manual, RX = Manual
Link Optimization FOM: Area
Advanced Link Analyzer Simulation Report
Simulation Engine Version: Release 17.1
Fri Aug 18 11:12:40 2017
**************************** User-Defined Link Configuration
********************************
Project Name: Demo
Simulation Mode: Hybrid
Data Rate: 8 Gbps
Simulation Length: 65536 bits
Test Pattern: PRBS-23
BER Target: 1e-012
FEC Method: Off
Compliance Mask:
Compliance Mask Type: PCI-Express 8GT
Transmitter Reference Clock:
Frequency: 100 MHz
Configuration Method: Option 2
Phase Noise Profile [Freq (Hz), Amplitude (dBc)]:
[10, -68.5508]
[10.2723, -68.7007]
[10.552, -69.0572]
[10.8393, -69.5463]
[11.1344, -69.8799]
[11.4376, -70.1791]
...
[8.98118e+007, -141.908]
[9.22571e+007, -141.914]
[9.47691e+007, -141.916]
[9.73494e+007, -141.9]
[1e+008, -142.145]
Phase Noise Fmin: 1 Hz
Phase Noise Fmax: 1e+008 Hz
Spur Profile [Freq (Hz), Amplitude (dBc)]:
[100000, -80]
[1e+006, -90]
[1e+007, -96]
Periodic Jitter:
Method: Triangle

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Frequency: 0 Hz
Amplitude: 0 ps
Hershey Key: 0.05
Sharkfin Key: 0.5
Transmitter: Stratix V GX
Package: Stratix V GX
Supply Voltage: Default
Vcm: Default
PLL Type: Enable
PLL Bandwidth: SVGX_TXPLL_Low
Divider Setting: L = 1, M = 40, N = 1
VOD: 0.8 V
TX EQ/FIR Mode: Manual
Initial TX FIR Coefficients = [-4, Main Tap, 2, 0]
PVT Condition:
PVT: Typical
Jitter & Noise Configuration:
Jitter/Noise Input Method: Jitter/Noise Component Method
ISI = 0 ps
DCD = 1.5 ps
BUJ = 4 ps
RJ = 1 ps-rms
SJ = 0 ps at 0 MHz
DN = 0 mV
BUN = 0 mV
RN = 0 mV-rms
Receiver: PCI-Express 8GT
Package: PCI-Express 8GT
Supply Voltage: Default
CTLE Mode: 10dB
CDR Type: Alexander
CDR Bandwidth: Generic_CDR_Medium_BW
DFE Enable: Enable
DFE Mode: Auto
PVT Condition:
PVT: Typical
Jitter & Noise Configuration:
Jitter/Noise Input Method: Jitter/Noise Component Method
DJ = 7 ps
BUJ = 0 ps
RJ = 1.55 ps-rms
DN = 0 mV
BUN = 0 mV
RN = 0 mV-rms
Channel Configuration:
[1] File Name: Demo.s12p
Channel Type: Loss
Port Configuration: 2
Lane Number: 2
Port Number: 12
Aggressor ID: 1
Aggressor Relative Amplitude: 1
Aggressor Delay: 0
Aggressor Frequency Offset: 0 ppm
Aggressor Signal Source Type: Inline
Causality Enforcement: No
Passivity Enforcement: No
[2] File Name: Demo.s12p
Channel Type: FEXT
Port Configuration: 2
Lane Number: 2
Port Number: 12
Aggressor ID: 1
Aggressor Relative Amplitude: 1
Aggressor Delay: 0
Aggressor Frequency Offset: 0 ppm
Aggressor Signal Source Type: Inline
Causality Enforcement: No
Passivity Enforcement: No
[3] File Name: Demo.s12p
Channel Type: FEXT

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Port Configuration: 2
Lane Number: 2
Port Number: 12
Aggressor ID: 2
Aggressor Relative Amplitude: 1
Aggressor Delay: 0
Aggressor Frequency Offset: 300 ppm
Aggressor Signal Source Type: Inline
Causality Enforcement: No
Passivity Enforcement: No
******************************************************************************
**********************************
******************************************* Simulation Record
**************************************************
Transmitter Reference Clock Random Jitter = 6.37602 ps-RMS (up to Reference
Clock Frequency)
TX with Ideal Clock
Stratix V GX VOD: 40 TX EQ: Pre-Tap 1 = -4 Post-Tap 1 = 2 Post-Tap 2 = 0
Eye Width=0.17UI(21.240ps), Eye Height= 363.49mV, Jitter(p-p)=0.83UI
(103.760ps) at BER<10^-12
BER Eye Width (UI) Eye Height (V)
10^-3 0.622 0.632
10^-4 0.545 0.62
10^-5 0.48 0.607
10^-6 0.424 0.593
10^-7 0.373 0.574
10^-8 0.326 0.552
10^-9 0.284 0.524
10^-10 0.243 0.486
10^-11 0.205 0.431
10^-12 0.17 0.363
10^-13 0.136 0.288
10^-14 0.103 0.21
10^-15 0.0713 0.132
10^-16 0.041 0.0529
10^-17 0.00977 0
10^-18 0 0
10^-19 0 0
10^-20 0 0
10^-21 0 0
Random Jitter= 6.29 ps-RMS
Random Noise= 0 mV-RMS
TX Scope with Recovered Clock
Stratix V GX VOD: 40 TX EQ: Pre-Tap 1 = -4 Post-Tap 1 = 2 Post-Tap 2 = 0
Eye Width=0.83UI(104.126ps), Eye Height= 636.61mV, Jitter(p-p)=0.17UI
(20.874ps) at BER<10^-12
BER Eye Width (UI) Eye Height (V)
10^-3 0.915 0.642
10^-4 0.899 0.64
10^-5 0.888 0.639
10^-6 0.877 0.638
10^-7 0.868 0.638
10^-8 0.86 0.638
10^-9 0.853 0.638
10^-10 0.845 0.638
10^-11 0.839 0.637
10^-12 0.833 0.637
10^-13 0.827 0.637
10^-14 0.821 0.637
10^-15 0.816 0.637
10^-16 0.812 0.637
10^-17 0.807 0.637
10^-18 0.802 0.637
10^-19 0.798 0.636
10^-20 0.794 0.636
10^-21 0.788 0.636
Random Jitter= 0.985 ps-RMS
Random Noise= 0 mV-RMS
CH
Eye Width=0.00UI( 0.000ps), Eye Height= 0.00mV, Jitter(p-p)=1.00UI
(125.000ps) at BER<10^-12

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BER Eye Width (UI) Eye Height (V)

10^-3 0 0
10^-4 0 0
10^-5 0 0
10^-6 0 0
10^-7 0 0
10^-8 0 0
10^-9 0 0
10^-10 0 0
10^-11 0 0
10^-12 0 0
10^-13 0 0
10^-14 0 0
10^-15 0 0
10^-16 0 0
10^-17 0 0
10^-18 0 0
10^-19 0 0
10^-20 0 0
10^-21 0 0
Random Jitter= 6.29 ps-RMS
Random Noise= 0 mV-RMS
CTLE CDR with Recovered Clock
CTLE Setting: 10dB
Eye Width=0.44UI(55.298ps), Eye Height= 41.99mV, Jitter(p-p)=0.56UI
(69.702ps) at BER<10^-12
BER Eye Width (UI) Eye Height (V)
10^-3 0.689 0.0562
10^-4 0.637 0.0512
10^-5 0.586 0.0485
10^-6 0.547 0.047
10^-7 0.521 0.0459
10^-8 0.502 0.045
10^-9 0.484 0.0444
10^-10 0.47 0.0437
10^-11 0.455 0.0426
10^-12 0.442 0.042
10^-13 0.431 0.0411
10^-14 0.42 0.0405
10^-15 0.409 0.0398
10^-16 0.399 0.0389
10^-17 0.391 0.0385
10^-18 0.381 0.0376
10^-19 0.372 0.037
10^-20 0.363 0.0363
10^-21 0.355 0.0356
Random Jitter= 1.84 ps-RMS
Random Noise= 0 mV-RMS
DFE CDR with Recovered Clock
DFE Coefficients = [ -19.73,] mV
Eye Width=0.41UI(51.392ps), Eye Height= 60.06mV, Jitter(p-p)=0.59UI
(73.608ps) at BER<10^-12
BER Eye Width (UI) Eye Height (V)
10^-3 0.616 0.0881
10^-4 0.567 0.0812
10^-5 0.532 0.0763
10^-6 0.507 0.0726
10^-7 0.485 0.0697
10^-8 0.467 0.0672
10^-9 0.451 0.065
10^-10 0.438 0.063
10^-11 0.424 0.061
10^-12 0.411 0.0601
10^-13 0.4 0.0581
10^-14 0.39 0.0571
10^-15 0.379 0.0554
10^-16 0.369 0.0542
10^-17 0.36 0.0529
10^-18 0.351 0.0517
10^-19 0.343 0.0505
10^-20 0.333 0.049

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10^-21 0.325 0.0485

Random Jitter= 1.84 ps-RMS
Random Noise= 0 mV-RMS
******************************************************************************
*************************
Simulation Result Summary
**************************** TX-FIR/Pre-emphasis, RX CTLE and DFE Settings
****************************
Pre-emphasis : Pre-tap1 main-tap Post-tap1 Post-tap2
Levels : -4.000 0.000 2.000 0.000
Coeff : -0.087 0.962 -0.041 0.000
RX Setting : CTLE Setting: 10dB
DFE : tap1
******************************************************************************
**********************************
******************************** Eyediagram Width and Eyediagram Height
****************************************
Eye Width Eye Height Eye Opening
[UI] [V] Area [UI*V]
TX Output (Scope) : 0.833 0.637 0.530
TX Output : 0.170 0.363 0.062
Channel Output : 0.000 0.000 0.000
CTLE Output (Retimed) : 0.442 0.042 0.019
DFE Output (Retimed) : 0.411 0.060 0.025
Eye Mask Margin : 0.111 0.035
******************************************************************************
**********************************
Simulation Time: 0:04:27.70
Simulation Time: 0:04:34.55

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Use the Data Viewer to see previous Advanced Link Analyzer simulation results by
clicking Load. A file browser opens and helps you find the master Advanced Link
Analyzer output data file (JNEye_Sim_Result.jneomlist) for individual simulations.
Advanced Link Analyzer simulation output data is usually located in a file directory
that has the same name as the saved project name. For example, if the saved
Advanced Link Analyzer configuration file is Demo1.jne, the previous simulation
results are stored a directory named “Demo1”. Navigate to the directory, select the
JNEye_Sim_Result.jneomlist file, and open it to load the simulation data.

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Figure 92. Load Previous Advanced Link Analyzer Simulation Results

2.3 Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Viewer Module

The Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Viewer provides a convenient way of observing
and comparing channel characteristics. The following types of channel characteristics,
which are represented by Touchstone S-parameter format, can be displayed in the
Channel Viewer:
• Standard-mode / Single-ended S-parameter—for example, S11, S12, S21
• Mixed-mode / Differential S-parameters—for example: Sdd11, Sdd21, Scd21
• Frequency Domain Plots: Amplitude and propagation/group delay plots
• Time Domain Plots: Impulse responses and single-bit responses

Channel Viewer also provides channel compliance checks and channel analysis. Use
these features to observe a channel's characteristics and its associated signal integrity
matrices.

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Figure 93. Start Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Viewer from Advanced Link Analyzer
Controller Module

There are four ways to start Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Viewer:
• Double-click the adv_link_analyzer_channel_viewer.exe icon in Windows
Explorer.
• Click Channel Viewer in the Advanced Link Analyzer Control Module to start a
new Channel Viewer (refer to the previous figure).
• Click Channel Viewer in the Advanced Link Analyzer Control Module’s Channel
tab (refer to the following figure). When you start Advanced Link Analyzer Channel
Viewer from the Channel tab, the channel information from the link configuration
is transferred to the Channel View and is ready for viewing.
• Select a channel in Advanced Link Analyzer Control Module’s Link Designer, right-
click, and select View in Channel Viewer.

The following figure shows the Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Viewer user interface.
The viewer has six panels that allow you to select and control the channel plot options.

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Figure 94. Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Viewer User Interface

The following figure shows the Channel Viewer GUI panel partitions.

Figure 95. Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Viewer GUI Panel Partitions

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2.3.1 Channel Plot Panel

This panel contains the Channel Viewer and Plot Selector. The Advanced Link Analyzer
Channel Viewer shows the characteristics of the channels in the channel list with the
plot options specified. Use the Channel Viewer to plot channels with different options
and browse the plots. Use the Plot Selector to choose one of the existing plots.

The Channel Viewer provides the following GUI capabilities:

• Zoom In, Zoom Out, Pan, Data Select—Right-click on the Channel Plot panel to
select one of these functions. To zoom in on the plot, select Zoom In and then
click and drag a rectangle box to show the details of the plot. To zoom out, select
Zoom Out. Up to ten previous scalings are saved, so you can restore older
versions by clicking Zoom Out more than once. To pan over the plot, select Pan
and then click and drag the plot.
• Data Cursor—By checking the Data Cursor radio button, the data cursor boxes
will show. You can select and drag a data cursor box with the data values shown in
the box. The data values are colored according to the data lines.
• Legends—Plot legends are shown when plots are generated. Use the Page-Up,
Page-Down, Home, and End keys on the keyboard to move the legend box. You
can also check or uncheck the Legends check box to show or hide the legend
box.

2.3.2 Channel List Panel

This panel maintains the channels of interest. Channels can be either transferred from
the Advanced Link Analyzer Control Module or added within the Channel Viewer. The
channel list in the Channel Viewer is independent from the list in Advanced Link
Analyzer Control Module. Therefore, you can add and delete channels in the Channel
Viewer without affecting the lsimulation configuration in the Advanced Link Analyzer
Control Module.

An S-parameter channel component, such as a connector, cable, or backplane, can be

described by the following parameters or information as shown in the Channel List:
• ID—Sequence or location of the channel component.
• Channel Name—An S-parameter file that describes the channel component. The
S-parameter file can be 4-port, 8-port, 12-port, 16-port, and so forth.
• Type—Specify the type of channel characteristics in the link simulation. The
type of channel characteristics can be insertion loss (Loss), far-end crosstalk
(FEXT), or near-end crosstalk (NEXT). Change the channel type by selecting the
channel from the channel list and then selecting the appropriate channel type from
the Type menu.
• Port Configuration (Port Cfg)—Depending on the S-parameter measurement
condition, the port configuration can be one of the types shown in the following
figures. You can change the port configuration of an S-parameter by using the
menu below the Port Configuration list box.

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Figure 96. S-parameter with Port Configuration—Type 1

Figure 97. S-parameter with Port Configuration—Type 2

Figure 98. S-parameter with Port Configuration—Type 3

Figure 99. S-parameter with Custom Port Configuration

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• Lane ID (Lane)—For multiple channel/lane S-parameters (8-port and above) a

channel/lane must be chosen for link simulations. For example, the above figures
show a 12-port 3-lane S-parameter. After loading the channel file, Advanced Link
Analyzer assigns the middle lane as the default simulating channel (or victim
channel for crosstalk simulations). You can change the Lane ID by using the menu
below the Lane ID list box. For 2-port or 4-port S-parameter models, the Lane ID
is ignored.
• Aggressor ID (Agg ID)—For multiple channel/lane S-parameters simulating
crosstalk effects, you must specify the aggressor location. For example, the above
figures show four possible crosstalk configurations from a 12-port S-parameter
model. Use the menu below the Aggressor ID list box to change the aggressor
location. For Victim channel (Loss type), the Aggressor ID field is ignored.
Note: The Aggressor ID is indexed in a way that excludes the victim lane. For
example, in a 12-port S parameter, there are three lanes. The middle lane
(Lane ID 2) is the victim lane. The two aggressor channels have Aggressor
IDs 1 and 2, not 1 and 3.
• Relative Amplitude (Rel Amp)—You can manually adjust the amplitude of
crosstalk (NEXT/FEXT) channel components. The amplitude adjustment is
reflected in the channel plots and the channel compliance results. The amplitude
adjustment is in a linear scale.

The Channel List Panel contains the following command buttons:

• Add Channel—Open a file browser and locate the required channel model files.
• Delete—Delete a channel or test point.
• Duplicate—Duplicate the selected channel component or test point in the channel
list.
• Disable—Disable the selected channel component or test point.
• Enable—Enable the selected channel component or test point.
• Clear—Delete all channel components and test points.
• Load—Load channel list and channel viewer configuration.
• Save—Save current channel list and channel viewer configuration.
• Save as—Save current channel list and channel viewer configuration in a new
configuration file .
• Move Up (/\)—Move the selected channel component or test point up toward the
transmitter side.
• Move Down (\/)—Move the selected channel component or test point down
toward the receiver side.

2.3.3 Plot Option Panel

The Plot Option panel has the following sub-panels:
• S-parameter mode panel
• Plot configuration panel

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2.3.3.1 S-parameter Mode Panel

Figure 100. S-parameter Mode Panel

• Mixed-Mode Selector Panel—This panel allows you to select and plot an S-

parameter’s mixed-mode characteristics. The Advanced Link Analyzer Channel
Viewer can convert standard-mode (that is, single-ended) frequency responses
into its differential–pair format (mixed-mode) frequency responses. For high-
speed serial links with differential signaling scheme, Intel recommends you
observe channel characteristics and performance in mixed-mode.
• Standard-Mode Selector Panel—This panel allows you to select and plot an S-
parameter’s standard-mode characteristics. An open 4-port single-ended S-
parameter is supported in this plot mode.

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2.3.3.2 Plot Configuration Panel

The Channel Analysis and Compliance Module menu controls the channel
characteristics plotting modes:
• Off—Channel Viewer plots channel characteristics as directed by user
configuration. In the mode, you can plot frequency responses, impulse responses,
and single bit responses. This is the default Channel Viewer plotting mode.
• Channel Analysis—Channel Viewer performs a sequence of operations to
calculate and show channel performance in terms of ILD (Insertion Loss
Deviation), RL (Return Loss), ICR (Insertion Loss to Crosstalk Ratio), and
Crosstalk Noise calculations. This allows you to determine the wellness of the
channels.
Channel Analysis supports customizable compliance masks for IL, ILD, RL, ICN,
and ICR. This feature can be used to perform custom channel compliance checks
for proprietary links. When Custom is selected, you can enter channel compliance
mask definition in each text box with the format: frequency (Hz) and amplitude
(dB). You can also load a predefined custom channel compliance mask definition
from a file.
• 10GBASE-KR Channel Compliance—Channel Viewer performs channel compliance
checks per 10 Gbps Ethernet over backplane (IEEE 802.3ap, 10GBASE-KR)
standards.
• OIF CEI-28G-SR 3.0 Channel Compliance—Channel Viewer performs channel
compliance checks per OIF CEI-28G-SR 3.0 standards.
• OIF CEI-25G-LR 3.0 Channel Compliance—Channel Viewer performs channel
compliance checks per OIF CEI-25G-LR standards.
• OIF CEI-28G-MR 3.1 Channel Compliance—Channel Viewer performs channel
compliance checks per OIF CEI-28G-MR standards.
• COM 802.3 100GBASE-CR4 Channel Compliance—Channel viewer performs
channel compliance checks per IEEE 802.3 100GBASE-CR4 standards.
• COM 802.3 CAUI-4 C2C Channel Compliance Channel viewer performs channel
compliance checks per IEEE 802.3 CAUI-4 C2C standards.
• COM 802.3 100GBASE-KP4 Channel Compliance—Channel viewer performs
channel compliance checks per IEEE 802.3 100GBASE-KP4 standards.
• COM 802.3 100GBASE-KR4 Channel Compliance—Channel viewer performs
channel compliance checks per IEEE 802.3 100GBASE-KR4 standards.
• COM Analysis—Channel Viewer performs a sequence of operations to calculate
and show channel performance based on COM (Channel Operating margin)
methodology. Channel Viewer allows users to customize parameters that configure
COM calculation.
• COM 802.3 CAUI-4 C2C Channel Compliance—Channel viewer performs channel
compliance checks per IEEE 802.3 CAUI-4 C2C standards.
• COM 802.3 200GAUI-4 Channel Compliance—Channel viewer performs channel
compliance checks per IEEE 802.3 200GAUI-4 standards.
• COM 802.3 400GAUI-8 Channel Compliance—Channel viewer performs channel
compliance checks per IEEE 802.3 400GAUI-8 standards.
• COM 802.3 200GAUI-4 C2M Channel Compliance—Channel viewer performs
channel compliance checks per IEEE 802.3 200GAUI-4 C2M standards.

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• COM 802.3 400GAUI-8 C2M Channel Compliance—Channel viewer performs

channel compliance checks per IEEE 802.3 400GAUI-8 C2M standards.
• COM 802.3 200GBASE-CR4 Channel Compliance—Channel viewer performs
channel compliance checks per IEEE 802.3 200GBASE-CR4 standards.
• COM 802.3 100GBASE-CR2 Channel Compliance—Channel viewer performs
channel compliance checks per IEEE 802.3 100GBASE-CR2 standards.
• COM 802.3 50GBASE-CR Channel Compliance—Channel viewer performs
channel compliance checks per IEEE 802.3 50GBASE-CR standards.
• COM 802.3 200GBASE-KR4 Channel Compliance—Channel viewer performs
channel compliance checks per IEEE 802.3 200GBASE-KR4 standards.
• COM 802.3 100GBASE-KR2 Channel Compliance—Channel viewer performs
channel compliance checks per IEEE 802.3 100GBASE-KR2 standards.
• COM 802.3 50GBASE-KR Channel Compliance—Channel viewer performs
channel compliance checks per IEEE 802.3 50GBASE-KR standards.
• COM OIF-CEI-56G-LR Channel Compliance—Channel viewer performs channel
compliance checks per OIF-CEI-56G-LR standards.
• COM OIF-CEI-56G-MR Channel Compliance—Channel viewer performs channel
compliance checks per OIF-CEI-56G-MR standards.

User-Directed Channel Plotting

Figure 101. Plot Configuration Panel (Frequency Response)

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Figure 102. Plot Configuration Panel (Impulse Response, Single Bit Response, Step
Response, and TDR)

This panel allows you to select and configure the channel plotting. The Advanced Link
Analyzer Channel Viewer can plot channel characteristics in either frequency domain
or time domain. Typical frequency domain amplitude and group delay plots are shown
in the following figure.

Figure 103. Typical Frequency Domain Channel Characteristics Plots

The Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Viewer plots the channels’ amplitude and group
delay frequency responses in a linear or logarithmic frequency scale. It also allows you
to limit the plot frequency range. When multiple transmission channels (such as loss
or victim) are in the Channel List, you can plot the cascaded channel response by

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turning on the Plot Combined Channel Response option in the Systems Options
panel. An example of a combined channel response is shown in the following figure, in
which a lossy backplane channel is cascaded with a 5” microstrip PCB trace.

Note: Advanced Link Analyzer only cascades or combines victim transmission channels.
Crosstalk channels are not combined (with the loss channels) in the plot.

Figure 104. Combined Channel Response Example

The Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Viewer can also plot channel responses in the
time-domain. It can compute the impulse response (IR) and single-bit response (SBR)
of a channel or a combined response of channels. When performing a time-domain
plot, you must specify the maximum frequency and plot length of the time-domain
response. The following figure shows examples of impulse response and single-bit
response of a 5” microstrip PCB trace.

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Figure 105. Impulse Response and Single-Bit Response Examples

Combined time-domain channel responses can also be done in the Advanced Link
Analyzer Channel Viewer. The following figure shows examples of combined time-
domain channel response of a lossy backplane channel and a 5” microstrip PCB trace.

Figure 106. Combined Time-Domain Channel Responses

By turning on the Remove Propagation Delay option, the Advanced Link Analyzer
Channel Viewer can mathematically remove the delay of channels so that more direct
comparison among channels can be seen. The following figure shows an example of
“Remove Propagation Delay” channel response of the same channels used in the
previous figure.

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Figure 107. Time-Domain Channel Plots with "Remove Propagation Delay" Option

Channel Analysis

The following figure shows the Channel Analysis GUI.

Figure 108. Channel Analysis User Interface

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In the Channel Analysis Configuration panel, the following parameters can be

configured to your link configuration or preferences:
• Max. Freq.—Maximum frequency where channel analysis will be performed
• 20%-80% Tr/Tf—20%-80% rise/fall time of the input signal to the victim or
transmission channel(s)
• Nom max IL at Nyquist—Nominal maximum insertion loss at Nyquist frequency.
This parameter specifies the maximum allowed insertion loss at Nyquist frequency,
which is defined as half of the maximum frequency specified above. This
frequency is used to safe guard the correctness of the fitted insertion curves so
that the results meet fundamental transmission line characteristics.
Note: Please enter the nominal maximal IL value which approximates to the
selected channel at the Nyquist frequency. This value does not need to be
precise as the fitting algorithm usually have enough tolerance margins in
computing the fitted curves. If the channel's insertion loss at Nyquist
frequency is less than 15dB, please enter 15 for best performance. If
multiple channel are selected for the channel analysis, please enter the
insertion loss value of the most lossy channel.
• NEXT Amplitude—Near-end crosstalk aggressor signal amplitude
• FEXT Amplitude—Far-end crosstalk aggressor signal amplitude
• NEXT Tr/Tf—Near-end crosstalk aggressor 20%-80% rise/fall time

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• FEXT Tr/Tf—Far-end crosstalk aggressor 20%-80% rise/fall time

• Crosstalk dB Factor—This parameter, Y, defines how dB is calculated where dB =
Y*log10(amplitude)
• Compliance Mask—Select the channel compliance mask to be used in the
channel analysis. The Compliance Mask menu contains the following selections:
— 10GBASE-KR—Use the 10GBASE-KR channel compliance mask.
— OIF CEI-28G-SR 3.0—Use the OIF CEI-28G-SR channel compliance mask.
— OIF CEI-25G-LR 3.0—Use the OIF CEI-25G-LR channel compliance mask.
— Custom—Refer to Figure 108 on page 136. Several text boxes for each
channel compliance check item are shown. You can copy or manually input the
mask definitions. The format for each mask definition data point is “Frequency
(in Hz)", followed by "Amplitude (in dB)”. The number of data points is limited
to the maximum text length allowed by the text box (the maximum size is
32767 bytes). The frequency grid of a mask must be monotonic increasing.
— Load from file—Allows you to load a predefined custom channel compliance.
Each mask definition starts with a keyword, followed by a pair of numbers that
represent the data points for “Frequency (Hz)" and "Amplitude (dB)”.
Following is a sample of a custom channel compliance mask file:
IL Mask Min
1 0
1e9 -1
10e9 -2.5
IL Mask Max
1 0
1e9 1
10e9 2.5
ILD Mask Min
1 0
1e9 -4
10e9 -4
ILD Mask Max
1 0
1e9 4
10e9 4
RL Mask
1 -10
1e9 -10
10e9 -4
ICR Mask
1e9 55
25e9 25
ICN Mask
1 10
5 10
25 0

When you click Plot, the Channel Viewer computes and generates a sequence of plots
that show the performance of the channels in the channel list
• Insertion Loss Plot—This plot is labeled CP: IL. In this plot, the insertion loss of
channels, fitted curve of transmission channels’ insertion loss, crosstalk channels’
amplitude, and power sum of all crosstalk channels is shown. An example is
illustrated in the above figure.
• Insertion Loss Deviation Plot—This plot is labeled CP: ILD. In this plot, the
insertion loss deviation is shown, as in the following figure.

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Figure 109. Channel Analysis Module’s Insertion Loss Deviation (ILD) Analysis Example

• Return Loss Plot—This plot is labeled CP: RL. In this plot, the return loss
characteristics (both ends, i.e., Sdd11 and Sdd22) of channels are shown, as in
the following figure.

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Figure 110. Channel Analysis Module’s Return Loss (RL) Analysis Example

• Insertion Loss to Crosstalk Ratio Plot—This plot is labeled CP: ICR. In this
plot, the Insertion Loss to Crosstalk Ratio (ICR) of channels is plotted. ICR is
calculated as the distance between the insertion loss and combined crosstalk
channels, as in the following figure.

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Figure 111. Channel Analysis Module’s Insertion Loss to Crosstalk Ratio (ICR) Analysis
Example

• Crosstalk Limit Plot—This plot is labeled CP: XTLK Limit. In this plot, a crosstalk
noise figure, XTLKrms in mV at Nyquist frequency, is calculated based on the user
configurations, as in the following figure.

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Figure 112. Channel Analysis Module’s Crosstalk Limit Analysis Example

10GBASE-KR Channel Compliance

The following figure shows the 10GBASE-KR channel compliance check GUI.

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Figure 113. 10GBASE-KR Channel Compliance Check User Interface

All parameters are predefined as described in the IEEE 802.3ap/10GBASE-KR

standards, so there is no user input. Click Plot to proceed. Channel Viewer computes
and generates a sequence of plots that show the performance of the channels in the
channel list.
• Insertion Loss Plot—This plot is labeled CP: IL. In this plot, the insertion loss of
channels, fitted curve of transmission channels’ insertion loss, maximum insertion
loss limits, crosstalk channels’ amplitude, and power sum of all crosstalk channels
is shown. An example is illustrated in the above figure.
• Insertion Loss Deviation Plot—This plot is labeled CP: ILD. In this plot, the
insertion loss deviation and ILD masks are shown, as in the following figure.

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Figure 114. 10GBASE-KR Channel Compliance Module’s Insertion Loss Deviation (ILD)
Analysis Example

• Return Loss Plot—This plot is labeled CP: RL. In this plot, return loss (RL)
characteristics of channels and the RL mask are shown, as in the following figure.

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Figure 115. 10GBASE-KR Channel Compliance Module’s Return Loss (RL) Analysis
Example

• Insertion Loss to Crosstalk Ratio Plot—This plot is labeled CP: ICR. In this
plot, the Insertion Loss to Crosstalk Ratio (ICR) of channels and the ICR mask are
plotted, as in the following figure.

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Figure 116. 10GBASE-KR Channel Compliance Module’s Insertion Loss to Crosstalk Ratio
(ICR) Analysis Example

OIF CEI-28G-SR 3.0 and OIF CEI-25G-LR Channel Compliances

The following figure shows the OIF CEI-28G-SR 3.0 channel compliance check GUI.

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Figure 117. OIF CEI-28G-SR 3.0 Channel Compliance Check User Interface

OIF CEI-25G-LR, OIF CEI-28G-MR, and OIF-CEI-28G-SR channel compliances are

similar in configuration and usage. Both cases are covered in this section. All
parameters are predefined as described in the OIF CEI-25G-LR, OIF CEI-28G-MR, and
OIF-CEI-28G-SR standards, so there is no user input. Click Plot to proceed. Channel
Viewer computes and generates a sequence of plots that show the performance of the
channels in the channel list.
• Insertion Loss Plot—This plot is labeled CP: IL. In this plot, the insertion loss of
channels, fitted curve of transmission channels’ insertion loss, insertion loss
masks, crosstalk channels’ amplitude, and power sum of all crosstalk channels are
shown. An example is illustrated in the above figure.
• Insertion Loss Deviation Plot—This plot is labeled CP: ILD. In this plot, the
insertion loss deviation and ILD masks are shown, as in the following figure.

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Figure 118. OIF CEI-28G_SR 3.0 Channel Compliance Module’s Insertion Loss Deviation
(ILD) Analysis Example

• Return Loss Plot—This plot is labeled CP: RL. In this plot, return loss (RL)
characteristics of channels and RL mask are shown, as in the following figure.

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Figure 119. OIF CEI-28G-SR 3.0 Channel Compliance Module’s Return Loss (RL) Analysis
Example

• Insertion Loss to Crosstalk Ratio Plot—This plot is labeled CP: ICR. In this
plot, the Insertion Loss to Crosstalk Ratio (ICR) of channels and the ICR mask are
plotted, as in the following figure.

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Figure 120. OIF CEI-28G-SR 3.0 Channel Compliance Module’s Insertion Loss to Crosstalk
Ratio (ICR) Analysis Example

• Crosstalk Limit Plot—This plot is labeled CP: XTLK Limit. In this plot, a crosstalk
noise figure, XTLKrms in mV at Nyquist frequency, is calculated based on the user
configurations, as in the following figure

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Figure 121. OIF CEI-28G-SR 3.0 Channel Analysis Module’s Crosstalk Limit Analysis
Example

Channel Operating Margin (COM) Channel Compliance and Analysis

Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Viewer is equipped COM computation engine that can
compute COM values for selected channels. Users can select and import channels, via
Add Transmission/FEXT/NEXT pull down menu or click Channel Viewer button
within Advanced Link Analyzer main GUI, select the intended standards or COM
Analysis, and then followed by clicking the Plot button. Channel Viewer will perform a
sequence of computation and present the results.

The supported IEEE 802.3 and OIF CEI standards are:

• 100GBASE-CR4
• 100GBASE-KP4
• 100GBASE-KR4
• CAUI-4 C2C
• 200GAUI-4
• 400GAUI-8
• 200GAUI-4 C2M
• 400GAUI-8 C2M
• 200GBASE-CR4
• 100GBASE-CR2
• 50GBASE-CR
• 200GBASE-KR4

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• 100GBASE-KR2
• 50GBASE-KR
• OIF-CEI-56G-LR
• OIF-CEI-56G-MR

Insertion Loss (IL): Note that the power sum of all cross talk channels is also shown
in the figure.

Figure 122. Insertion Loss (IL) Plot of all channels

Insertion loss deviation (ILD)

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Figure 123. Insertion loss deviation (ILD) of the victim channel

Return loss (RL)

Figure 124. Return loss (RL) of the victim channel

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Insertion loss to crosstalk ratio (ICR)

Figure 125. Insertion loss to crosstalk ratio (ICR) of selected channel

Single bit response (SBR) of equalized channel

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Figure 126. Single bit response (SBR) of equalized channel

Single bit response (SBR) of combined channel

Figure 127. Single bit response (SBR) of combined channel

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Bathtub curve

Figure 128. Bathtub curve of the selected channel

COM

Figure 129. COM value

• COM Analyzer
COM Analyzer allows users to perform customizable COM analysis. In the COM
Analysis mode, the COM parameter can be edited analyzed.
Users can use the Template (Temp in the GUI) pull-down menu below the COM
parameter table to select a COM standards and use it as a starting point for
customizations. One can also save and load customized COM parameters from the
Template menu.

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2.3.3.3 Options Panel

Figure 130. Systems Options Panel

Use this panel to select the following plot options:

• Enable Instant Plot—Enable and disable instant channel plotting when a new
channel is added to the channel list. When you disable this option, you must click
Plot to plot the channel response.
• Plot Combined Channel Response—When you enable this option, the Channel
Observer cascades the channels with Loss type and plots it along with other
channel characteristics. The crosstalk channels (NEXT and FEXT) are not cascaded.
• Auto. S-parameter Configuration Checker (ASCC)—Enable and disable the
ASCC function. The Channel Viewer uses the ASCC function to determine the port
configuration of S-parameters. When you disable ASCC, you must manually select
the port configuration of each S-parameter channel model.
• Enable Channel Wizard—If checked, when you select a channel file, Channel
Wizard helps configure the channel configuration. If unchecked, you must
manually configure the channel configuration.
• S-parameter Integrity Check—If enabled, Channel Wizard checks the channel
integrity (the passivity and causality). If Advanced Link Analyzer has problems
with opening or accessing an S-parameter, you can disable the S-parameter
Integrity Check.

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• Touchstone 2.0 Support—Enable or disable Touchstone 2.0 S-parameter file

support.
• Plot Axis Precision—Users can set the number of decimal points in the x- and y-
axis of all plots.
• Time Domain Plot—Channel Views can automatically choose the common
channel characteristics for time-domain analysis. For example, when Auto is
selected, Channel Viewer will choose Sdd21 for impulse response, single bit
response, and step response plots. On the other hand, Sdd11 will be chosen for
TDR plot. If Auto Skip is selected, Channel Viewer will choose the likely matched
channel types (if they are selected by the user) for time domain analysis . For
example, If Sdd11, Sdd12, Sdd21, and Sdd22 are chosen and the user want to
plot single bit responses, Sdd12 and Sdd21 will be used for the plots and Sdd11
and Sdd22 will be skipped. When "Plot as is" is selected, Channel Viewer will plot
all time domain result for all selected S-parameter items.

2.3.4 Output Options Panel

To generate images of new channel plots, click Save current plot to a file when the
Output Image Type menu is set to PNG, JPG, or GIF. A file browser opens to help you
find a location for the image file. You can also specify an output directory where the
output image files are saved when Output Image File is set.

Figure 131. Output Options Panel

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Figure 132. Output Options Configuration Panel

Use this panel to select the following configuration options:

• S-parameter Options
— Extrap Method
• Default—Linear extrapolation.
• IL Fitting Extrapolation—Extrapolation is done by the insertion loss
fitting method.
— Extrap Usage—This menu selects the method used in the extrapolation S-
parameter channel model.
• Default—The S-parameter is extrapolated but is capped at the final
amplitude value.
• Always Apply—The S-parameter is extrapolated without restriction.
• Causality Check Options
— SP Extrap Method—This menu selects the S-parameter extrapolation
method.
• Default—Insertion loss fitting extrapolation method.
• Last Amplitude Value—Linear extrapolation capped by the last
amplitude value.
— Extrap Usage—This menu selects the method used in the extrapolation S-
parameter channel model. This entry only applies during S-parameter
causality checking.

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2.4 Advanced Link Analyzer Batch Simulation Controller

The Advanced Link Analyzer Batch Simulation Controller allows you to run multiple
simulations by not invoking the Advanced Link Analyzer Control Module. This capability
allows you to run multiple link simulations and then review the results offline.

Figure 133. Advanced Link Analyzer Batch Simulation Controller

The Advanced Link Analyzer Batch Simulation Controller accepts Advanced Link
Analyzer simulation configuration (.jne) files. You can set up and save their link
simulation configurations using the Advanced Link Analyzer Control Module. You can
then add each individual Advanced Link Analyzer job to the batch job list and execute
all the jobs.

The Advanced Link Analyzer Batch Simulation Controller has a built-in timer and
house-keeping routine that constantly monitors the status of simulating tasks. It can
also launch more than one simulation job at a time to better utilize the multi-core/
multi-processor computing environment. Check whether your Advanced Link Analyzer
license or license server supports multiple simulations at the same time.

After adding jobs, some key job information is shown in the job list, including
simulation data rate, test pattern, simulation length, and initial job status of “Not
Run”. After simulation, key simulation results, such as the final eye diagram height
and weight, are displayed in the job list along with the simulation time.

The following options are available in the Advanced Link Analyzer Batch Simulation
Controller user interface:
• Add—Add a Advanced Link Analyzer simulation job to the job list. Use the file
browser to locate .jne configuration files.
• Delete—Delete the highlighted job in the job list.
• Enable/Disable—Enable or disable the highlighted job in the job list.
• Reset Select Jobs—Reset the status of highlighted jobs to “Not Run”

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• Reset All Jobs—Reset all jobs in the job list to “Not Run”
• Clear All Jobs—Clear and delete all jobs in the job list
• View Job Configuration—Open and load Advanced Link Analyzer Control Module
with the highlighted job
• Run Selected Job—Execute the highlighted job
• View Select Sim Result—Open and load simulation result (if available) of the
selected job
• Move Up (/\)—Move the highlighted job forward in the job list
• Move Down (\/)—Move the highlighted job toward to back of the job list
• Load— Load Advanced Link Analyzer Batch Simulation Controller configuration file
• Save/Save as—Save or save new Advanced Link Analyzer Batch Simulation
Controller configuration file
• Exit—Exit the Advanced Link Analyzer Batch Simulation Controller
• Stop—Stop batch simulation of jobs
• Start Batch Simulation—Start batch simulation of all not-executed jobs in the
job list
• Maximum Concurrent Simulation Session—Set the number of concurrent
simulations. Advanced Link Analyzer Batch Simulation Controller monitors the
number of executing jobs. It starts a new simulation job when the computing
resource is available.
• Simulation Result Display Option—This menu controls the simulation result
display option. There are three options:
— Display Result—When each simulation is completed, a new Data Viewer
window will open and show the result.
— Ask to Display Result—When each simulation is completed, a message box
will open and ask if the simulation results will be shown.
— Manually Select Job & Display Result—This is the default option. When a
job is finished, no result will be shown. You must manually select the job and
click View Selected Sim Result to see the simulation results.
• Simulation Window Close Time—When a simulation is completed, the
Advanced Link Analyzer Simulation Engine window will remain open for the
specified time before closing.
• Output Directory—Specify the output directory where all the batch simulation
results will be saved. This output location overrides the output directory option
specified in each individual simulation job.

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Notes:
• The Advanced Link Analyzer Batch Simulation Controller launches each job in an
individual process. Make sure there are no file read/write access conflicts. The
most common issue is that several jobs might want to open and/or modify the
same file (for example, log file from IBIS-AMI models). This will cause the job
process to fail.
• When a job fails to complete, it may occupy one simulation resource, such as the
CPU, indefinitely. If this occurs, manually close the failing simulation engine to free
the computing resource.
• Check your Advanced Link Analyzer license type or license server configuration to
see if simultaneous multiple simulations are supported. Some license servers do
not allow you to check out multiple license at the same time.
• Intel recommends you run batch simulation with two or more concurrent sessions,
if supported by the computation environment. This avoids blocking the batch
simulation queue.
• Intel recommends you run batch simulations with the Manual Select Job &
Display Result option because viewing all simulation results may take a large
amount of computing resources.

2.5 Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Designer

The Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Designer allows you to design your own channel
models.

The Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Designer contains the following channel
components:
• Stripline
• Coupled stripline
• Microstrip
• Coupled microstrip
• Coax
• RLGC transmission line
• Ideal transmission line
• Via model based on composite transmission line blocks
• Shunt and series capacitance
• Series inductance
• S-parameter model
• PCB stackup

A channel design can include one or multiple channel components. Advanced Link
Analyzer Channel Designer can combine and generate Touchstone S-parameter models
that can be used in link simulations. Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Designer
provides user friendly and integrated interfaces. The channel components and
resulting channel models can be observed and analyzed using embedded plot
functions or the Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Viewer.

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In the 17.1 Advanced Link Analyzer release, a 2-port single-ended channel model is
generated internally for the following components:
• Stripline
• Microstrip
• Coax
• RLGC transmission line
• Ideal transmission line
• Via model based on composite transmission line blocks
• Shunt and series capacitance
• Series inductance

After the single-ended model is generated, Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Designer
converts it into a 4-port differential-pair format by assuming that these two single-
ended channels are uncoupled.

A full 4-port single-ended channel model is generated for the following components:
• Coupled stripline
• Coupled microstrip
• S-parameter model

Advanced Link Analyzer supports PCB stackup dataset entries in the design space. You
can specify multiple PCB stackup datasets within a channel designer project. Stripline,
microstrip, coupled stripline, and coupled microstrip models can be generated from
substrate parameters within each individual channel designer or using one of the PCB
stack datasets in the design space.

Channel cascading of all channel components, which include coupled stripline, coupled
microstrip, and S-parameter channel components, are done in the 4-port level.

Starting the Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Designer

You can start Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Designer in two ways:
• Double-click adv_link_analyzer_channel_designer.exe
• Click Channel Designer in the Advanced Link Analyzer Control Module

The Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Designer’s graphical user interface is shown in
the following figure.

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Figure 134. Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Designer User Interface

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• Connect—Use the straight line or right-angled line to connect channel

components
• Edit—User can use these commands to delete, copy, or paste channel components
• Component—Individual channel components to be added to the channel. See
sessions below for details
• Design Space
• Parameters—Set up system level parameters
— S-parameter Max Frequency—Set the maximum frequency of the resulting
channel model
— S-parameter Frequency Step—Set the frequency step of the resulting
channel model
— Reference Impedance—Set the reference impedance of the resulting
channel model
— System Options
• S-parameter Integrity Check—Select if channel integrity check, such as
passivity and causality, will be performed on the input S-parameter model.
If Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Designer has issues opening or
accessing certain S-parameter files, a user can disable the channel
integrity check to see if the issue is resolved
• Channel Caching—Advanced Link Analyzer stores the recent read S-
parameter model in memory for quicker accesses. Select Enable to enable
the caching capability. Select Disable to disable the caching capability.
Channel caching is enabled by default.
• Touchstone 2.0 Support—Use this menu to enable or disable
Touchstone 2.0 S-parameter support.
• Causality Check Options
— SP Extrap Method—Use this menu to select S-parameter
extrapolation method during causality checking. The default method is
insertion loss fitting extrapolation method. The Last Amplitude
Value option uses linear extrapolation and caps the amplitude at the
last amplitude value from the S-parameter file.
— Extrap Usage—The default is to cap the amplitude of the
extrapolation at the last amplitude value in the S-parameter file. The
Always Apply option uses the values from the extrapolation without
any restrictions.
• Project management and Commands
— Load—Load previously saved Channel Designer project
— Save/Save as—Save current project
— Reset—Clear all channel components
— Plot All Components—Plot all individual channel components in the Design
Space using Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Viewer
— Plot Result Channel—Generate the result channel and plot its characteristics
using Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Viewer
— Generate s4p File—Generate the result channel and save it in a 4-port
Touchstone S-parameter file
— Quit—Exit Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Designer

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Constructing a Channel in Channel Designer

Similar to the Link Designer operations in Advanced Link Analyzer’s Control Module, a
channel consists of one or more channel components between the input port (Port 1)
and the output port (Port 2). After the channel components are placed into the
workspace, click Connect to connect the components. In Connect mode, one or two
connectors are shown on each component. Connect the channel components by
dragging the line from one connector to another. Two types of connections are
provided in Channel Designer: Right Angled Line and Straight Line.

The following rules of channel construction apply to the Channel Designer:

• The Input port (Port 1) has one output port or connector
• The Output port (Port 2) has one input port or connector
• A channel component has one input and one output port
• A connection between two components can be established from an output port to
an input port
• An Input port cannot be connected directly to an Output port

A channel establishment checking algorithm runs constantly in the background,

checking whether a channel is established for channel generation. When a channel is
established between an input port and an output port, the link lines become bold. The
User Interface figure above shows an established channel link.

Channel Components

The Channel Designer contains the following components:

• Port 1—Port 1 is the input port of the channel under construction.
• Port 2—Port 2 is the output port of the channel under construction.
• S-parameter channel component—Use an S-parameter channel model file as
part of the channel under construction. When you click the S-parameter icon, the
Channel Wizard appears to help you configure the S-parameter file. Refer to the
Advanced Link Analyzer Control Module’s Channel Wizard section for detailed
usage. The following figure shows an example of the Channel Wizard.

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Figure 135. Channel Wizard Example

Capacitance and Inductance Model Components

You can insert the following capacitance and/or inductance components as part of the
channel:
• Shunt capacitance
• Series capacitance—Listed in the Channel Wizard under the AC Coupling
Capacitor
• Series Inductance

Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Designer uses the Channel Wizard to configure these
capacitance and inductance components so you can input the capacitance and
inductance values there. The following figure shows an example.

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Figure 136. Capacitance and Inductance Channel Component Configuration in Channel

Wizard

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Stripline Component

A stripline uses a flat strip of metal that is sandwiched between two parallel ground
planes. The insulating material of the substrate forms a dielectric. The width of the
strip, the thickness of the substrate, and the relative permittivity of the substrate
determine the characteristic impedance of the strip which is a transmission line. A
typical stripline structure is shown in the following figure with these parameters:
• Input parameters
— W—Signal trace width (in various units)
— L—Signal trace length (in various units)
— Layer—PCB layer number where the signal trace will be placed. This is only
valid when PCB stackup dataset is used. The stripline cannot be placed on the
top and bottom layers.
— T—Signal trace thickness (in various units)
— H—Separation between ground planes (in various units)
— Er (Dk)—Relative dielectric constant. Advanced Link Analyzer Channel
Designer supports frequency dependent dielectric constant mapping.
— TanD (Df)—Dielectric loss tangent. Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Designer
supports frequency dependent dissipation factor mapping.
— Cond—Conductor conductivity (S/m)
— Rough—Surface roughness (in various units)
— Mur—Relative permeability (no unit)
— Freq—Frequency where the Z0 (Impedance) and E-Eff (electrical length) are
reported (in various units)
— Type—Substrate type. If "Current" is selected, the substrate characteristics
are as specified in the GUI. If "SubstrateN" is selected, where N is associated
with one of the PCB stackup datasets in the design space, the channel model
is generated using the selected PCB stackup data.
— View PCB Stackup Table—Click this button to view the selected PCB stackup
dataset. The PCB stackup is read-only.
• Output parameters
— Z0—Impedance at specified frequency Freq (Ohm)
— E-Eff—Electrical length (in various units)

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Figure 137. Stripline Channel Component Configuration

The channel component designer GUI can perform parameter unit conversion
interactively. For example, you can change the length unit from mil to mm and the
GUI will automatically compute the length value with the new unit.

After entering the model parameters, click Analyze and Channel Designer will
compute the frequency response of the current design. The integrated plotting engine
can display the insertion loss or return loss characteristics. When you alter the
model parameters, the GUI displays a message that indicates the channel
characteristics may have changed. Click Analyze to redraw the channel
characteristics. You can also load or save the component design for reuse in the
future.

If you are satisfied with your design, click OK to save and close the component design
GUI. If you click Exit or the X button of the window, the design will be discarded.

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Microstrip Component

Microstrip is a type of electrical transmission line. It consists of a conducting strip

separated from a ground plane by a dielectric layer known as the substrate. A typical
microstrip structure is shown in the following figure with these parameters:
• Input parameters
— W—Signal trace width (in various units)
— L—Signal trace length (in various units)
— Layer—PCB layer number where the signal trace will be placed. This is only
valid when PCB stackup dataset is used. The microstrip can only be placed on
the top and bottom layers.
— T—Signal trace thickness (in various units)
— H—Separation between ground planes (in various units)
— Er (Dk)—Relative dielectric constant. Advanced Link Analyzer Channel
Designer supports frequency dependent dielectric constant mapping.
— TanD (Df)—Dielectric loss tangent. Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Designer
supports frequency dependent dissipation factor mapping.
— Cond—Conductor conductivity (S/m)
— Rough—Surface roughness (in various units)
— Mur—Relative permeability (no unit)
— Freq—Frequency where the Z0 (Impedance) and E-Eff (electrical length) are
reported (in various units)
— Type—Substrate type. If "Current" is selected, the substrate characteristics
are as specified in the GUI. If "SubstrateN" is selected, where N is associated
with one of the PCB stackup datasets in the design space, the channel model
is generated using the selected PCB stackup data.
— View PCB Stackup Table—Click this button to view the selected PCB stackup
dataset. The PCB stackup is read-only.
• Output parameters
— Z0—Impedance at specified frequency Freq (Ohm)
— E-Eff—Electrical length (in various units)

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Figure 138. Microstrip Channel Component Configuration

The channel component designer GUI can perform parameter unit conversion
interactively. For example, you can change the length unit from mil to mm and the
GUI will automatically compute the length value with the new unit.

After entering the model parameters, click Analyze and Channel Designer will
compute the frequency response of the current design. The integrated plotting engine
can display the insertion loss or return loss characteristics. When you alter the
model parameters, the GUI displays a message that indicates the channel
characteristics may have changed. Click Analyze to redraw the channel
characteristics. You can also load or save the component design for reuse in the
future.

If you are satisfied with your design, click OK to save and close the component design
GUI. If you click Exit or the X button of the window, the design will be discarded.

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Coax Component

A coax transmission line consists of two round conductors in which one completely
surrounds the other. The two conductors are separated by a continuous solid
dielectric. A typical coax structure is shown in the following figure with these
parameters:
• Input parameters
— a—Diameter of inner conductor (in various units)
— b—Diameter of outer conductor (in various units)
— t—Thickness of outer conductor (in various units)
— Length—Length of the coax (in various units)
— Er (Dk)—Relative dielectric constant. Advanced Link Analyzer Channel
Designer supports frequency dependent dielectric constant mapping.
— TanD (Df)—Dielectric loss tangent. Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Designer
supports frequency dependent dissipation factor mapping.
— Cond (a)—Conductor conductivity of inner conductor (S/m)
— Cond (b)—Conductor conductivity of outer conductor (S/m)
— Freq—Frequency where the Z0 (Impedance) and E-Eff (electrical length) are
reported (in various units)
• Output parameters
— Z0—Impedance at specified frequency Freq (Ohm)
— E-Eff—Electrical length (in various units)

Figure 139. Coax Channel Component Configuration

The channel component designer GUI can perform parameter unit conversion
interactively. For example, you can change the length unit from mil to mm and the
GUI will automatically compute the length value with the new unit.

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After entering the model parameters, click Analyze and Channel Designer will
compute the frequency response of the current design. The integrated plotting engine
can display the insertion loss or return loss characteristics. When you alter the
model parameters, the GUI displays a message that indicates the channel
characteristics may have changed. Click Analyze to redraw the channel
characteristics. You can also load or save the component design for reuse in the
future.

If you are satisfied with your design, click OK to save and close the component design
GUI. If you click Exit or the X button of the window, the design will be discarded.

RLGC Transmission Line Component

The channel will be constructed with unit length RLGC models. A typical RLGC
transmission line structure is shown in the following figure with these parameters:
• Input parameters
— L—Unit Length inductance (in various units)
— Rdc—Unit length DC resistance (in various units)
— Rac—Unit length skin-effect resistance (in various units)
— C—Unit length capacitance (in various units)
— Gdc—Unit length DC conductance (in various units)
— Gac—Unit length AC conductance (in various units)
— Length—Length of the coax (in various units)
— Freq—Frequency where the Z0 (Impedance) and E-Eff (electrical length) are
reported (in various units)
• Output parameters
— Z0—Impedance at specified frequency Freq (Ohm)
— E-Eff—Electrical length (in various units)

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Figure 140. RLGC Transmission Line Channel Component Configuration

The channel component designer GUI can perform parameter unit conversion
interactively. For example, you can change the length unit from mil to mm and the
GUI will automatically compute the length value with the new unit.

After entering the model parameters, click Analyze and Channel Designer will
compute the frequency response of the current design. The integrated plotting engine
can display the insertion loss or return loss characteristics. When you alter the
model parameters, the GUI displays a message that indicates the channel
characteristics may have changed. Click Analyze to redraw the channel
characteristics. You can also load or save the component design for reuse in the
future.

If you are satisfied with your design, click OK to save and close the component design
GUI. If you click Exit or the X button of the window, the design will be discarded.

Ideal Transmission Line Component

• Input parameters
— Z0—Target impedance (Ohm)
— Electrical length (in various units)

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Figure 141. Ideal Transmission Line Channel Component Configuration

The channel component designer GUI can perform parameter unit conversion
interactively. For example, you can change the length unit from mil to mm and the
GUI will automatically compute the length value with the new unit.

After entering the model parameters, click Analyze and Channel Designer will
compute the frequency response of the current design. The integrated plotting engine
can display the insertion loss or return loss characteristics. When you alter the
model parameters, the GUI displays a message that indicates the channel
characteristics may have changed. Click Analyze to redraw the channel
characteristics. You can also load or save the component design for reuse in the
future.

If you are satisfied with your design, click OK to save and close the component design
GUI. If you click Exit or the X button of the window, the design will be discarded.

Via Component

In printed circuit board design, a via consists of two pads in corresponding positions
on different layers of the board. The pads are electrically connected by a hole through
the board. In Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Designer, an analytical PCB Via model is

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constructed. A typical PCB via structure is shown in the following figure and the
analytical via model structure is shown in the figure after that. The via is configured
with the following parameters:
• Input parameters
— Via
• Impedance (Z3) (Ohm)
• Electrical Length (td3) (in various units)
— Pad 1
• Capacitance (C1) (in various units)
— Pad 2
• Capacitance (C2) (in various units)
— Via Stub 1
• Impedance (Z1) (Ohm)
• Electrical Length (td1) (in various units)
• Termination (R1) (in various units)
— Via Stub 2
• Impedance (Z2) (Ohm)
• Electrical Length (td2) (in various units)
• Termination (R2) (in various units)

Figure 142. PCB Via Channel Component Configuration

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Figure 143. PCB Via Analytical Model Structure

The channel component designer GUI can perform parameter unit conversion
interactively. For example, you can change the length unit from mil to mm and the
GUI will automatically compute the length value with the new unit.

After entering the model parameters, click Analyze and Channel Designer will
compute the frequency response of the current design. The integrated plotting engine
can display the insertion loss or return loss characteristics. When you alter the
model parameters, the GUI displays a message that indicates the channel
characteristics may have changed. Click Analyze to redraw the channel
characteristics. You can also load or save the component design for reuse in the
future.

If you are satisfied with your design, click OK to save and close the component design
GUI. If you click Exit or the X button of the window, the design will be discarded.

CHDE Component

Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Design can use an existing Advanced Link Analyzer
Channel Designer project as a channel component. When you click the CHDE icon, a
file browser opens and lets you select an existing Channel Designer configuration file.

Coupled Stripline Component

A coupled stripline uses a pair of flat strip of metal that is sandwiched between two
parallel ground planes. The insulating material of the substrate forms a dielectric. The
width of the strip, the separation/space between the strips, the thickness of the

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substrate, and the relative permittivity of the substrate determine the characteristic
impedance of the strip which is a transmission line. A typical coupled stripline
structure is shown in the following figure with these parameters:

Input parameters:
• W—Signal trace width (in various units)
• L—Signal trace length (in various units)
• Layer—PCB layer number where the signal trace will be placed. This is only valid
when PCB stackup dataset is used. The coupled stripline cannot be placed on the
top and bottom layers.
• S—Signal trace separation distance (in various units)
• T—Signal trace thickness (in various units)
• H—Separation between ground planes (in various units)
• Er (Dk)—Relative dielectric constant. Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Designer
supports frequency dependent dielectric constant mapping.
• TanD (Df)—Dielectric loss tangent. Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Designer
supports frequency dependent dissipation factor mapping.
• Cond—Conductor conductivity (S/m)
• Rough—Surface roughness (in various units)
• Mur—Relative permeability (no unit)
• Freq— Frequency where the Z0 (Impedance), K (coupling coefficient), Z0even
(even mode impedance), Z0odd (odd mode impedance), and E-Eff (electrical
length) are reported (in various units)
• Type—Substrate type. If "Current" is selected, the substrate characteristics are as
specified in the GUI. If "SubstrateN" is selected, where N is associated with one of
the PCB stackup datasets in the design space, the channel model is generated
using the selected PCB stackup data.
• View PCB Stackup Table—Click this button to view the selected PCB stackup
dataset. The PCB stackup is read-only.

Output parameters:
• Z0—Impedance at specified frequency Freq (Ohm)
• K— Coupling coefficient
• Z0even— Even mode impedance at specified frequency Freq (Ohm)
• Z0odd— Odd mode impedance at specified frequency Freq (Ohm)
• E-Eff—Electrical length (in various units)

The channel component designer GUI can perform parameter unit conversion
interactively. For example, you can change the length unit from mil to mm and the
GUI will automatically compute the length value with the new unit.

After entering the model parameters, click Analyze. Channel Designer will compute
the frequency response of the current design. The integrated plotting engine can
display the insertion loss or return loss characteristics. When you alter the model
parameters, the GUI displays a message that indicates the channel characteristics
may have changed. Click Analyze to redraw the channel characteristics. You can also
load or save the component design for reuse in the future.

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If you are satisfied with your design, click OK to save and close the component design
GUI. If you click Exit or the X button of the window, the design will be discarded.

Figure 144. Coupled Stripline Channel Component Configuration

Coupled Microstrip Component

Coupled Microstrip is a type of electrical transmission line. It consists of a pair of

conducting strips separated from a ground plane by a dielectric layer known as the
substrate. A typical coupled microstrip structure is shown in the following figure with
these parameters.

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Input parameters:
• W—Signal trace width (in various units)
• L—Signal trace length (in various units)
• Layer—PCB layer number where the signal trace will be placed. This is only valid
when PCB stackup dataset is used. The coupled microstrip can only be placed on
the top and bottom layers.
• S—Signal trace separation distance (in various units)
• T—Signal trace thickness (in various units)
• H—Separation between ground planes (in various units)
• Er (Dk)—Relative dielectric constant. Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Designer
supports frequency dependent dielectric constant mapping.
• TanD (Df)—Dielectric loss tangent. Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Designer
supports frequency dependent dissipation factor mapping.
• Cond—Conductor conductivity (S/m)
• Rough—Surface roughness (in various units)
• Mur—Relative permeability (no unit)
• Freq— Frequency where the Z0 (Impedance), K (coupling coefficient), Z0even
(even mode impedance), Z0odd (odd mode impedance), and E-Eff (electrical
length) are reported (in various units)
• Type—Substrate type. If "Current" is selected, the substrate characteristics are as
specified in the GUI. If "SubstrateN" is selected, where N is associated with one of
the PCB stackup datasets in the design space, the channel model is generated
using the selected PCB stackup data.
• View PCB Stackup Table—Click this button to view the selected PCB stackup
dataset. The PCB stackup is read-only.

Output parameters:
• Z0—Impedance at specified frequency Freq (Ohm)
• K— Coupling coefficient
• Z0even— Even mode impedance at specified frequency Freq (Ohm)
• Z0odd— Odd mode impedance at specified frequency Freq (Ohm)
• E-Eff—Electrical length (in various units)

The channel component designer GUI can perform parameter unit conversion
interactively. For example, you can change the length unit from mil to mm and the
GUI will automatically compute the length value with the new unit.

After entering the model parameters, click Analyze. Channel Designer will compute
the frequency response of the current design. The integrated plotting engine can
display the insertion loss or return loss characteristics. When you alter the model
parameters, the GUI displays a message that indicates the channel characteristics
may have changed. Click Analyze to redraw the channel characteristics. You can also
load or save the component design for reuse in the future.

If you are satisfied with your design, click OK to save and close the component design
GUI. If you click Exit or the X button of the window, the design will be discarded.

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Figure 145. Coupled Microstrip Channel Component Configuration

PCB Stackup Component

A printed circuit board (PCB) stackup describes the basic construction of a PCB.
Specifically, the stackup defines the total number of PCB layers and the type and
characteristics of each of these layers.

The PCB stackup structure is shown in the following figure.

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Figure 146. PCB Stackup Configuration

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Input parameters:
• Number of Layers—Specify the number of PCB layers.
• Material Type—Select the type of PCB material. This will set the default relative
dielectric constant (Er or Dk) and dielectric loss tangent (TanD or Df) associated
with the selected PCB material. Each layer can have its own Er and TanD values.
You can manually update the Er and TanD of each layer. The supported material
types are
— FR4—Default: Dk/Er = 3.8 and TanD/Df = 0.011
— Rogers—Default: Dk/Er = 3.4 and TanD/Df = 0.0027
— Nelco—Default: Dk/Er = 3.7 and TanD/Df = 0.009
— Megtron4—Default: Dk/Er = 3.8 and TanD/Df = 0.005
— Megtron6—Default: Dk/Er = 3.63 and TanD/Df = 0.004
— Material Option 1—When selected, the Dk/Er and TanD/Df values are
specified in the Material Option 1 tab page. This material option supports
frequency-dependent Er/Dk and TanD/Df. See Figure 147 on page 185 for an
example.
— Material Option 2—When selected, the Dk/Er and TanD/Df values are
specified in the Material Option 2 tab page. With this option, you can specify
the Dk/Er and TanD/Df values for top/bottom and middle layers separately.
This material option also supports frequency-dependent Er/Dk and TanD/Df.
See Figure 148 on page 185 for an example.
• Top/Bottom Substrate Height—This is the default substrate layer height value
for the top and bottom layers when the PCB stackup table is initiated. You can
select the appropriate length unit that suits their use.
• Middle Substrate Height—This is the default substrate layer height value for the
middle PCB layers when the PCB stackup table is initiated. You can select the
appropriate length unit that suits their use.
• Top/Bottom Metal Thickness—This is the default metal layer thickness for the
top and bottom PCB layers. You can select the appropriate length unit that suits
their use.
• Middle Metal Thickness—This is the default metal layer thickness for the middle
PCB layers. You can select the appropriate length unit that suits their use.
• Conductivity—The default conductor conductivity (S/m) when the PCB stackup is
initiated.
• Surface Roughness—The default surface roughness (in various units) when the
PCB stackup is initiated.
• Copper mils/oz—The conversion factor when the metal thickness is specified in
copper weight (oz)
• Enforce Symmetry—Choose to enforce the symmetry of the to-be-generated
PCB stackup. If enabled, only the top half of the PCB stackup can be edited or
modified and the lower-half PCB layers will be automatically matched to the top
layers. The default setting is Enable.
• Generate—Click Generate to generate the PCB stackup using the default values
mentioned above.

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Figure 147. PCB Stackup with Material Option 1

Figure 148. PCB Stackup with Material Option 2

If you are satisfied with your design, click OK to save and close the component design
GUI. If you click Exit or the X button of the window, the design will be discarded.

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3 Tutorial: PCI Express 8GT

This tutorial uses Advanced Link Analyzer to run a link simulation. This example and
its associated channel models are provided with the Advanced Link Analyzer
distribution. The configuration file Demo.jne (included in the software distribution)
contains the same link topology and a majority of the link settings discussed in this
tutorial.

In this tutorial, a link that approximates a typical PCI Express 8GT system with an
Intel Stratix V GX transmitter and a generic PCI Express 8GT receiver is built and
simulated in Advanced Link Analyzer. The following figure shows the link topology.

Note: This link configuration and simulation are for demonstration purposes. It is not
intended for actual implementation. Consult Intel design guidelines for actual high-
speed link design and implementation.

Figure 149. Example of PCI Express 8GT Link Topology

Related Links
Link and Simulation Setting on page 13

3.1 Methodology
This simulation emulates an Intel Stratix V GX transmitter (with embedded package
model), a PCI Express 8GT receiver (with embedded package model), and a ~18-inch
backplane channel. Per PCI Express 8GT specifications, the link operates at 8 Gbps
with a bit error rate (BER) < 10–12. The transmitter must have a minimum differential
output voltage of 800 mV and a rise/fall time of ~35 ps (at 0.8 V VOD). In this
simulation, the Stratix V GX transmitter is set to 800 mV VOD (VOD level = 40).
Additionally, the Stratix V GX transmitter has a 4-tap FIR to compensate for channel
effects. The PCI Express 8G receiver has CTLE and a 1-Tap DFE per PCI-SIG definition.

Intel Corporation. All rights reserved. Intel, the Intel logo, Altera, Arria, Cyclone, Enpirion, MAX, Nios, Quartus
and Stratix words and logos are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other
countries. Intel warrants performance of its FPGA and semiconductor products to current specifications in ISO
accordance with Intel's standard warranty, but reserves the right to make changes to any products and services 9001:2008
at any time without notice. Intel assumes no responsibility or liability arising out of the application or use of any Registered
information, product, or service described herein except as expressly agreed to in writing by Intel. Intel
customers are advised to obtain the latest version of device specifications before relying on any published
information and before placing orders for products or services.
*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
3 Tutorial: PCI Express 8GT
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To accomplish these goals, set up a transmitter model, a receiver model, and a link
with the following parameters:
• Data rate: 8 Gbps
• Test pattern: PRBS-23
• BER target: BER < 10–12
• Stratix V GX transmitter
— VOD: 800 mV (VOD Level = 40)
— Edge rate: Per Stratix V GX characteristics
— 4-Tap TX FIR (1 pre-tap and 2 post-taps)
— Stratix V GX package model (embedded)
— PLL: ATX (LC) set to low bandwidth
— Output Jitter: Retrieved from the Intel Characterization Database (embedded
in Advanced Link Analyzer; contact your Intel representative to enable this
function)
• DCD = ~0.012 UI
• BUJ = ~0.032 UI
• RJ = ~1.00 psRMS (8 Gbps, BER < 10–12)
• Receiver
— CTLE:
• Programmable with 6 dB~12 dB boost at 4 GHz
• Per PCI-SIG specifications
— 1-tap DFE
— PCI-SIG receiver package model (12-port S-parameter model from PCI-SIG)
— CDR: Generic binary CDR with high loop bandwidth ~26 MHz
— Receiver Jitter:
• DJ = ~7 ps
• RJ = ~1.55 psRMS (at BER < 10–12)

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The ~18-inch backplane channel is described by a 12-port S-parameter model. The S-

parameter is measured (or generated) with port configuration type 2, as shown in the
following figure:

Figure 150. 12-port S-parameter with Port Configuration Type 2

Figure 151. Channel Characteristics (Using Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Viewer with
Data Cursor Enabled)

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The Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Viewer shows that the backplane channel has
approximately 17.15 dB loss at 4 GHz. The PCI-SIG RX package has 3.5 dB insertion
loss at 4 GHz. The overall link has about 21 dB of loss (as shown in the Combined
Channel black curve, not including Stratix V GX transmitter package) at 4 GHz, which
requires heavy TX and RX equalizations to achieve the required BER target.

For comparative purposes, the following table and figure show a typical external 100
MHz transmitter reference clock with measured phase noise characteristics and spurs
at three different frequencies.

Table 18. Phase Noise Characteristics

Phase Noise Spurs

Frequency Phase Noise (dBc) Frequency Amplitude (dBc)

10 Hz –68 100 KHz –80

100 Hz –82 1 MHz –90

1 KHz –84 10 MHz –96

1 MHz and above –140

Figure 152. Transmitter Reference Clock Characteristics

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The PLL in the Stratix V GX transmitter is enabled using ATX (LC) with low bandwidth
configuration. The PLL effectively reduces the noise effects from the external reference
clock.

Use the Advanced Link Analyzer’s link optimization algorithm to find the optimal
equalization settings for both the transmitter and receiver. In this demonstration, you
use the CTLE=>FIR+DFE link optimization method.

Related Links
Link and Simulation Setting on page 13

3.2 Setup and Initialization

First, start Advanced Link Analyzer. Input the following settings in the control module.

Related Links
Link and Simulation Setting on page 13

3.2.1 Setting Up the Control Module

Link and Simulation Setting Tab

Figure 153. Link and Simulation Setting

Set the following parameters in the Link and Simulation Setting tab:
• Data Rate: 8 (Gbps)
• Simulation Length: 65536 (Bits)
• Target BER: 10^ -12
• Test Pattern: PRBS-23
• Reference Clock: 100 (MHz)
• Link Optimization Method: CTLE=>FIR+DFE
• FOM of Link Optimization: Area
• Compliance Mask: PCI Express 8GT
• FEC: Off. This will disable forward error correction (FEC) modeling since the
transmitter and receiver do not support FEC.
• Project Name: Demo

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• Simulation Mode: Hybrid

• Output Options: Data Viewer with Image Output. This option tells Advanced
Link Analyzer to generate image files (.png) for all output plots.
• Jitter Analysis Options: Disable. This selection disables the jitter analysis function
during the link simulation.

Click Reference Clock Option.

Figure 154. Reference Clock Configuration

• Turn off the Ideal Reference Clock option

• Click the Option 2: Phase Noise tab
• Turn on the Select TX Reference Clock Option 2 option
• Type or copy the phase noise and spur data in the text boxes as shown in the
above figure. The reference clock phase noise data can be found in the example
configuration file Demo.jne.

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Transmitter Tab

Figure 155. Transmitter Settings

Set the following parameters in the Transmitter tab:

• Transmitter: Stratix V GX
• Package: Stratix V GX
• VOD Selection: 40 (~800 mV)
• Pre-emphasis: Auto
• PLL Type: ATX (LC)
• PLL Bandwidth: Low
• Jitter/Noise Component:
— If the Intel Device Characterization Data Access function is enabled, click
Characterization Data Access. (A message box appears. Read and close the
message box.) Transmitter jitter figures are populated automatically and the
jitter/noise modeling mode is selected.
— If Intel Device Characterization Data Access is not available, manually type in
the jitter numbers shown in the above figure. Note that the simulation results
might differ slightly if the jitter data is from manual input.

Receiver Tab

Figure 156. Receiver Settings

Set the following parameters in the Receiver tab:

• Receiver: PCI-Express 8GT
• Package: PCI-Express 8GT
• CTLE Setting: Auto
• DFE Mode: Auto
• CDR Type: Bang-Bang

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• CDR Bandwidth: Medium

• PVT Process: Typical
• PVT Voltage: Typical
• PVT Temperature: 25 deg C
• DJ: 0.056 (UI, 7 ps)
• RJ: 1.55 ps (RMS) (key-in and then use pull-down menu to set RJ unit)

Note: In this simulation, the custom receiver is used to emulate a PCI-SIG PCI Express 3.0
baseline receiver. The definitions of jitter components and values are different from
that of PSG/Intel devices. Refer to compliance mask usage in the Link and Simulation
Setting section for more details.

Click Receiver Options. In the Receiver Configuration window, click the

Equalization tab. Set DFE Tap Length to 1 and Step Size to 0.0078125.

Figure 157. Additional Receiver Configuration

Related Links
Link and Simulation Setting on page 13

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3.2.2 Constructing the Channel

Next, construct the channel between the transmitter and receiver. In Advanced Link
Analyzer, the package models for the Stratix V GX transmitter and PCI Express 8GT
receiver are embedded. The transmitter and receiver packages are automatically
included in the simulation.

Advanced Link Analyzer supports crosstalk modeling capabilities. The channel

engine and simulation engine can extract and interpret crosstalk characteristics from a
single or a multi-lane S-parameter file and compute the crosstalk effects. In the
channel list, crosstalk channels are assumed to run in parallel with the victim channel
and the crosstalk noises are superimposed. This section describes how to set up
crosstalk simulation in Advanced Link Analyzer.

The backplane model is provided as a 12-port S-parameter. It consists of both

insertion loss and crosstalk characteristics. However, Advanced Link Analyzer requires
you to add them one at a time (even if the loss and crosstalk characteristics are from
the same multiple-lane S-parameter file). Therefore, you are going to insert three
channel components during channel setup: one backplane victim channel and two
backplane aggressor channels.

Perform the following steps to add a victim channel:

1. Click Channel in the Link Designer and select Transmission.
2. Use the file browser to locate the channel model file Demo.s12p and add it to the
channel list as victim.
3. The Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Wizard displays the Sdd21 characteristics of
the middle lane (lane 2) in the 12-port S-parameter.
4. Click OK to close the Channel Wizard.
5. Place the channel icon in the Link Designer.

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Figure 158. Configure Victim Channel with Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Wizard

Perform the following steps to add the first crosstalk channel:

1. Click Channel in the Link Designer panel and select Far-end Crosstalk (FEXT).
2. Use the file browser to locate the channel model file Demo.s12p and add it to the
channel list as FEXT.
3. The Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Wizard displays the FEXT #1 characteristic.
Note that the Crosstalk Aggressor Location 1 is selected in for this channel.
4. Click OK to close the Channel Wizard.
5. Place the channel icon in the Link Designer.

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Figure 159. First Far-end Crosstalk Configuration in Channel Wizard

Perform the following steps to add the second crosstalk channel:

1. Click Channel in the Link Designer panel and select Far-end Crosstalk (FEXT).
2. Use the file browser to locate the channel model file Demo.s12p and add it to the
channel list as second FEXT.
3. The Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Wizard displays the first FEXT channel
characteristic by default.
4. Change the Crosstalk Aggressor Location to 2. This tells Advanced Link Analyzer
to select the second FEXT in the12-port S-parameter.
5. Set the aggressor frequency offset to 300 ppm to emulate the phase shifting
effect for this crosstalk noise source. This setting indicates the 2nd crosstalk is not
frequency synchronous to the victim channel.
6. Click OK to close the Channel Wizard.
7. Place the channel icon in the Link Designer.

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Figure 160. Second Far-end Crosstalk Configuration in Channel Wizard

Related Links
Link and Simulation Setting on page 13

3.2.3 Completing the System

All the link components are now chosen and placed in the Link Designer. Click
Connect in the Link Designer to begin connecting the components. Refer to the Link
and Simulation Setting section for link construction in the Link Designer. The following
figure shows the completed link system.

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Figure 161. Complete Link Connection in Link Designer

The link configuration is complete. Use the Save/Save as buttons to save the
configuration for later use.

Related Links
Link and Simulation Setting on page 13

3.3 Analysis
Use the Channel Viewer to observe and analyze the channel characteristics. The
Channel Viewer button is located on the right side of the Channel tab. This example
shows the Sdd21 of the three channels you selected as well as the channel responses
at test points and the overall channel. You can leave the Channel Viewer module
open or close it by clicking OK or Exit.

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Figure 162. Channel Characteristics of Victim and 2 FEXT Channels (with Data Cursor
Enabled)

Start the channel simulation by clicking Simulate in the lower right corner of the
Advanced Link Analyzer Control Module. The Advanced Link Analyzer Simulation
Engine simulates all the models and generates eye diagrams at test points and inside
the receiver (after CTLE and DFE).

A goal of this tutorial was for Advanced Link Analyzer to automatically find the optimal
link setting for both transmitter and receiver. In the simulation time, the progress bar
flashes, indicating the Advanced Link Analyzer Simulation Engine is exploring the
solution space. The link performance and result of the final setting is shown in a
Advanced Link Analyzer Data View.

At TX output, which is located after the Intel Stratix V GX transmitter output pin (after
the TX package model), the results are shown in the following figure. Advanced Link
Analyzer found the optimal TX-FIR setting: Pre-tap 1 = –4, Post-tap 1 = 2, and
Post-tap 2 = 0. The configured transmitter generates ~0.83 UI of jitter at BER =
10-12. This set of TX outputs is measured with an ideal clock. In addition to the
transmitter’s intrinsic jitter, the reference clock’s jitter and noise (recall that external
reference clock phase noise and spurs in this simulation are filtered by the Stratix V
GX ’s PLL) are seen here.

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• The first figure is a hybrid eye diagram that includes deterministic jitter and
probability density function (PDF) because of unbounded jitter and noise sources.
• The second figure (top right) contains the cumulative distribution (CDF) eye
diagram with BER bathtub curves (for both width and height in the eye diagram
opening).
• The third plot (lower left) is a BER contour plot that shows the eye diagram
opening area at various BER targets.
• The fourth plot shows Q-Factor curves, which are another representation of BER
bathtub curve using Q-factor by assuming the noise/jitter is Gaussian.

With the Gaussian random jitter injected into the link, the BER bathtub and Q-Factor
plots clearly show the effects where this unbounded jitter narrows the eye diagram
width as the BER target reduces.

Figure 163. TX Output Hybrid Eye Diagrams and BER Analysis Measured with Ideal Clock

The second set of TX outputs are measured with the golden CDR, which has a loop
bandwidth of 1/1667 of the data rate. This set of outputs reflects the common lab
scope measurement. With the golden CDR in place, the low frequency jitter and noise,
which are included in phase noise and spurs, are tracked.

The following figure shows the Time Interval Error (TIE) plots before and after the
golden CDR. With reference to the ideal clock (that is, before the golden CDR), the low
frequency sinusoidal jitter from the reference clock characteristics can be clearly
observed in the plot on the left. After the golden CDR, those low frequency sinusoidal
jitters are tracked as shown in the plot on the right. The figure also shows the jitter
components results that reflect the effects of the golden CDR (Beta feature).

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Figure 164. Transmitter Output TIE (Time Interval Error) Plots with Reference Clock
Phase Noise and Spurs Before and After the Golden CDR

In the following figure, the transmitter output jitter, which includes transmitter
intrinsic jitter and PLL filtered reference clock jitter, is about 0.17 UI at BER 10-12.

Figure 165. Transmitter Scope Output Measured with Golden CDR

When you enable a PLL in a transmitter, the reference clock’s phase noise is shaped
and filtered with the PLL’s response. The following figure shows the characteristics of
phase noise at the output of the reference clock (blue), after the transmitter PLL
(green), after the transmitter PLL plus the transmitter’s intrinsic jitter (red), after the
Golden CDR (most likely in a scope, cyan), and after the Golden CDR with

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transmitter’s intrinsic jitter (black). The associated random jitter from the phase noise
power spectrum at each of the above stages are calculated and displayed in the text
below the plot.

Figure 166. Reference Clock Phase Noise Characteristics Before and After TX PLL

At the channel output, which is located at the end of backplane channel with crosstalk,
the eye diagram is largely closed because of the large channel loss from the TX
package and the backplane.

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Figure 167. Channel Output Hybrid Eye Diagrams and BER Analysis

The CTLE is a PCI Express 8GT CTLE behavior model output stage. The Advanced Link
Analyzer's link optimization algorithm has identified the optimal gain setting at 10 dB
level. Similar to the TX output case, when the receiver CDR is enabled or included in
the simulation, two sets of CTLE outputs can be shown but, by default, Advanced Link
Analyzer will only output CDR retimed output when receiver CDR is enabled. The first
set of outputs is with the ideal clock and the second one is with the CDR recovered
clock. The total jitter is ~0.94 UI (at BER < 10-12, with ideal clock, result not shown
by default because receiver CDR is enabled) or ~0.56 UI (with CDR recovered clock).
The eye diagram opening height is ~7 mV (with ideal clock, result not shown by
default because receiver CDR is enabled) and ~42 mV (with recovered clock). The eye
diagram opening is marginal to PCI Express 8GT requirements. Therefore, further
equalization of the signal with DFE is needed.

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Figure 168. CTLE Output Hybrid Eye Diagram and BER Analysis with CDR Recovered Clock

When you enable CDR in a receiver, the reference clock’s phase noise is shaped and
filtered with the CDR’s response. The following figure shows the characteristics of
phase noise at the output of the reference clock (blue), after the transmitter PLL
(red), after the transmitter PLL plus the transmitter’s intrinsic jitter (red), after the RX
CDR (cyan), and after the RX CDR with transmitter and receiver’s intrinsic jitter
(black). The associated random jitter from the phase noise power spectrum at each of
the above stages was calculated and displayed in the text below the plot.

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Figure 169. Phase Noise of Reference Clock and Its Transitions through PLL and CDR

At the output of the PCI Express 8G receiver’s 1-Tap DFE, the following figures show
that the DFE has further opened the eye diagram with a total jitter of ~0.96 UI (at
BER < 10-12, with ideal clock and sinusoidal jitter from the transmitter reference clock,
result not shown by default because receiver CDR is enabled) and ~0.59 UI (with CDR
recovered clock) and eye diagram opening height of ~3 mV (with ideal clock, result
not shown by default because receiver CDR is enabled) and ~60 mV (with recovered
clock). The BER bathtub curve and contour show good behavior and successfully meet
the PCI Express 8GT RX requirements (TJ < 0.7 UI and eye diagram height > 25 mV;
refer to PCI Express Base Specification 4.3).

Note: The eye diagram mask usage demonstrated here is specific to this custom receiver,
which emulates a PCI-SIG reference receiver and its jitter component definitions. For
Intel/PSG devices, use the jitter and noise figures from the characterization database,
where the link margins are directly calculated without using the eye diagram mask.
Refer to compliance mask usage in the Link and Simulation Setting section for more
details.

The PCI Express 8GT eye diagram mask is shown in the following figure to see the
margins to the specification limits.

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Figure 170. TP4 Hybrid Eye Diagram Measured with CDR Recovered Clock and PCI
Express 8GT Receiver Eye Diagram Mask

When you enable a CDR in a receiver, the reference clock’s phase noise is shaped and
filtered with the CDR’s response. The following figure shows the characteristics of
phase noise at the output of the reference clock (blue), after transmitter PLL (red),
after transmitter PLL plus transmitter’s intrinsic jitter (red), after RX CDR (cyan), and
after RX CDR with transmitter and receiver’s intrinsic jitter (black). The associated
random jitter from the phase noise power spectrum at each of the above stages are
calculated and displayed in the text below the plot.

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Figure 171. Phase Noise of Reference Clock and Its Transitions through PLL and CDR

These examples demonstrated how to use Advanced Link Analyzer to set up a serial
link and evaluate its link performance. Advanced Link Analyzer allows you to:
• Configure a link
• Configure an external reference clock
• Configure a transmitter and receiver
• Configure a channel
• Configure and model jitter and noise sources
• Derive accurate jitter figures for Intel devices from the Intel JBE database
• Load and save a link configuration
• Observe the channel characteristics
• Set up test points within the link
• Compute and observe an eye diagram
• Perform BER analysis

Related Links
Link and Simulation Setting on page 13

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4 Document Revision History

Date Version Changes

November, 2017 2017.11.06 • JNEye name changed to "Advanced Link Analyzer".

• Added Intel Stratix 10 and Intel Cyclone 10 GX support.
• Added a note "For PAM-4 link simulations, Intel recommends to use Height
as the FOM to get better results" in FOM of Link Optimization.
• "CMN" added to the "Transmitter Intrinsic Jitter and Noise Types" table.
• "InpN" added to the "Receiver Intrinsic Jitter and Noise Types" table.
• Added a new topic "IBIS-AMI Wrapper".
• "COM Analyzer" added to "Plot Configuration Panel".
• Removed 28 Gbps simulation tutorial.

May 2017 2017.05.08 • Added PCI-Express 16GT device model.

• Added new equalization capabilities for receiver technology model.
• Added common-mode noise model and simulation capability.
• Added transmitter FIR fitting and SNDR analysis capabilities.
• Enhanced eye diagram masks capabilities.

October 2016 2016.10.31 • Added descriptions for new link components: Repeater/Retimer TX,
Repeater/Retimer RX and Noise Source.
• Added new options in the Channel Analysis and Compliance Module in
Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Viewer.
• Updated Intel Arria 10 device model.

May 2016 2016.05.03 • Added PCB stackup configuration to the Advanced Link Analyzer Channel
Designer section.
• Updated the PCI Express tutorial with new simulation results.
• Updated the OIF CEI VSR tutorial with simulation results.
• Updated GUI screenshots to reflect 16.0 changes.

November 2015 2015.11.02 • Added coupled stripline and coupled microstrip information to the
Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Designer section.
• Updated the PCI-Express tutorial with new simulation results.
• Updated the OIF CEI VSR tutorial with simulation results.
• Changed Quartus II software references to Quartus Prime software.
• Updated GUI screenshots to reflect 15.1 changes.

May 2015 2015.05.04 • Updated channel compliance check and analysis documentation in the
Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Viewer section.
• Updated the PCI-Express tutorial with new measurements and results.
• Updated the OIF VSR tutorial with new configuration and results.
• Updated most GUI screenshots to reflect 15.0 changes.
continued...

Intel Corporation. All rights reserved. Intel, the Intel logo, Altera, Arria, Cyclone, Enpirion, MAX, Nios, Quartus
and Stratix words and logos are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other
countries. Intel warrants performance of its FPGA and semiconductor products to current specifications in ISO
accordance with Intel's standard warranty, but reserves the right to make changes to any products and services 9001:2008
at any time without notice. Intel assumes no responsibility or liability arising out of the application or use of any Registered
information, product, or service described herein except as expressly agreed to in writing by Intel. Intel
customers are advised to obtain the latest version of device specifications before relying on any published
information and before placing orders for products or services.
*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
4 Document Revision History
UG-1146 | 2017.11.06

Date Version Changes

December 2014 2014.12.15 • Added the Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Designer section.
• Added channel compliance check and analysis documentation in the
Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Viewer section.
• Updated the two tutorials with new measurements and results.
• Updated all GUI screenshots with new plots.

June 2014 2014.06.30 • Incorporated new features of the Advanced Link Analyzer Channel Viewer.
• Added new waveform display feature.
• Updated the Arria 10 models.
• Updated all GUI screenshots with new plots.

December 2013 2013.12.09 Initial release.

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