12.5-Gbit.sec crosspoint switch outperforms competition, claims Maxim

13 August 2003 Sunnyvale, CA Lightwave -- Maxim Integrated Products today introduced the MAX3841, which it claims is the industry's highest performance, lowest power, 12.5-Gbit/sec, 2 x 2 crosspoint-switch IC.

The MAX3841 is ideal for high-speed serial-data loopback, redundancy, and switching for serial OC-192 and 10-Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) applications or other applications up to 12.5 Gbits/sec. In addition to functioning as a 2 x 2 switch, the device can be configured as a 2:1 multiplexer, 1:2 buffer, or dual 1:1 buffer.

The MAX3841 current-mode logic (CML) inputs and outputs have isolated Vcc connections to enable DC-coupled interfaces to 1.8-V, 2.5-V, or 3.3-V CML ICs. Maxim's second-generation silicon germanium (SiGe) process technology provides excellent jitter performance over competing devices--less than 10-ps peak-to-peak deterministic jitter and less than 0.7-ps peak-to-peak random jitter, claim company representatives. The device also features low channel-to-channel skew (<12 ps) and low propagation delay (100 ps). The MAX3841 has 150-mV peak-to-peak (min) differential input sensitivity and 500-mV peak-to-peak nominal differential output swing. Unused outputs can be powered down individually to conserve power; the MAX3841 consumes only 215 mW with both outputs enabled.