LVDS crosspoint switch reaches OC-12

-- EDN, 12/7/2000

The OCX family of CMOS nonblocking crosspoint switch devices from I-Cube connect input and output buffers in one-to-one or one-to-many connections, including a broadcast mode that routes one input to every output. The first device in the family, the 80×80 OCX160 supports 667 Mbps per port. Designers can choose between LVDS (low-voltage-differential-signaling) and LVPECL (low-voltage positive-emitter-coupled-logic) I/O by selecting resistor packs. You can configure flow-through or registered outputs; a global clock or next-neighbor ports can clock outputs. Double-buffered SRAM allows switch configuration updates in a single clock cycle without disrupting the current switching operation.

Operating at 2.5 and 3.3V, the OCX160 comes in a 420-bump BGA package. Price is $144 (1000) for commercial-temperature ranges and $165 (1000) for industrial-temperature ranges. Samples are available now, and full production is slated for the first quarter of 2001. Future family members for release in 2001 include the 1.6-Gbps OCX80 and the 128×128, 667-MbpsOCX256; both are scheduled for sampling in the first quarter of 2001.

I-Cube, 1-408-341-1888, www.icube.com.

—by Nicholas Cravotta