Chip programming concern Xilinx Monday said it is the first Programmable Logic Device (PLD) vendor to demo 10 Gbps technology using a standard CMOS
The multi-gigabit technology is expected to make its way into target field-programmable gate arrays and complex programmable logic devices.
Based on Non-Return to Zero (NRZ) signaling, the company said its serial I/O technology supports industry most major chip-to-chip, chip-to-module, and serial backplane applications. San Jose, Calif.-based Xilinx said it plans to include its 10 Gbps circuitry in its Serial Tsunami products slated for delivery this year.
The drive for 10Gbps products is not new. Other companies like Broadcom have produced similar designs but usually for very application specific products.
“Serial solutions will ultimately be deployed in nearly every electronic product imaginable,” said Xilinx president and CEO Wim Roelandts. “The inherent scalability and cost advantages of high speed serial make this technology imperative for current and next-generation telecommunications, networking, and storage applications.”
This advancement in its 10 Gbps technology is a result of Xilinx’s acquisition of RocketChips over two years ago. The company has since been reorganized into Xilinx’s Communications Technology Division and is focused solely on multi-gigabit serial products.
Through its Serial Tsunami initiative Xilinx has already made several advancements including its Virtex-II Pro Family, which it claims is the world’s first platform FPGA with 622 Mbps to 3.125 Gbps serial transceivers.
The company has also released new intellectual property cores and supported serial connectivity standards such as PCI Express and 1 and 10 Gbps Ethernet (XAUI).
Xilinx also offers application-specific ICs, which are programmed during manufacturing, and provides a broad range of design software and intellectual property used to customize its chips. The company sells primarily to manufacturers in the telecommunications, computer, aerospace, industrial control, and networking markets.