Bringup Lab Chronicles: A Measurement Two Years in the Making

Oxide and Friends · 23 Aug 2022 · 1h 34m · Episode 24

What this episode covers

Oxide Computer Company electrical engineers Ariane, Eric, and Tom detail the two-year effort to bring up a 100Gb backplane link, utilizing Teledyne LeCroy VNAs and TDRs to measure signal integrity. They explain how a missing 100Ω termination resistor on the clock line caused fatal jitter, a problem solved by adding an external resistor despite datasheet warnings. The team also built a custom probing station and used ANSYS simulations to model vias and impedance, ultimately achieving a link with zero forward error correction.

Mentioned

Companies
Oxide Computer Company, Teledyne LeCroy, ANSYS, Semtech, Thor Labs, Misumi
Products
GLScope Client

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • OnTrack · 57m

    Talking Signal Integrity & PCB Laminates w/ Bert Simonovich

    Bert Simonovich, founder of Lansim Enterprises, explains how dielectric anisotropy in PCB laminates affects signal integrity modeling for high-speed designs like 112 Gbps systems. He details the difference between in-plane and out-of-plane dielectric constants (DK) caused by glass weave and resin content, and describes a heuristic method to calculate effective DK values for transmission lines and vias. Simonovich also discusses the impact of copper roughness and pressed thickness on impedance accuracy, emphasizing the need for validation through test structures.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 27m

    An Interview with Kieran O'Leary

    Chris Gammell, founder of Mixed Signal Systems, discusses his career transition from application engineering at semiconductor giants like Xilinx and Wolfson Microelectronics to running his own consultancy. He details the high-pressure environment of supporting tier-one customers with new silicon, the technical challenges of designing evaluation boards under compressed timelines, and the critical importance of understanding return current paths to avoid signal integrity and EMC failures in mixed-signal designs.

  • OnTrack · 1h 15m

    The Latest in PCB Simulation: Expert Insights with Yuriy Shlepnev

    Yuriy Shlepnev, President and Founder of Simberian Inc., discusses the latest capabilities of Simbeor, a PCB simulation tool designed to simplify signal integrity analysis for layout engineers. He explains how pre-layout and post-layout compliance analysis allows designers to predict interconnect behavior, reduce design iterations, and avoid over-engineering by accurately modeling material properties like conductor roughness. The episode features a detailed demo of Simbeor’s workflow, including linear network analysis, 3D electromagnetic simulation, and automated scripting for comparing board iterations.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 33m

    An Interview with Eric Bogatin - Tilded Thumb Tenets

    Eric Bogatin, Dean of the Teledyne LeCroy Signal Integrity Academy, explains the foundational physics of signal integrity, emphasizing that engineers must understand Maxwell's equations and the concept of 'being the signal' to grasp how voltage waves propagate on transmission lines. He outlines three essential rules of thumb: bandwidth is approximately 0.35 divided by rise time, signals travel at roughly 6 inches per nanosecond in FR4, and a 50-ohm microstrip requires a line-to-dielectric thickness ratio of 2:1. Bogatin discusses the importance of using 2D and 3D field solvers like those from Polar Instruments for accurate impedance calculation, particularly with hatched ground planes, and critiques common misconceptions about inductance and capacitance in power distribution networks.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 13m

    The Two Person Rule

    Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss the critical importance of PCB stackups, sharing a story where Chris wasted two days troubleshooting controlled impedance issues caused by a board house using the wrong material. They explore the 'two-person rule' for powering up expensive prototypes, the nuances of writing C vs. C++ for hardware projects, and the industry shift toward onshore manufacturing exemplified by TSMC's new Arizona fab.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Oxide and Friends. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.