56 Gbps PCB Design Strategies for Clean, Low-Skew Channels

Abstract: Although next generation (>28 Gbps) SerDes standards have been contemplated for several years, it has not been clear whether PCB structures supporting 56 Gbps NRZ will be feasible and practical. In this paper, we assess a number of specific PCB design strategies (related to pin-field breakouts, via stubs, and fiber weave skew) both through simulation and through measurement of a wide range of structures on a PCB test vehicle. We demonstrate that conventional approaches in many cases will not be sufficient, but that modest (manufacturable) design changes can enable low-skew 56 Gbps NRZ channels having acceptable insertion and return loss.