A simple and fast tool for the modelling of inter-symbol interference and equalization in high-speed chip-to-chip interfaces

Alessio Cortiula, Martino Dazzi, Mattia Marcon, Davide Menin, Marco Scapol, Andrea Bandiziol, Andrea Cristofoli, Werner Grollitsch, Roberto Nonis, Pierpaolo Palestri

Abstract: We describe a simulator that based on the architecture of a specified transmission channel (microstrip plus cables) and the main features of transmitter and receiver (impedance, voltage swing, etc.) computes the eye diagram and the bit-error rate of high-speed serial interfaces. Different equalization strategies are included in the model such as feed-forward equalization at the transmitter, continuous-time linear equalization and decision-feedback equalization at the receiver. A user-friendly graphical interface has been implemented to facilitate the use of the program in the lab for the courses of electronics.