Highest density SynchE & IEEE1588-2008 timing card devices

The new devices are available now and are currently being designed into wireless backhaul products where phase synchronization performance is crucial.

“Our new SyncE/IEEE1588 solutions provide customers with a highly compelling value proposition and very flexible architecture as evidenced by several product design-ins already in development by leading telecom companies. These offerings are indicative of the innovative products that have made us the No. 1 provider of network timing semiconductor solutions globally, and the new products in our pipeline will help solidify our leadership position,” commented Maamoun Seido, vice president of Microsemi's Timing Products group.

The new ZL30361, ZL30362 and ZL30363 timing card devices offer the smallest footprint (13mm x 13mm), lowest cost and highest level of flexibility compared to alternative solutions. Allowing for the simultaneous support for GPS, SyncE and IEEE1588-2008 timing, key features include the availability of up to four independent timing channels with each channel able to be configured to support any electrical or packet mode of operation. As a result, these devices can be used to enhance or to replace GPS timing in wireless infrastructure at a lower cost.

SyncE and IEEE 1588-2008 technologies allow carriers to improve synchronization and performance in packet-switching networks including the fast-growing 4G and LTE segment. According to a report from market research firm Infonetics, this 4G and LTE segment is rising from $8 billion in 2012 to a forecasted $17 billion in 2016.

The new ZL30361, ZL30362 and ZL30363 timing devices

The ZL30361, ZL30362 and ZL30363 are based on Microsemi's unique two stage ClockCenter architecture which supports any rate-to-any rate frequency translation from 1Hz to 750MHz, including GPS 1 pulse per second input. Microsemi has added standards-compliant IEEE 1588-2008 protocol with Clock Recovery Servo to the devices, which are Microsemi’s third-generation packet timing solution, field-proven over many years with multiple equipment vendors and carriers.

Microsemi’s new SyncE/IEEE1588 timing solutions features multiple digital phase locked loops tailored for wireless infrastructure and mobile backhaul networks. The ZL30362 has four highly programmable multi-function DPLLs, coupled with four independent synthesizers capable of generating multiple independent frequencies to directly drive both 1 Gigabit Ethernet and 10GbE physical layers. The ZL30361 and ZL30363 timing card devices feature single and dual multi-function DPLLs, coupled with three and four high performance synthesizers, respectively.

With jitter capable of driving both 1G and 10GbE PHYs directly there is no need for expensive jitter attenuators. The packaging used by Microsemi offers a 50 percent smaller footprint than competitor solutions and combines this with significant power savings, a key element in today’s drive for “green” focused equipment.

To future-proof designs, new standards such as the upcoming telecom profile for Phase will be supported through a simple software upgrade. The standards-compliant timing card devices have also passed interoperability testing at the ISPCS interoperability conference. Each device can also lock to four separate IEEE1588 Grand Masters and provide hitless reference switching between them or any electrical reference.