MAX4952B: Dual SAS/SATA redriver supports speeds up to 6Gbps in power-sensitive applications

The MAX4952B is designed for applications such as servers in which the user needs to route the signal through connectors and over long backplanes, onto a mezzanine board, and through an external connector while being compliant with the Serial ATA International Organization: Serial ATA Revision 3.0 (SATA 6Gbps). It is also well suited for workstations that must carry signals over long cables and boards while overcoming losses on the PCB and in the eSATA connector.

The MAX4952B supports SAS/SATA out-of-band (OOB) signaling by using high-speed amplitude detection on the inputs and amplitude squelch on the corresponding outputs. When in SAS mode, input signals of 120mVp-p or less are detected as off and not passed to the output. When in SATA mode, the OOB detection circuitry squelches any input signal less than 50mVp-p. This approach prevents the system from responding to unwanted noise, while still allowing OOB signals to transmit through the MAX4952B.

This redriver integrates a power-down mode to squelch the output through an enable input, as well as independent output-boost controls. The independent boost control allows users to program each redriver channel to overcome losses presented by the board, as well as any other losses seen in the signal path.