1.4gbps 8x8 Digital Crosspoint Switch Offers Improved Flexibility, Lower Cost In Serial Digital Video Systems

Business Wire, Jan 27, 1997

FORT COLLINS, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 27, 1997--National Semiconductor Corporation's Comlinear Products Group today announced a very high speed 8x8 digital crosspoint switch designed for Serial Digital Video (SDV) systems and telecom/datacom switching. Meeting worldwide standards for serial data transmission, including SMPTE 259M, the CLC018 has fully differential signal paths and delivers data rates up to 1.4Gbps (Non Return to Zero) per channel with less than 100ps p-p jitter. At only $18 in 1000s, it is a cost-effective building block for virtually any size router or communications switch.

The CLC018's non-blocking architecture gives designers exceptional flexibility. Each output can be independently connected to any input, and any input can be connected to any or all outputs. In addition, each output can be individually disabled and set to a high-impedance state (TRI-STATE). This allows the CLC018 to be a fundamental building block for creating larger switch arrays. Inputs may be driven single-ended or differentially and accept a wide range of common-mode levels including the positive supply.

"In addition to its building-block flexibility, the CLC018 offers a number of advantages over existing crosspoint switches on the market," said Kurt Rentel, marketing director for National Semiconductor's Comlinear Products. "The part is fabricated on National's proven fine-line BiCMOS processes. This gives us higher yields than gallium arsenide, which is typically used in high-speed crosspoint switches, and allows us to offer lower costs and shorter lead times."

Other important features of the CLC018 include: ability to operate from either a single 5V supply or dual /-5V supplies, power consumption of only 850mW, fast 250ps output edge speeds, and a double-row-latch architecture that allows the switch to be reprogrammed in the background during operation.

Due to its exceptional performance at data rates in excess of 650Mbps, the CLC018 is also expected to find use in a broad range of digital transmission systems from telecommunications to CAD systems.

The CLC018 is the latest device in a Comlinear chip set that supports serial data links to 360Mbps. Other devices include the CLC006 adjustable output driver, the CLC007 quad output cable driver, the CLC018 equalizer and the CLC016 clock and data recovery IC with auto rate select.

Price and Availability

The CLC018 is available now in an industrial-screened version (-40 to 85C) in a 64-pin PQFP package designated CLC018AJVJQ. U.S. list price is $18 in 1000s. For further information on the CLC018 or other products from National Semiconductor, visit our World Wide Web site at http://www.national.com or contact the National Semiconductor Customer Response Group at 1-800-272-9959.

National Semiconductor produces analog and mixed-signal based silicon solutions for the information highway, communications, consumer and industrial markets. National Semiconductor is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and has 19,000 employees worldwide. In fiscal 1996, the company reported sales of $2.6 billion. -0- Reader Information Customer Response Group 1-800-272-9959 World Wide Web: http://www.national.com

CONTACT: National Semiconductor

Gerry Ziegler, PR Manager, 408/721-4319

Comlinear Products Group

Email: gerry.ziegler@nsc.com