Signal Generation & Analysis
SHF Communication Technologies AGSHF
Signal Generation & Analysis
SHF has always pioneered the market for high-speed bit pattern generators (BPGs) or pulse pattern generators(PPGs). Now that PAM4 is the mainstream, SHF's remote head architecture provides the most flexible approach for
400G, 800G and 1.6T applications.

SHF 12106 A BPG with remote head

Remote-Head Concept
The base instrument for data generation is the BPG. Simply by extending the BPG with a small, lightweight and field
replaceable remote head, different line rates and modulation schemes can be achieved. This renders this approach
most flexible and future proof as new remote heads released by SHF will continue to be a fitting extension.
An SHF BPG and an SHF remote-head are not just two discrete modules connected together. The complementary
software package unifies them to virtually one instrument.
A few example configurations are outlined in the table below.
Basis Model

Remote Head---SHF 12105 AorSHF 12106 A

Up to 8 NRZ channels (SHF 12105 A), up to 4 NRZ channels per unit1 (SHF 12106 A)
Up to 64 Gbps per channel
Built-in PRBS patterns and 8 Gbit user pattern per channelHigh voltage options

SHF C603 B
2:1 MUX

Up to 128 Gbps per channel
Built-in PRBS patterns and 16 Gbit user pattern per channel

SHF 614 C
6-Bit DAC

Full AWG capabilities with 6-Bit vertical resolution
Up to 60 GSymbols/s e.g., 60 GBaud PAM4 (128 Gbps)
8 GSymbols waveform memory
Example application: PAM4 with Pre-Emphasis and unequal eye openings

SHF C911 A
4-Bit DAC

PAM4, PAM8 or PAM16
Up to 64 GBaud PAM4 (128 Gbps)
Built-in PRBS and PAM patterns (e.g., PRBS31Q) plus 8 GSamples/s user pattern per channel

SHF 616 C
PAM-MUX

Up to 128 GBaud PAM4 (256 Gbps)
Built-in PRBS and PAM patterns (e.g., PRBS31Q) plus 8 GSamples/s user pattern per channel

Pattern Generator

1

Available Options

Synchronization of multiple SHF 12106 A BPGs possible

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Signal Generation & Analysis
SHF Communication Technologies AG

BPG vs. AWG
High-speed signals are often generated by AWGs, but for NRZ or PAM data our BPG approach has significant
advantages because parameters can be adjusted on the fly without waiting for the memory to be loaded. Very longpatterns (e.g., PRBS 231-1 or PRBS31Q) can be generated instantly. Further, the remote heads can be placed very
close to the DUT. The low weight even allows them to be placed on a wafer prober.

100 GBaud (200 Gbps)
from a SHF 616 C PAM-MUX

50 GBaud (100 Gbps)
from a SHF C911 A DAC

Clocked vs. Clock-Less Pre-Emphasis
The “classic” approach for pre-emphasis is to use a DAC or an AWG with a higher vertical resolution than required
for the signal payload. Such a “clocked” approach would be, for example, our SHF BPG extended with our DAC SHF
C911 A | 67 or SHF 614 C.
While this remains a viable option, SHF adds a “clock-less” pre-emphasis method. This technique utilizes analog
filters instead of individually weighted bits. The frequency response of these FIR filters can be automaticallyadjusted for optimal channel compensation.
The clock-less pre-emphasis concept was initially introduced with the SHF C681 A and SHF C683 A filter modules.
SHF will be significantly expanding its filter portfolio, even to speeds beyond the 100 GBaud (200 Gbps) limit. Newand integrated filters in the remote heads will be available soon.

The left image shows a 64 GBaud (128 Gbps) PAM4 signals degraded by a DUT while the right image shows the same signal
improved by equalization through clock-less pre-emphasis (by the SHF C683 A FIR-Filter).

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Signal Generation & Analysis
SHF Communication Technologies AGNRZ & PAM Error Analysis
The SHF 11104 A Error Analyzer (EA) or Error Detector (ED) is capable not only to perform BER measurements atbinary but also at PAM4 signals. Via a 3-pass approach, the instrument performs an auto-search to determine theoptimum timing and threshold of the three individual PAM4 eyes. During the actual measurement it successively
samples all three eye openings, one at a time, and measures the three individual bit error ratios. In parallel to this3-pass measurement the software calculates the total Bit Error Ratio (BER).

SHF 11104 A EA extended with a SHF 11220 A PAM-Sampler

The SHF 11104 A Error Analyzer as a single instrument is capable to perform such BER measurement. Extended witha remote head, the upper baud rate limit is raised.
Base Model

Remote Head---SHF 11104 AError Analyzer

Available Options
Up to 64 Gbps NRZ per channel
Up to 32 GBaud PAM4 (64 Gbps) per channel

SHF 11221 A
1:2 DEMUX

Up to 128 Gbps NRZ per channel

SHF 11220 A
PAM-Sampler

Up to 58 GBaud PAM4 (116 Gbps) per channel

Find out more about our pattern generation and error analysis instruments by scanning the QR Code below.

Bit Error Test & Arbitrary
Waveform Generationwww.shf-communication.com
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Signal Generation & Analysis
SHF Communication Technologies AG

Synthesized Signal Generation

In digital high-speed test and measurement set ups with or without above outlined SHF BPGs and EAs, a perfectclock signal is crucial for the generation of low jitter reference test signals. An SHF Synthesized Signal Generator(Synthesizer) used as a clock source can operate over several decades of frequency.
P/NSHF 78124 A | 32
Synthesizer
SHF 78124 A | 64
Synthesizer
SHF 78125 A | 40
Synthesizer
SHF 78125 A | 64
Synthesizer

Description
Output signals from 1… 32.8 GHz

Output signals from 1… 64.0 GHz

Output signals from 1… 40.0 GHz

Output signals from 1… 64.0 GHz

In contrast to other high-speed signal generators SHF synthesizers focus on the generation of CW signals only whichenables us to offer the most cost-effective solutions in this frequency range. The high purity and fidelity could beachieved by waiving potentially not required components and capabilities (like e.g., signal modulation or complex
signal sweeps).

32 GHz from a SHF 78124 A

If other frequencies, more outputs or phase shifts are required, there is a wide variety of matching clock
distributions, phase shifters, frequency dividers & multipliers to provide the signal exactly as needed in the setup.
Find out more about these modules and our synthesizers by scanning the QR Code below.

RF & Microwave
Modules and Instruments

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