Semtech Debuts Cobalt Platform of Fully Integrated ATE Pin- and Software-Compatible Pin Electronics Solutions up to 1GHz/2Gbps

Semtech Corp. (NASDAQ:SMTC), a leading supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, today announced its "CobaltTM” automated test equipment (ATE) pin electronics product family (E84XX), which is the first family of off-the-shelf pin electronics devices to integrate two complete channels of high-performance pin electronics with data rates up to 2Gbps. The Cobalt family is truly the next generation of pin electronics devices, leveraging key Semtech process and design breakthroughs to improve throughput and deliver more integrated functionality. The system-level approach to the E84XX brings features that streamline ATE system development and minimize time-to-market for new designs. The pin and software compatibility of all six E84XX family members offers a further competitive advantage by allowing customers to leverage hardware and software development efforts across multiple end-user markets with one common E84XX-based design. The members of the Cobalt family include the E8400, E8403, E8404, E8405, E8410 and E8415. Each device features two fully integrated pin channels, including the ATE building blocks required to create test systems for multiple end-user applications such as high-speed memory and mixed signal/SOC. Building blocks that are included in the Cobalt family consist of high- and low-speed driver and window comparator cores, along with PPMU, DAC, and active/passive load cores. Furthermore, devices with a PPMU feature the industry’s only 16-bit, per-pin analog-to-digital converter (ADC). "ATE systems for testing the next generation of high-speed SoCs, memory and other test-intensive devices are now being conceived in the market with increased performance requirements for throughput, speed, density and lower power consumption,” said Jessy Cavazos, Industry Analyst for Test & Measurement at Frost & Sullivan. "These requirements translate into the hot button for all ATE manufacturers of lowering the cost of test; the Cobalt Product Family appears to incorporate the appropriate features to achieve these criteria.” All Cobalt devices feature on-chip offset and gain correction for ease of use and include Semtech’s PinCast technology to simplify level DAC addressing. The E8410 and E8415 are the highest-performance members of the Cobalt family with data rates up to 1GHz/2Gbps. The lower-performance members are the E8400, E8403, E8404, and E8405, each operating with data rates up to 500MHz/1Gbps. The E8404, E8405 and E8415 are solutions for mixed-signal/SOC applications and, as such, feature a 40mA active load. The E8400, E8403, and E8410 are ideal solutions for memory testers/power sensitive applications and include the building blocks necessary to optimize test system architecture for a given application. E84XX devices can be configured entirely in software through a 50MHz SPI serial interface, which allows the pin electronics to be set into high-performance or low-performance modes (E8400, E8403, E8404, and E8405) so that power and performance can be custom tailored to meet the demands of each specific application. Furthermore, all pin electronics circuit elements (driver, comparator, PMU, load) can be powered on or off individually via the serial interface to optimize system-level power dissipation. Other digitally configurable features include digital driver fall-time adjustment that enables users to trim driver fall times for perfectly symmetric waveforms, various short circuit protection modes that protect pin electronic I/O channels, and PMU common mode error nullification for extreme PMU accuracy. All E84XX family members support both single-ended and fully differential drive and receive modes. In differential drive mode, precise complementary signals are created from adjacent channels on the chip. These signals are optimized to ensure less than 50ps of crossing point error for world-class timing accuracy. In differential receive mode, window comparators are configured to allow for a simple method of testing the differential signals common on many of today’s most advanced electronic devices. The voltage swings for these signals can be as small as 25mV and up to 6.5V over a -2V to +7V common mode range. The small swing performance of the driver allows for testing of next-generation devices with sub-LVDS logic swing amplitudes. Each channel of the E84XX products features an extremely fast settling 4-range PMU with an E84XX exclusive 16-bit ADC for industry-leading system throughput. The PMU also features a Thevenin load function for terminating logic signals. The extremely low power dissipation for a given performance level enables the E84XX solutions to be used in high-density applications without the need for costly and exotic thermal management solutions. "The E84XX family of products offers unparalleled integration and performance with features not previously available to the ATE market,” said Tim Wilhelm, Director of Marketing for Semtech’s Test & Measurement Division. "The pin and software compatibility of the products creates a solid foundation on which multiple end-user products can be built with minimal R&D investment.” Key Features of the E84XX Product Family World-class small-swing performance and waveform integrity (Swings as low as 25mV) Tri-statable driver with selectable termination mode Extremely low per-channel power dissipation (as low as 600mW per channel) Per-channel 16-bit ADC for best-in-class system throughput Tiny 11mm x 11mm footprint for 2-complete pin-channels 24mA per-pin PMU Integrated PMU range resistors require minimal external components Differential drive and receive modes Programmable performance/power Programmable 40mA or 4mA active load On-chip storage for offset and gain correction for all levels Comprehensive, easy-to-use development system and software Pricing and Availability All Cobalt products are now available. Order codes and pricing in 1,000-piece lots for each product is as follows: the E8400 (E8400BLPT) is $46.66, the E8403 (E8403ALPT) is $38.66, the E8404 (E8404ALPT) is $42.66, the E8405 (E8405ALPT) is $52.66, the E8410 (E8410ALPT) is $58.66, and the E8415 (E8415ALPT) is $64.66. Semtech offers a complete development environment for use with any of the above products (E84XXDevSys), which includes PCB and software. Semtech offers comprehensive design assistance, including field- and factory-based support. Data sheets, volume pricing, and delivery quotes, as well as evaluation kits and samples, are available by contacting salesinfo@semtech.com. About Semtech Semtech Corporation is a leading supplier of high-quality analog and mixed-signal semiconductor products. The company is dedicated to providing customers with proprietary solutions and breakthrough technology in power management, protection, test & measurement, advanced communications and wireless connectivity products. Publicly traded since 1967, Semtech is listed on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol SMTC. For more information, contact Semtech Corp. at 200 Flynn Road, Camarillo, CA, 93012-8790; phone 805-498-2111; email to info@semtech.com; or visit its web site at www.semtech.com. Semtech, the Semtech logo and Cobalt are marks of Semtech Corporation.