Low power, small size and frequency flexibility for applications requiring clocks <400 MHz
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SpectraLinear, acquired by Silicon Labs earlier this year, has greatly expands our portfolio of cost-effective, high-volume clock generators. These new timing devices include general purpose LVCMOS clock generators with up to 11 outputs, PCI Express Gen 1/2/3 clock generators, Intel x86 clock generators, EMI reduction clocks, integrated VCXO+Clock solutions, fanout buffers and zero delay buffers (ZDB). In total we added over 100 parts to our Timing family.
These devices are optimized to provide low power, small size and frequency flexibility for applications requiring clocks <400 MHz. They also generate a combination of PCIe and LVCMOS clocks. By reducing electro-magnetic interference (EMI) and accelerating time-to-market, these devices offer a wide range of signal integrity adjustments. Drop-in replacement opportunities in Intel x86 embedded applications can be addressed with a variety of industry standard pinouts. Applications requiring unique timing requirements are addressed with factory customized 1-PLL and 4-PLL platforms. The SpectraLinear LVCMOS clock generators are targeted at lower cost, higher volume applications in consumer, enterprise, communications and embedded computing.
Product Families
General Purpose LVCMOS Clock Generation - 1 to 4 Outputs
The SL15xxx and SL18xxx series are a customizable 1-PLL solution that generates frequencies from 3 to 200 MHz in configurations that support 2 to 4 LVCMOS outputs. A simple integer N output divider is integrated so that output frequencies can be generated that are integer multiples of each other. To reduce EMI compliance issues, AC parameters like rise/fall times can be customized. These devices can also be customized to generate spread spectrum clocks with either center or down spread (0.25 to 5.0%).
General Purpose LVCMOS Clock Generation - 5 or More Outputs
The SL38xxx family consists of 4 PLL Clock LVCMOS Generators offered in 5 outputs (16- pin TSSOP) and 11 output (28-pin TSSOP) packages. Practically any frequency from 1 to 200+ MHz can be generated with core operating voltages of 2.5 and 3.3 V. Optionally, outputs can be powered from a separate 1.8 V supply rail to support lower voltage interfaces. The SL38xxx addresses EMI compliance issues through a variety configurable AC output parameters including rise/fall times and output drive. As well, spread spectrum profiles including center and down spread (0.25 to 5.0%) are supported that provide from 8 to 16 dB peak EMI reduction.
PCI Express (PCIe) Gen 1/2/3 Clock Generation
The PCIe Clock family addresses the specific clock requirements of PCIe Generation 1, 2, or 3 system interfaces. This interface standard has become the industry choice as a high-speed interconnect between devices and system I/Os and is used in consumer, server, storage, IP gateways, multi-function printers (MFPs) and industrial applications. The SpectraLinear portfolio together with the Si5338 family makes us particularly well positioned to serve PCIe Gen 3 applications as we will be able to provide solutions that cover all single-ended as well as differential clock formats.
Customizable PCIe + LVCMOS Clocks
The SL28PCIexx family is a highly integrated, customizable clock generator that is capable of generating PCIe compliant differential clocks, standard frequency LVCMOS system clocks and one user programmable clock. This family is based on a platform that can be factory customized to provide a mix HCSL and LVCMOS outputs. These outputs can be programmed to produce frequencies that range from 1 to 400 MHz.
Fixed Function PCIe Clocks
The SL28PCIe25/26/14/16 and SL28SRCxx are off-the-shelf clock generators compliant to the PCIe Gen 1/2/3 standard. These devices are typically used in PCIe switches, PCI-PCIe bridges and in plug-in cards where there is a requirement for PCIe clocks and/or system wide EMI reduction through spread spectrum. These products are simple to use and low power.
EMI Reduction Clocks
The SL16010/20, SL28RC01/02/04 and SL15100/300/303 families of programmable spread spectrum clock generators feature a wide range of programming options that allow system designers to minimize electro-magnetic interference (EMI) at the application level. Configurable parameters to reduce EMI include a wide range of signal integrity adjustments like rise/fall times, output impedance, drive strength, programmable edge rates, programmable skew and spread spectrum percentage/modulation rate.
Intel x86 Clock Products for Embedded Applications
SpectraLinear has a large portfolio of devices that sell into embedded computing applications that are based on Intel x86 processors. The new devices were developed by SpectraLinear (SL285xx, SL286xx, SL287xx and SL28EBxx) and find application in industrial PC (IPC) and storage applications like DVR/NVR, NAS and enterprise storage.