Texas Instruments' DS280BR820 is an extremely low-power, high-performance, 8-channel linear equalizer supporting multi-rate, multi-protocol interfaces up to 28 Gbps. It is used to extend the reach and improve the robustness of high-speed serial links for backplane, front-port, and chip-to-chip applications.

The linear nature of the DS280BR820’s equalization preserves the transmit signal characteristics, thereby allowing the host and link partner ASICs to freely negotiate transmit equalizer coefficients (100G-CR4/KR4). This transparency to the link training protocol facilitates system-level interoperability with minimal effect on the latency. Each channel operates independently, which allows the DS280BR820 to support individual lane forward error correction (FEC) pass-through.

The DS280BR820's small package dimensions, optimized high-speed signal escape, and the pin-compatible retimer portfolio make the DS280BR820 ideal for high-density backplane applications. Simplified equalization control, low power consumption, and ultra-low additive jitter make it suitable for front-port interfaces such as 100G-SR4/LR4/CR4. The small, 8 mm x 13 mm footprint easily fits behind numerous standard front-port connectors like QSFP, SFP, CFP2/CFP4, and CDFP without the need for a heat sink.

Integrated AC coupling capacitors (RX side) eliminate the need for external capacitors on the PCB. The DS280BR820 has a single power supply and minimal need for external components. These features reduce PCB routing complexity and bill of materials (BOM) cost.

A pin-compatible retimer device is available for longer reach applications. The DS280BR820 can be configured either via the SMBus or through an external EEPROM. Up to 16 devices can share a single EEPROM.