PCIe 4.0 Transmitter Electrical Testing (Part I)

Figure 1: The two basic PCIe 4.0 transmitter tests
are shown above outlined in green

You've been introduced to some of the background and history that has brought the PCI Express protocol standard to its fourth generation, and we've discussed the test-equipment requirements for PCIe 4.0 electrical compliance testing. Let's begin examining the compliance testing, beginning with transmitter electrical tests.

Why Should You Measure Jitter?

Figure 1: Designing a serial-data channel with first-pass
success means analysis and mitigation of jitter sources

As mentioned in an earlier post on some basics of jitter, the bane of serial-link design is a signal that doesn't arrive at its destination when it should, whether early or late. The goal of serial-link design and implementation is to transmit data with as few bit errors as possible. Thus, analyzing jitter is a key element of achieving first-pass design success.