Tektronix releases first test solution for MIPI M-PHY specification v3.1

Tektronix, Inc., the world's leading manufacturer of oscilloscopes, announced the first physical layer transmitter characterization and debug solution for the MIPI M-PHY^® v3.1 specification recently approved by the MIPI® Alliance. The new Tektronix solution includes support for MIPI M-PHY high speed gears 1, 2 and 3, PWM Mode (G0-G7), and SYS Mode and offers the industry’s lowest noise solution for MIPI M-PHY measurements when used with Tektronix MSO/DPO 70000DX oscilloscopes and P7600 series probes.

MIPI M-PHY serial interface technology is gaining broad adoption for next generation mobile devices, offering high bandwidth, low pin count and very good power efficiency. The latest v3.1 specification provides an even more robust low power PHY and presents some significant challenges for oscilloscope measurements and probing including minimizing common mode loading on the device under test (DUT) and signal fidelity requirements such as wide bandwidth, low noise, and high sensitivity. Tektronix solutions are uniquely positioned to meet the needs of engineers testing next generation MIPI M-PHY transmitters.

“We’re seeing a growing emphasis on performance in mobile device design, meaning that more and more designs are incorporating MIPI M-PHY Gear 3 to operate at the highest data rate possible under the MIPI M-PHY specifications,” said Brian Reich, general manager, Performance Oscilloscopes, Tektronix. “This in turn has introduced new signal acquisition challenges due to the combination of low amplitude signals and high-speeds. Tektronix probing solutions are significantly ahead of the industry and fully meet MIPI M-PHY v3.1 requirements.”

Testing MIPI M-PHY transmitters running in high-speed mode requires a scope and probe system with rise time 3X faster than the signal rise time, sensitivity of 200 mV_FS, minimal added noise (<1 or 2 mV_rms), and high return loss as specified in the MIPI M-PHY standard. Tektronix MSO/DPO 70000DX oscilloscopes and P7600 Series TriMode probes are the only measurement system available that can meet these requirements while also providing convenient and consistent bus termination for HS measurements with low noise and high sensitivity. The closest alternative has 10X worse sensitivity (Tektronix: 35 mVfs vs. Competition: 360mVfs) and adds 4X more noise (Tektronix: <1mVrms vs. Competition: 4 mVrms) to the signal.

Ready for higher-speeds

Looking forward, MIPI Alliance is developing the next generation M-PHY HS Gear 4 that will increase data rates. This will introduce the need for new measurement methodologies and equalization techniques. Characterization of the bit error ratio (BER) of devices requires a breakdown of the impact of both jitter and noise. At the receiver side, the eye will be completely closed due to attenuation of the signal and equalization will be needed. Tektronix analysis solutions, DPOJET and SDLA (Serial Data Link Analysis), are well positioned to meet these needs by providing both jitter and noise analysis displayed using full contours, along with receiver equalization for HS Gear 4.

For debug and analysis, the Tektronix M-PHYTX test solution along with Tektronix Visual Trigger and DPOJET Jitter and Timing Analysis enables engineers to quickly and confidently identify and debug issues during device characterization. For MIPI M-PHY receiver testing, Tektronix offers both BERT and cost-saving Arbitrary Waveform Generator (AWG) solutions. Competitive offerings are limited to BERT-based options.

In addition, Tektronix with its solution partner Prodigy provides a protocol decode solution for SSIC, the bus interface between the applications processor and interfaces such as modem, companion chips and wireless LAN. Tektronix also provides full protocol decode and analysis solution for MIPI M-PHY, MIPI DigiRF™v4, MIPI UniPro and MIPI LLI protocols.