Single-Ended and Differential S-Parameters
Differential circuits have been important incommunication systems for many years. In the past,differential communication circuits operated at lowfrequencies, where they could be designed andanalyzed using lumped-element models andtechniques. With the frequency of operationincreasing beyond 1GHz, and above 1Gbps fordigital communications, this lumped-elementapproach is no longer valid, because the physicalsize of the circuit approaches the size of awavelength.Distributed models and analysis techniques are nowused instead of lumped-element techniques.Scattering parameters, or S-parameters, have beendeveloped for this purpose [1]. These S-parametersare defined for single-ended networks. S-parameterscan be used to describe differential networks, but astrict definition was not developed until Bockelmanand others addressed this issue [2]. Bockelman’swork also included a study on how to adapt single-ended S-parameters for use with differential circuits[2]. This adaptation, called “mixed-mode S-parameters,” addresses differential and common-mode operation, as well as the conversion betweenthe two modes of operation.This application note will explain the use of single-ended and mixed-mode S-parameters, and the basicconcepts of microwave measurement calibration.
Most designers wish to utilize as much of a device as possible in order to enhance the overallproduct performance, or extend a feature set. As a design grows, inevitably it will exceed thearchitectural limitations of the device. Exactly why a design does not fit can sometimes bedifficult to determine. Programmable logic devices can be configured in almost an infinitenumber of ways. The same design may fit when you use certain implementation switches, andfail to fit when using other switches. This application note attempts to clarify the CPLD softwareimplementation (CPLDFit) options, as well as discuss implementation tips in CoolRunnerTM-IIdesigns in order to maximize CPLD utilization.
