I-Cube introduces crosspoint switch

July 30, 2001
July 30, 2001--I-Cube, Inc., announced the OCX256 Crosspoint Switch, an SRAM-based device that features a non-blocking 128 x 128 I/O switch matrix, delivering 667Mb/s data bandwidth per port.

I-Cube, Inc., announced the OCX256 Crosspoint Switch, an SRAM-based device that features a non-blocking 128 x 128 I/O switch matrix, delivering 667Mb/s data bandwidth per port. The crosspoint-matrix CMOS device offers high port density, low power consumption, and fast configuration to designers of advanced switching solutions, making it an ideal solution for SONET/SDH and DWDM optical networking equipment running at OC-12 speeds.

The foundation of the OCX device is I-Cube's silicon-efficient non-blocking crosspoint architecture that uses the switch matrix to connect input/output buffers (IOBs) in one-to-one or one-to-many connections. A special broadcast mode routes a single input to all outputs at the maximum data rate for high-bandwidth applications, while I-Cube's RapidConfigure parallel interface allows fast configuration of the switch connections.

The OCX256 is available with either LVDS (Low Voltage Differential Signaling) or LVPECL (Low-Voltage Positive Emitter-Coupled Logic) I/O ports. providing flexibility to system and board designers. The LVDS interface on the OCX256 is compatible with industry standard LVDS components from National Semiconductor and other suppliers.

The design of target applications is further simplified with mainstream CMOS technology that operates at 2.5V and 3.3V, minimizing power consumption and heat dissipation. The SRAM-based in-system programmable device also provides flexibility and re-programmability. The OCX256 also offers an industry standard JTAG interface that allows engineers to add boundary scan testing to their designs, improving testing and manufacturability.

Key applications for the OCX256 include telecom switching at OC-3 to OC-48 data rates; DWDM optical networking equipment: SONET/SDH equipment such as digital cross connects and add/drop multiplexers; WAN/ATM packet switch cores; and gigabit and terabit routers. Other applications include Fibre Channel; programmable system backplanes and interconnects; high-speed test equipment; and Digital Video switching such as Serial Digital Interface (SDI) Video.

Over the next 12 months, I-Cube plans to introduce CMOS differential crosspoints for high-speed switching systems. Smaller and faster crosspoint switches with 1.6Gb/sIspeeds will sample in Q3 2001. Future products include a CMOS crosspoint switches running at OC-48 speeds (2.5Gb/s).

Samples of the OCX256 are available now. The OCX256L supports LVDS I/O and the OCX256P supports LVPECL I/O. Both versions are packaged in a 792-pin TBGA and are priced in 1000-unit quantities at $274 for the commercial version and $315 for the industrial version.

About I-Cube:

Founded in 1990, I-Cube, Inc., is a developer of advanced integrated circuits for digital switching applications. For more information, visit www.icube.com.

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