Today's networking and telecom equipment designers are under pressure to supply industry-leading products at competitive prices. Timing component selection and clock tree design have become far more critical than ever before, as timing ICs provide low-jitter timing references for 10/40/100G high-speed data applications and have a massive impact on system-class performance. When defining clock tree specifications suitable for an application, hardware designers must ensure that critical jitter performance elements meet sufficient margins with a minimal number of timing components. Selecting the optimal combination of clocks, oscillators, jitter attenuators, and buffers can be a laborious and time-consuming task for specific Internet infrastructure applications.

As a one-stop supplier of timing products with industry-leading technology, Silicon Labs is dedicated to providing the tools necessary to simplify component selection and clock tree development. A web-based Clock Tree Expert tool utilizing Silicon Labs' DSPLL and MultiSynth technologies frees users from the burden of clock tree design by recommending the optimal combination of highly integrated, low-jitter, and frequency-flexible clocks and oscillators needed to integrate timing BOMs with the fewest possible components.

Clock Tree Expert is intuitive and easy to use. Users simply input the required frequency, number of clocks, and desired signal format, and the tool generates a recommended clock tree in seconds using minimal timing components. Experienced users can also utilize the tool’s “Build Your Own” environment to design clock trees for precise specifications. Clock Tree Expert guides users in finding optimal timing ICs, saving and sharing clock tree designs, and generating a BOM list to order samples. With the industry's shortest lead times of less than two weeks, Silicon Labs’ timing tool significantly accelerates time-to-market.

In addition to the benefit of simplifying clock tree design, Clock Tree Expert provides quick access to Silicon Labs' comprehensive timing product information and datasheets. A customizable button automatically connects developers to Silicon Labs' timing customization tools. That is, it can be used to generate custom XO (crystal oscillator), VCXO (voltage-controlled oscillator), CMEMS® oscillator, and CMOS/differential clock generator part numbers (www.silabs.com/custom-timing).

James Wilson, Director of Timing Products at Silicon Labs, stated, “As the complexity of timing architectures increases due to the growing demand for high-speed internet infrastructure equipment, we are striving to provide tools that enable developers to design clock trees as quickly and easily as possible. Silicon Labs’ Clock Tree Expert automates the process of generating and customizing clock trees, accelerating the hardware development process and allowing embedded developers to instantly become timing component experts. This productivity tool eliminates the agonizing task of component selection, making it easy to choose the optimal combination of timing products from Silicon Labs’ extensive product portfolio.”

For details and access to Silicon Labs' free Clock Tree Expert tool, please refer to www.silabs.com/timing-tools.

Silicon Labs Timing Products

Silicon Labs offers a comprehensive portfolio of timing devices, including crystal oscillators, voltage-controlled oscillators, MEMS-based CMEMS oscillators, all-frequency, all-output clock generators, jitter attenuators, PCI Express clocks, and clock buffers. Utilizing patented DSPLL and MultiSynth technologies, Silicon Labs' timing ICs provide designers with optimal frequency flexibility while delivering the industry's best jitter performance, minimizing board space, and simplifying designs. To help developers accelerate time-to-market, Silicon Labs is committed to providing a wide range of easy-to-use tools, fast and easy customization, and a two-week sample lead time even for customized products.