Optical module designers must typically trade high performance for power consumption in their applications. The MAX3956 SFP+ laser transceiver IC solves that problem. It delivers better than 50% transmit mask margin performance (1k waveforms, zero mask hits) with < 0.8W total SFP+ module power dissipation. This reduced power dissipation lowers operational expenditures (OPEX) and improves thermal reliability in data centers.

Additionally, the device integrates highly accurate analog monitors for digital diagnostics monitoring (DDM), including temperature, VCC, and RSSI sensors, to ensure a compact design and save bill-of-material (BOM) cost. By integrating analog monitors and a 12-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC), the MAX3956 enables the use of a low-cost, "all-digital" external microcontroller.

Features:

• High integration: integrates programmable transmit input equalization, receive output deemphasis, DDM, and highly accurate analog monitors (including temperature, VCC, and RSSI sensors) to reduce cost of external components

• Low power: the device's proprietary DC-coupled laser interface enables < 0.8W total SFP+ module power dissipation and 380mW IC power dissipation at 3.3V (typ)

• High performance: the MAX3956 results in 4.6psP-P deterministic jitter (receiver) and 5psP-P deterministic jitter (transmitter)