MULTILANE ML4035 Mounting instructions

multilaneinc.com
ML4035 | User Manual
ML4035 User Operation Manual
www.multilaneinc.com

multilaneinc.com
ML4035 | User Manual
User Manual Revision 0.1
Windows GUI Version v.2.1.0.0
API Version 1.0
Firmware Version 1.8
Copyright © MultiLane SAL. All rights reserved. Licensed software products are owned by MultiLane SAL
or its suppliers and are protected by United States copyright laws and international treaty provisions.
Use, duplication, or disclosure by the Government is subject to restrictions as set forth in subparagraph
(c)(1)(ii) of the Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software clause at DFARS 252.227-7013, or
subparagraphs (c)(1) and (2) of the Commercial Computer Software -- Restricted Rights clause at FAR
52.227-19, as applicable.
MultiLane SAL products are covered by U.S. and foreign patents, issued and pending. Information in this
publication supersedes that in all previously published material. Specifications and price change privileges
reserved.
MultiLane, S.A.L., Houmal Technology Park, Houmal, Mount Lebanon.
ML4035 software, hardware and documentations are registered trademarks of MultiLane, S.A.L.

multilaneinc.com
ML4035 | User Manual
Contents
General Safety Precautions .......................................................................................................................... 5
Preface.......................................................................................................................................................... 5
Contact MultiLane SAL.................................................................................................................................. 6
Product Description:..................................................................................................................................... 7
Overview................................................................................................................................................... 7
Model and Package Content..................................................................................................................... 8
Hardware Package................................................................................................................................ 8
Software Package.................................................................................................................................. 8
API Library and Documentation............................................................................................................ 8
User Guide and Documentation........................................................................................................... 8
Key Features ............................................................................................................................................. 9
Target Applications................................................................................................................................... 9
Product Software........................................................................................................................................ 10
Minimum PC Requirements.................................................................................................................... 10
Hardware Overview.................................................................................................................................... 11
How to connect this instrument................................................................................................................. 12
Connecting Through an Ethernet cable.................................................................................................. 12
Connecting Through USB cables............................................................................................................. 13
Installation .................................................................................................................................................. 14
System Start-up ...................................................................................................................................... 14
Connect to the Instrument via Ethernet: ............................................................................................... 14
Standard Software (For characterization and R&D)................................................................................... 16
Connection & Mode Selection................................................................................................................ 16
TDR & S-Parameter Measurements........................................................................................................ 16
Time-Domain Reflectometry .............................................................................................................. 16
Calibration (alignment)................................................................................................................... 16
TDR Measurement.......................................................................................................................... 17
Phase Matching .............................................................................................................................. 17
Locating Faults & Discontinuities.................................................................................................... 19
Insertion Loss...................................................................................................................................... 19
Advanced Settings .......................................................................................................................... 19
Calibration....................................................................................................................................... 20
Insertion Loss Measurement .......................................................................................................... 22
De-Embedding ................................................................................................................................ 23

multilaneinc.com
ML4035 | User Manual
Return Loss ......................................................................................................................................... 23
Advanced Settings .......................................................................................................................... 23
Calibration....................................................................................................................................... 23
SOLT ............................................................................................................................................ 23
Gating.......................................................................................................................................... 24
Return Loss Measurement.............................................................................................................. 25
Table of Figures:
Figure 1: ML4035 GUI Main Page ............................................................................................................... 10
Figure 2: ML4035 Front View ..................................................................................................................... 11
Figure 3: ML4035 connected to PC via Ethernet........................................................................................ 12
Figure 4: ML4035 connected to PC Wirelessly ........................................................................................... 12
Figure 5: ML4035 with USB connection ..................................................................................................... 13
Figure 6: Connect Via Ethernet................................................................................................................... 14
Figure 7: Ethernet Configuration................................................................................................................ 15
Figure 8: Mode Selection............................................................................................................................ 16
Figure 9: Calibration.................................................................................................................................... 16
Figure 10: Add TDR Channels...................................................................................................................... 17
Figure 11: Cable Matching.......................................................................................................................... 18
Figure 12: TDR Measurement..................................................................................................................... 18
Figure 13: Velocity of Propagation ............................................................................................................. 19
Figure 14: Advanced Options...................................................................................................................... 19
Figure 15: Adding TX/RX Channels & Calibration ....................................................................................... 20
Figure 16: S21 Calibration Wizard .............................................................................................................. 21
Figure 17: S21 Calibration Plot ................................................................................................................... 21
Figure 18: S21 Measurement ..................................................................................................................... 22
Figure 19: IL Measurements ....................................................................................................................... 22
Figure 20: ILD & IL Fitted ............................................................................................................................ 22
Figure 21: De-Embedding ........................................................................................................................... 23
Figure 22: S11 Advanced Options............................................................................................................... 23
Figure 23: SOLT Calibration......................................................................................................................... 24
Figure 24: Calibration Wizard (Gating) ....................................................................................................... 24
Figure 25: Applying Markers....................................................................................................................... 25
Figure 26: Return Loss Measurement ........................................................................................................ 26
Figure 27: S11 Measurements.................................................................................................................... 26
Figure 28: Return Loss Mask....................................................................................................................... 26

multilaneinc.com
ML4035 | User Manual
General Safety Precautions
Review the following safety precautions to avoid injury and prevent damage to this product or any
products connected to it. To avoid potential hazards, use this product only as specified.
Only qualified personnel should perform service procedures.
While using this product, you may need to access other parts of the system. Read the General Safety
Summary in other system manuals for warnings and cautions related to operating the system.
To Avoid Fire or Personal Injury
Use Proper Power Cord. Only use the power cord specified for this product and certified for the country
of use.
Observe All Terminal Ratings. To avoid fire or shock hazard, observe all ratings and markings on the
product. Consult the product manual for further ratings information before making connections to the
product.
Do not apply a potential to any terminal, including the common terminal that exceeds the maximum rating
of that terminal.
Do Not Operate Without Covers.
Do not operate this product with covers or panels removed.
Avoid Exposed Circuitry. Do not touch exposed connections and components when power is present.
Do Not Operate with Suspected Failures.
If you suspect there is damage to this product, have it inspected by qualified service personnel.
Do Not Operate in Wet/Damp Conditions.
Do Not Operate in an Explosive Atmosphere.
Keep Product Surfaces Clean and Dry.
CAUTION: Caution statements identify conditions or practices that could
result in damage to this product or other property.
CAUTION: Provide adequate cooling. Provide adequate cooling to the board to
avoid damaging any part of it specifically for the ATE version of the
board. Refer to the power section to know the power dissipation values
Preface
This is the user operation manual for the ML4035. It covers the following information:
▪Describes the capabilities of the instrument: How to install it and its software.
▪Explains how to operate the instrument as a time domain reflectometer, time domain transmitter
and sampling scope to measure: Impedance Profile, Insertion Loss, Return Loss, Near-End
Crosstalk, Far-End Crosstalk, Integrated Crosstalk Noise.
▪Lists the instrument’s specifications

multilaneinc.com
ML4035 | User Manual
Contact MultiLane SAL
ultiLaneSAL is an engineering services company and an OEM supplier of specialty test and
communication equipment for the semiconductor and optical transport industries. Multilane
delivers ultra-compact test instruments of the highest value and performance for high speed
communication and signal integrity applications. The Company has a large engineering team and a fully
equipped lab with state-of-the-art equipment, having recently moved to a 6000sq foot facility in Houmal
Technology Park (HTP).
Multilane SAL customers can leverage great flexibility and capability in product customization thanks to
our team’s in-depth expertise in high speed I/O, Signal Integrity, and access to advanced development and
test tools. MultiLane has the resources and know-how to meet customers’ product development and
design requirements. Our R&D has a proven track record in delivering leading edge products and
development tool kits to the Automated Test market while applying the production processes to deliver
high quality products on schedule and within budget.
Multilane Sal’s team is composed of experienced and disciplined engineers offering products and turnkey
solutions of modules and systems for high speed IO, Signal Integrity, SOC development and optical
communication from verbal requirements (Architecture, PRD, HW/FW/SW design implementation and
characterization).
Address
MultiLane SAL
Houmal Technology Park
Askarieh Main Road
Houmal
Website
www.multilaneinc.com
Sales support
[email protected]m
Support
[email protected]
If any further help is needed, please contact MultiLane SAL, by sending general enquiries to
[email protected].
M

multilaneinc.com
ML4035 | User Manual
Product Description:
Overview
In today’s extremely competitive and fast-pace industry, time is the most expensive form of currency.
Every second saved is a step ahead of the competition.
This is what Multilane is all about; with our high performance, automated and throughput optimized
solutions, Multilane completely redefines the status quo of large-scale production testing.
The state-of-the-art solutions we provide are fully automated and engineered for the sole purpose of
providing our customers with accurate and reliable measurements while also saving them valuable time.
Multilane’s ML4035 is the newest kid on the block, joining our large and diverse collection of successful
products.
The newcomer is a 3-in-1 400G BERT, 50 GHz electrical scope, and TDR instrument, allowing 400G BER
tests, NRZ & PAM4 eye diagram measurements, as well as medium impedance characterization and S-
parameter evaluation.
With a total of 24 ports, the ML4035 allows simultaneous testing on 4-channels.
Its diverse applications go from characterization and production testing of DACs and TIAs to compliance
testing of transceivers and optical modules as well as switch tuning, cable matching, medium fault
detection and various other industry essential applications.

multilaneinc.com
ML4035 | User Manual
Model and Package Content
This manual covers the instrument ML4035.
Hardware Package
The ML4035 is a benchtop instrument including 4 differential PPG ports, 4 differential E-DSO/TDR ports,
and 4 differential ED ports.
It also includes a reference clock input port as well as an external reference clock output port.
Software Package
The ML4035 package includes the driver as well as multiple SW for different applications (free of
charge).
•ML-TDA GUI: Default GUI which allows full user control over the ML4035 and manual
measurements.
•ML-TDA-DAC: Multilane’s automated DAC testing solution which takes full advantage of the
ML4035’s high-speed 16-port simultanous measurement technique to automate S-parameter
testing on DAC. With a click of a button, the ML-TDA-DAC’s automated SW automatically
evaluates a 400G cable’s impedance profile and performs tests including insertion loss, return
loss, Far & Near-End Crosstalk, Integrated Crosstalk Noise, COM and Effective Return Loss, then
generates a report with Pass/Fail criteria.
API Library and Documentation
The API library can be provided upon request, along with a detailed documentation.
User Guide and Documentation
This SW user guide is accompanied by the following smaller application-specific documents:
•MDS
•Generic Presentation
•TIA/Driver Test Presentation
•How TDR Works

multilaneinc.com
ML4035 | User Manual
Key Features
•High Resolution TDR/TDT measurements
•Determination of the magnitude and polarity of any back reflected signal
•Quadruple differential 56GBd NRZ/PAM4 Pulse Pattern Generator
•Quadruple differential Error Detector
•Quadruple differential TDR & 35GHz Digital Sampling Oscilloscope
•Low power dissipation
•Sample aperture jitter below 60 fs
•Return Loss
•Insertion Loss
•Near-End Crosstalk
•Far-End Crosstalk
•Integrated Crosstalk Noise
•Channel Operating Margin
•High Fidelity Signal Capture
•Low intrinsic jitter
•User friendly GUI, high throughput APIs and libraries.
•Supports external API calls from other software such as LabView
•Repeatable performance and traceable to standards
•Single ended and differential electrical inputs for each of the four channels
•Ability to analyze and load captured data into the simulator
•Capability to save statistical measurement and data files for multiple DSOs
•Application-specific automated software for production testing
Target Applications
•Time Domain Reflectometry
•Cable Matching
•Locating the position of discontinuities
•Impedance Profile Measurement
•Propagation/Time delay
•Copper board-trace, connector, and cable evaluation
•Communication Systems/Backplane Test
•Direct Attach Copper Cable Testing
•TIA/Driver Testing
•Switch Tuning
•Electro-optical Transceiver Testing
•Multi-port system testing or Line Cards
•In-Situ testing of high port count systems
•Telecom Equipment Test for Installation and Maintenance.

multilaneinc.com
ML4035 | User Manual
Product Software
Figure 1: ML4035 GUI Main Page
The instrument includes the following software & driver:
▪ML4035 TDA SW
▪ML4035 ETH Configuration Software.
▪MultiLane ML4035 USB driver.
Instrument GUI runs on Windows XP (32/64 bit), Windows 7,8 and 10.
NOTE. These applications require the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5.
If the Microsoft.NET Framework 3.5 is needed, it can be downloaded through this link:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/2/0/e/20e90413-712f-438c-988e-
fdaa79a8ac3d/dotnetfx35.exe.
For more products updates, check the following webpage: www.multilaneinc.com/products.html
Minimum PC Requirements
The Windows PC properties for the ML4035 software should meet the following specifications:
▪Windows XP SP3 or greater
▪Minimum 1 GB RAM
▪1 Ethernet card to establish connection with the device
▪USB Connector
▪Pentium 4 processor 2.0 GHz or greater
▪.NET Framework 3.5 sp1

multilaneinc.com
ML4035 | User Manual
Hardware Overview
With a total of 24 ports, the ML4035 allows 400G BER tests, NRZ & PAM4 eye diagram measurements,
as well as medium impedance characterization and S-parameter evaluation on 4-channels
simultaneously.
Figure 2: ML4035 Front View

multilaneinc.com
ML4035 | User Manual
How to connect this instrument
This section covers the connection options of the instrument, addressing the following topic:
▪ML4035 Fast Ethernet / USB Connections method.
NOTE. This release supports Ethernet connection for the software applications (note that the IP
1
should be
in the same range of the network).
Connecting Through an Ethernet cable
To establish an Ethernet connection between the ML4035 panel and the PC, connect an Ethernet
straight cable between the panel and the Router or Switch, and connect your PC to the router via cable
or wireless. The device can be pinged to verify that a connection has been established.
Make sure to have the instrument’s correct IP address.
Figure 3: ML4035 connected to PC via Ethernet
Figure 4: ML4035 connected to PC Wirelessly

multilaneinc.com
ML4035 | User Manual
Connecting Through USB cables
Connect a USB Mini-B type cable between the instrument and the PC. This connection method is only
used to upgrade the firmware.
Figure 5: ML4035 with USB connection

multilaneinc.com
ML4035 | User Manual
Installation
This section covers installation of the instrument, addressing the following topics:
▪System Start-up
▪How to connect to the instrument via Ethernet
System Start-up
To use the ML4035 GUI under Windows XP, Windows 7,8, and 10, it is important that the correct start-up
sequence is followed:
•Make sure you have Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 installed.
•If not installed, refer to the Note in the Product Software section.
•Install the ML4035 software.
•After installation, run the software.
•On the main window’s top right corner, a textbox labeled “IP” is available for the user to input the
instrument’s IP address. Doing that, followed by pressing the “Connect” button next to it will allow
establishing the connection to the ML4035.
Connect to the Instrument via Ethernet:
•Connect an ethernet cable between the PC and the ML4035’s RJ45 connectors to be able to
control it.
•In order to connect via Ethernet, the IP address of the board is required.
To learn more options on how to connect the Ethernet cable go to the section Connect through
an Ethernet Cable.
Note that no drivers are required; the board’s IP address should simply be typed in the text box
next to the IP label then the connect button should be pressed as shown in Figure 6.
Figure 6: Connect Via Ethernet
•To make sure that you are connected, you can also ping your device through Windows’
command prompt.
•To change the IP address of the board, you need to install the USB driver (refer to the section
that addresses USB Driver Installation).
•Install the Ethernet configuration software that allows you to read and/or write the IP address,
Mask and Gateway of the instrument.

multilaneinc.com
ML4035 | User Manual
Figure 7: Ethernet Configuration
The instrument is now powered up and connected through Ethernet. In the next section, the
measurements that can be performed by the ML4035 along with the needed calibrations will be
addressed.

multilaneinc.com
ML4035 | User Manual
Standard Software (For characterization and R&D)
Connection & Mode Selection
In order to include all the ML4035’s diverse
functionalities in a single software, the GUI’s
home page displays all three options at startup
for the user to select.
After connecting to the instrument by typing its
IP in the appropriate text box, select the desired
mode of operation and press “Configure”.
Figure 8: Mode Selection
TDR & S-Parameter Measurements
When selected, the rightmost checkbox starts the instrument and software in TDR/TDT mode. This
mode allows the user to perform time and frequency domain measurements such as TDR, Sdd21, Sdd11,
NEXT, FEXT, ICN, COM, etc.
This mode can be used for many applications, including impedance profile evaluation, loss
characterization, locating faults & discontinuities, phase matching, and more.
The ML4035’s ports are differential AC-coupled. However, single-ended measurements can be
performed using the negative port of each pair, after terminating the positive one with a 50Ω load.
This section will list and explain how to perform all measurements that fall under this umbrella.
Time-Domain Reflectometry
TDR can be used for many applications, such as to characterize the impedance of DUTs, backplanes, and
other physical media, locating faults, discontinuities or breaks along a cable, cable matching, and more.
The ML4035’s uppermost ports act as both receivers and transmitters. This allows them to transmit a
fast 12ps rise time pulse and receive its reflections then display it with respect to time.
Calibration (alignment)
Amplitude calibration is performed at the factory prior to the shipment of any instrument. No further
amplitude related calibration is required by the user.
Step alignment is also performed at the factory but can be modified by the user depending on their
application. This calibration consists of setting the graphical starting point of the TDR pulse’s rising edge.
This process is done as follows:
•Select the channel(s) on which the
calibration will be performed.
•Connect the ML4035’s TDR ports to the DUT
using 2.92mm K/SMA cables.
•Click on “Calibration” followed by “Run” to
start the calibration process.
•Disconnect the DUT from its connection
point with the ML4035 (desired pulse
starting point) as instructed by the
calibration wizard and press “Next Setup”.
•Reconnect the DUT and press “Confirm”.
Figure 9: Calibration

multilaneinc.com
ML4035 | User Manual
TDR Measurement
•After completing the optional calibration process, keep the cables connected to one end of the
DUT, and terminate the other end with a 50Ω load.
•Measurements can either be differential or single ended. For single ended measurement,
“Single_Ended” mode should be selected in the “Advanced Options” tab and only one port is
used for each channel while the second is terminated with a 50Ω load.
•Select the channel(s) on which the impedance profile measurement will be performed.
•Click “Confirm” to measure the impedance profile.
•Press to measure continuously or for a single capture.
Figure 10: Add TDR Channels
Phase Matching
One of the most popular applications made possible by TDR is cable matching.
To match cables using the ML4035 and its software, first start by connecting up to four cables to the
negative port the four available differential channels and terminate the positive ports with 50Ω.
After capturing the TDR profile, locate the edge of the cables and zoom into that area, placing markers
at the same horizontal level along the rising edge (Figure 11).
At the bottom of the screen, the time difference between both markers is displayed.

multilaneinc.com
ML4035 | User Manual
Figure 11: Cable Matching
Figure 12: TDR Measurement

multilaneinc.com
ML4035 | User Manual
Locating Faults & Discontinuities
Another popular application for TDR is locating faults and discontinuities in a physical medium.
As the velocity of propagation of electromagnetic waves in vacuum is known, additional information
related to the characteristics of the physical medium such as the copper cable’s velocity of propagation
(VoP) allows the speed of propagation to be estimated and the distance between two points can
therefore be calculated.
Placing two markers at different points on the graph will allow the user to see both the temporal and
spatial difference between the two points.
The velocity of propagation can be set in the “Advanced Settings” tab.
Figure 13: Velocity of Propagation
Insertion Loss
In addition to time-domain reflectometry, the ML4035 provides frequency domain S-parameter
measurement capability. As opposed to a traditional frequency-domain network analyzer that would
use a frequency sweep for these measurements, Multilane’s time-domain equivalent solution takes
advantage of its 4-port high-speed pulse pattern generator and electrical scope to provide fast,
accurate, and repeatable insertion loss measurements up to 32GHz by transmitting a PRBS pattern and
transforming it into frequency domain.
Advanced Settings
Before performing the calibration and measurements, advanced settings can be modified by the user to
fit their preference.
•Changing the pattern length changes the number of points that will be displayed on the graph.
•As higher rate PRBS yields more energy, increasing the rate will increase the accuracy at high
frequencies. 53.125 gives accurate S21 measurements up to 32GHz.
•Main Tap, Pre Emphasis & Post Emphasis are used to tune the transmitted signal. Optimizing these
settings will be explained in section x.
•The number of averages can be increased by the user, leading to more accurate measurements.
•Smoothing can be added by the user, and the smoothing window can be varied as well.
•An offset value can be set by the user to compensate for a flat-response attenuation source.
Figure 14: Advanced Options

multilaneinc.com
ML4035 | User Manual
Calibration
As a time-domain measurement technique is used to evaluate the insertion loss, the calibration that
needs to be performed consists of connecting the reference setup (setup including all components
except the DUT) and setting its insertion loss to zero.
•Select the channel(s) on which the calibration will be performed.
•Click on “Calibration” followed by “Run” to start the calibration process.
•Connect the ML4035’s selected PPG channels (labeled “TX”) to the reference circuit’s inputs and
the DSO channels (labeled “CH”) to their respective outputs and press “Confirm”.
For instance, the simplest example would be connecting cables coming out of the TX channels to
cables going into the DSO channels using 2.92mm F-F K/SMA connectors. After this calibration,
anything that replaces the F-F connector between the cables is considered the DUT.
•The reference plot will be displayed for the user to validate. Closing the window will prompt for
the user’s confirmation. Press “Yes” to accept the calibration or “No” to run again.
•The calibration can be saved for later use by pressing “Save” in the calibration wizard.
•Press “Done” to exit the calibration wizard.
Figure 17 shows an example of the expected output after calibration.
Previous calibration files can also be loaded by choosing “Load” instead of “Run”.
Figure 15: Adding TX/RX Channels & Calibration