MULTILANE ML4035 User manual

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ML4035 | User Guide
User Manual Revision 2.0, November 2022
Installation | Connection | Calibration| Measurement

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Notices
Caution statements identify conditions or
practices that could result in damage to this product or
other property.
Electro static sensitive device. Operate in ESD
supervised and controlled areas.
Copyright © MultiLane Inc. All rights reserved. Licensed
software products are owned by MultiLane Inc. 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 Inc. 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.
General Safety Summary
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

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Table of Contents
Notices ...............................................................................................................................2
Table of Contents...............................................................................................................3
Table of Figures ..................................................................................................................6
Revision Control .................................................................................................................8
Product Software................................................................................................................9
Minimum PC Requirements ....................................................................................................... 9
List of Acronyms ...............................................................................................................10
Introduction......................................................................................................................11
ML4035: TDR|BERT|DSO..................................................................................................12
Key Features............................................................................................................................ 13
Target Applications.................................................................................................................. 13
Installation .......................................................................................................................15
Connecting to the Instrument ...........................................................................................16
ML4035 TDR .....................................................................................................................18
Connection & Mode Selection.................................................................................................. 18
TDR & S-Parameter Measurements.......................................................................................... 18
Time-Domain Reflectometry.......................................................................................................................19
Impedance Profile “Align” step...................................................................................................................19
Insertion Loss ..............................................................................................................................................22
Insertion Loss Calibration............................................................................................................................22
Return Loss..................................................................................................................................................26
ML4035 DSO.....................................................................................................................31
DSO Configuration Pane..............................................................................................................................31
GUI Features & Functions ................................................................................................. 32
DSO Configuration ................................................................................................................... 32
Modes of Operation................................................................................................................. 33
DSP & Filtering ................................................................................................................. 35
Bessel Thomson....................................................................................................................... 35

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CTLE......................................................................................................................................... 36
De-Embedding Filter ................................................................................................................ 36
DFE Filter ................................................................................................................................. 37
FFE Filter.................................................................................................................................. 38
Moving Average Filter.............................................................................................................. 39
Normalizing Filter .................................................................................................................... 40
Multiple Filters ........................................................................................................................ 41
Filter + Preserve Noise ............................................................................................................. 42
ML4035 BERT.................................................................................................................... 44
GUI Overview .......................................................................................................................... 44
PLL Lock and Temperature Status Field .................................................................................... 44
Reading the installed Firmware Revision.................................................................................. 45
Line Rate Configuration (Applies to all channels at once) ......................................................... 45
Tx Optimization ....................................................................................................................... 46
Mode & Clock Out Settings (Apply to all channels at once) ...................................................... 47
Transmitter and receiver settings............................................................................................. 49
PRBS ............................................................................................................................................................49
User-defined Pattern ..................................................................................................................................50
Amplitude Settings......................................................................................................................................51
Scaling .........................................................................................................................................................52
7 Taps Settings ............................................................................................................................................53
RX Equalization............................................................................................................................................54
Error Insertion.............................................................................................................................................55
Example Inner and Outer setting Effect......................................................................................................55
Taking Measurements......................................................................................................56
Bit Error Ratio Reading............................................................................................................. 56
BER Control.............................................................................................................................. 56
Real time BER..............................................................................................................................................56
Moving Window BER...................................................................................................................................57
BER Table of Results ................................................................................................................ 57
BER Graph ............................................................................................................................... 57

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Signal to Noise Ratio Analysis .................................................................................................. 58
Log file System......................................................................................................................... 58
Saving and Loading Settings..................................................................................................... 58
Appendix 1 –Adding the ML4035 to the Network.............................................................59
Appendix 2 –Changing the IP Address to Suit a Corporate Network................................. 61
IP Address Changing on ML4035 ................................................................................................ 61

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Table of Figures
Figure 1: Setup installation procedure ....................................................................................15
Figure 2: Connection box.........................................................................................................16
Figure 3: Connection failure notification.................................................................................17
Figure 4 mode selection...........................................................................................................18
Figure 5 Impedance profile Graph...........................................................................................19
Figure 6 Cables matching.........................................................................................................20
Figure 7 TDR measurement .....................................................................................................21
Figure 8 Velocity of propagation .............................................................................................21
Figure 9 Reference circuit setup..............................................................................................23
Figure 10 Reference circuit Normalization ..............................................................................23
Figure 11: Advanced Options...................................................................................................24
Figure 12 S21 Measurement....................................................................................................25
Figure 13 IL Mask .....................................................................................................................25
Figure 14: ILD & IL Fitted..........................................................................................................26
Figure 15 De-embedding .........................................................................................................26
Figure 16 Calibration Wizard ...................................................................................................27
Figure 17 Gating setup.............................................................................................................27
Figure 18 Markers....................................................................................................................28
Figure 19 Return Loss Measurement.......................................................................................29
Figure 20: S11 Measurements .................................................................................................29
Figure 21: Return Loss Mask....................................................................................................30
Figure 22: DSO configuration pane..........................................................................................31
Figure 23: Measurement Settings Pane...................................................................................32
Figure 24: Modes of Operation................................................................................................33
Figure 25: Pattern capture mode.............................................................................................34
Figure 26: Bessel Thomson Filter.............................................................................................35
Figure 27: CTLE Filter ...............................................................................................................36

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Figure 28: De-Embedding Filter ...............................................................................................37
Figure 29: DFE Filter.................................................................................................................38
Figure 30: FFE Filter..................................................................................................................39
Figure 31: Moving Average Filter.............................................................................................40
Figure 32: Normalizing Filter....................................................................................................41
Figure 33: Multiple Filters........................................................................................................42
Figure 34: Filter + Preserve Noise............................................................................................43
Figure 35: ML4035 BERT GUI...................................................................................................44
Figure 36: Default Inner and Outer settings of 1000 and 2000...............................................55
Figure 37: Outer Eye is set 1600; Inner eye kept at 1000........................................................55
Figure 38: BER Control panel ...................................................................................................56
Figure 39: BER Graphs..............................................................................................................57
Figure 40: SNR ratio for PAM signal.........................................................................................58
Figure 41: IP Address Changing Using Ethernet Cable ............................................................61
Figure 42: Setup Installation Procedur……………………………….. ....Error! Bookmark not defined.

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Revision Control
Revision number
Description
Release Date
2.0
▪API Version v6.1.2
14/7/2022
4.3.1
▪SW rev. 4.1.8.1
5/10/2022

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Product Software
The instrument includes the following software:
▪ ML4035 Cerberus SW
▪ ML1105
▪ ML4035 Maintenance GUI
Instrument GUI runs on Windows XP (32/64 bit), Windows 7,8 and 10.
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
NOTES:

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List of Acronyms
Acronym
Definition
BW
Bandwidth
BERT
Bit Error Rate Tester
Conf
Configuration
DUT
Device Under Test
FEC
Forward Error Correction
FW
Firmware
GBd
Giga Baud
Gbps
Gigabits per second
GUI
Graphical User Interface
HW
Hardware
ISI
Inter-symbol Interference
JTOL
Jitter Tolerance
KGU
Known Good Unit
NRZ
Non-Return to Zero
PAM4
Pulse Amplitude Modulation (4-level)
SI
Signal Integrity
SNR
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
Sim
Simulation
SW
Software

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Introduction
The rapid growth of cloud computing economies demands the need for stable and high-speed data
center interconnect solutions. With the widespread adoption of 400G –and move towards 800G
and beyond –errors have become an integral part of any HSIO system. Success now lies not only in
identifying where errors occur, but also in determining which errors are critical to correct.
A key player in the test and measurement industry, MultiLane provides an essential high-value
instrumentation that ensures vendors can keep up with demand and bring their designs to market.
The ML4035 is a 3-in-1 400G BERT, 35GHz electrical scope and time domain reflectometer. It
enables 400G BER measurements, NRZ and PAM4 eye diagram characterization as well as TDR and
S-parameters evaluation.
Our ML1105 Automated DAC Testing Software, resides on the 16-port simultaneous measurements
of the ML4035 to evaluate 10G-800G cables’ impedance profile and perform tests including
insertion loss, return loss, Far & Near-End Crosstalk, Integrated Crosstalk Noise, COM,then
generates a report with Pass/Fail criteria.
In this revised version of the ML4035 –ML1105 user guide, MultiLane provides a full detailed and
revised user guide to operate the ML4035 from the connection to the calibration and
measurements.

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ML4035: TDR|BERT|DSO
The ML4035 is a 3-in-1 400G BERT, 35GHz electrical digital sampling oscilloscope (DSO), and Time
Domain Reflectometer (TDR). On its faceplate, the user can detect three main rows of connectors
(4-channel differential each).
When operating in DSO mode, the first row of connectors acts as a DSO input. Whereas when the
TDR mode is chosen, the first row is a TDR input/output for TDR capture. The BERT section of the
faceplate is a combination of 4-channel Pulse Pattern Generator (PPG) on the TX-side and 4-channel
Error Detector (ED) on the RX-side.
For signal synchronization the Clock input and output are at the disposal of the users for accurate
and high-precision measurements.
Port Name
Description
1
Clk In/Out
The trigger input for the sampling scope (DSO). It is used
in DSO mode only.
2
CH1 - CH4
35GHz DSO & TDR ports.
3
TX1 –TX4
PPG ports. Each channel can transmit a 53GBd NRZ/PAM4
signal.
4
RX1 –RX4
Error Detector ports. Used to measure BER.
5
LAN
RJ-45 port for data transfer and communication with the
GUI
TDR/DSO In
PPG
Clock Out
Clock In
High Temperature Indicator LED
Power On Indicator LED
ED

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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
▪ 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
▪ Passive and active copper cable testing
▪ High density connector testing
▪ Cable Matching
▪ Locating the position of discontinuities
▪ Impedance Profile Measurement
▪ Propagation/Time delay
▪ Copper board-trace, connector, and cable evaluation
▪ Communication Systems/Backplane Test
▪ TIA/Driver Testing
▪ Switch Tuning

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▪ 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.

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Installation
After downloading the ML4035 setup file, select run and follow this easy step-by-step setup
installation procedure:
ML4035 is now installed, a shortcut icon is located on the Desktop and ready to be used.
Figure 1: Setup installation procedure

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Connecting to the Instrument
To connect to the instrument, follow this sequence of steps:
▪ Install the ML4035 software.
▪ Connect the power cable to the power jack of the ML4035 and plug it into an AC outlet.
The power cable is already included in the package accessories.
▪ Power Up the ML4035.
▪ Connect the device to the network* using a RJ45/LAN cable.
LAN connection can be validated with a ping to the static instrument IP.
▪ Run ML4035 software.
▪ Connect using the IP address of the target instrument(s) (Figure 2). The IP address is
printed on the back side of the instrument.
▪ In the case of a connection failure, a pop-up message will appear indicating a
connection error (Figure 3).
NOTES:
Figure 2: Connection box

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*To add the device to the network, consult Appendix I at the end of this manual
Figure 3: Connection failure notification

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ML4035 TDR
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”.
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 one of the ports of each pair, after terminating the second one with a 50Ω load.
This section will list and explain how to perform all measurements that fall under this umbrella.
Figure 4 mode selection

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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 step and receive its reflections then display it with respect to
time.
Impedance Profile “Align” step
“Align” is used when the DUT is followed by unwanted system components such as MCB
traces, connectors, etc. This step is to allow the user set the starting point on the graph .
▪ Select the channel(s) on which the Alignment will be performed.
▪ Connect the ML4035’s TDR ports to components that are not to be shown on the graph.
▪ Click on “Align” followed by “Done.
▪ Reconnect the full setup.
TDR Measurement
▪ 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 5 Impedance profile Graph

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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 one of the ports of the four available differential channels and terminate the other
one 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 (Error! Reference source n
ot found.).
At the bottom of the screen, the time difference between both markers is displayed.
Figure 6 Cables matching