{"id":17390,"date":"2025-05-30T02:24:51","date_gmt":"2025-05-30T02:24:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fibermall.com\/blog\/?p=17390"},"modified":"2025-05-30T02:26:52","modified_gmt":"2025-05-30T02:26:52","slug":"aec-active-cable-testing-solution-deciphering-aec-performance-step-by-step","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fibermall.com\/blog\/aec-testing-solution.htm","title":{"rendered":"AEC Active Cable Testing Solution \u2013 Deciphering AEC Performance Step by Step"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With the continuous expansion of data centers and the increasing demand for high-performance computing, the AEC (Active Electrical Cable) has emerged as an effective high-speed, short-distance transmission solution. Major cloud service providers\u2014such as Google, AWS, and Microsoft\u2014have already embarked on large-scale deployments of AEC, while hardware manufacturers like Nvidia have integrated it extensively into their data center architectures. Compared to traditional Active Optical Cable<\/a>s (AOC) and optical modules, AEC boasts lower costs and reduced power consumption, making it particularly competitive for short-range transmission scenarios, especially when constructing large-scale AI clusters. Moreover, by integrating a retimer chip, AEC active copper cables effectively compensate for signal attenuation and distortion, thereby enabling longer transmission distances and higher bandwidth. These technical merits establish AEC as a key enabler for high-speed, short-range connectivity within data centers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to market research forecasts, the AEC market is poised for rapid growth in the coming years. It is anticipated that the market will reach approximately USD 2.8 billion by 2028, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 45% between 2023 and 2028. The brisk expansion has prompted numerous DAC (Direct Attach Copper) and optical module manufacturers to invest in the design and production of AEC products. However, the varying investment strategies and subsequent product introductions have presented these manufacturers with unprecedented challenges in design and testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As a professional provider of testing solutions, FiberMall aims to offer nuanced testing insights and assistance to manufacturers across various sectors as they integrate AEC. Their goal is to facilitate a smoother transition of AEC products<\/a>\u00a0from production testing to practical application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traditional DAC manufacturers have long employed S-parameter methodologies to assess high-frequency parameters, such as insertion loss (IL), return loss (RL), time-domain reflectometry (TDR), and crosstalk, which prove invaluable for passive DACs. However, when extended copper cables incorporate retimer or DSP chips, the measurement process becomes digital, causing S-parameters to lose their effectiveness as benchmarks for analog product frequency-domain characteristics. This shift necessitates a transition from passive or analog measurement techniques to those suitable for digital products\u2014a change that may benefit from adopting testing methodologies currently used for optical modules or AOC. That said, manufacturers specializing in optical modules or AOC, who have traditionally focused on resolving challenges in optoelectronic conversion and DSP digitalization, might not be fully equipped to handle issues such as solder joint stability, impedance variations, and crosstalk in copper cables before or after the DSP or retimer stages. Consequently, evolving from digital optoelectronic measurements to those for purely copper-based digital products presents a significant challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Moreover, the shift from DAC to AEC means that conventional network analyzers are no longer suitable for measurements involving retimer- or DSP-based systems. Instead, testing methodologies must now incorporate instruments such as digitizing oscilloscopes and bit error rate testers (BERTs) to observe the electrical eye diagram at the receiver (Rx) end and verify compliance with IEEE specifications. In this context, the digital equalization adjustments\u2014such as the feed-forward equalization (FFE) associated with retimers or DSPs\u2014must now be calibrated based on Rx electrical eye diagrams. Unlike in fiber-based systems, where an optical eye diagram is prevalent, the electrical eye diagram in copper cable transmission is subject to complications like crosstalk and impedance discontinuities, which diminish its clarity. Consequently, FFE adjustments must be conducted through comprehensive testing at various points along the cable rather than relying solely on traditional optical criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In summary, ensuring the quality of AEC requires a systematic, multi-dimensional testing approach\u2014encompassing configurations such as host-to-line, line-to-line, line-to-host, and host-to-host tests\u2014in order to effectively adjust and optimize the equalization compensation provided by the DSP or retimer. This rigorous testing strategy is fundamental to guaranteeing the robust performance and reliability of AEC systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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