A GaAs HBT 16×16 10-Gb/s/channel crosspoint switch

Abstract

A 16/spl times/16 crosspoint switch IC has been designed and implemented in a 2-/spl mu/m GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) technology. The IC is a strictly nonblocking switch with broadcast capability and asynchronous data paths. The IC has fully differential internal circuitry and is packaged in a custom high-speed assembly. Test results confirmed that the IC achieves a 10-Gb/s/channel (or 160-Gb/s aggregate) capacity, the highest reported to date for a 16/spl times/16 crosspoint switch IC.