Infineon Technologies CY7C924ADX-AXC

Overview

CY7C924ADX from Cypress Semiconductor Corporation is a second-generation HOTLink® transceiver IC for high-speed point-to-point serial data transport over fiber or copper at 50–200 MBaud. It integrates dual PECL-compatible differential I/O, embedded 8B/10B encoder/decoder, synchronous FIFOs (256×10/8), and on-chip PLL clock recovery - enabling Fibre Channel and ESCON®-compliant links in backplane interconnects and video transmission systems.

For engineers reviewing the CY7C924ADX datasheet, CY7C924ADX pinout, CY7C924ADX application, or CY7C924ADX equivalent, key selection considerations include its configurable 8/10-bit parallel interface, UTOPIA-compatible host bus support, built-in BIST for link validation, and daisy-chain/ring topology capability - all in a 100-pin TQFP package with single +5.0V supply operation.

Technical Context

The CY7C924ADX implements a full-duplex transceiver architecture with independent transmit and receive paths, each featuring a programmable-width parallel interface (8 or 10 bits), selectable raw or 8B/10B encoded mode, and integrated FIFO buffering. Its transmit section includes a 256-character FIFO, 8B/10B encoder, serializer, and dual PECL drivers operating at 10× or 12× character rate.

The receive path uses fully integrated PLL-based clock/data recovery, deserializer, framer, 8B/10B decoder, error detection, and a matching 256-character FIFO. It supports asynchronous TTL parallel I/O, loopback testing, link quality indication, and bypassable encoding/FIFO for reference-locked or externally encoded data transport.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: 100-pin Thin Quad Flat Package (TQFP), 0.35 µm CMOS technology, Pb-free option available.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar high-speed serial transceiver applications.

Compared with SN65LVDS32 and MAX3283, the CY7C924ADX delivers higher integration (FIFO, encoder, PLL, BIST), broader protocol support (Fibre Channel/ESCON), and topology versatility (ring/daisy-chain), making it optimal for complex embedded serial infrastructure where reliability and diagnostics matter.

Availability

CY7C924ADX is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for backplane interconnects, video transport systems, Fibre Channel node interfaces, and ESCON-compatible storage links requiring stable component supply across extended product lifecycles.

Supply support for CY7C924ADX includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Cypress Semiconductor (now part of Infineon Technologies) is a fabless semiconductor company specializing in high-performance mixed-signal and programmable solutions for connectivity, memory, and embedded control.

The CY7C924ADX belongs to Cypress's HOTLink® transceiver family, designed specifically to replace parallel buses with robust, low-latency, protocol-aware serial links in telecom, storage, and video infrastructure.

FAQ

Does CY7C924ADX support both 8-bit and 10-bit parallel interfaces simultaneously?

No. The parallel interface width is configured at power-up via the BYTE8/10* pin: LOW selects 10-bit mode (TXDATA[9:0], RXDATA[9:0]), HIGH selects 8-bit mode (TXDATA[7:0], RXDATA[7:0]). This setting determines FIFO depth interpretation and encoding behavior, and cannot be changed dynamically during operation.

Can the CY7C924ADX operate without an external crystal or reference clock?

Yes. The device uses internal PLLs for clock multiplication and recovery, requiring only a single REFCLK input (typically derived from the host system clock). No external crystal or oscillator is needed - REFCLK may be sourced from the host's clock tree or a dedicated oscillator, with frequency selected per SPDSEL and RANGESEL settings.

What is the function of the AM* pin in CY7C924ADX?

AM* (Address Match Enable) controls the output enable state of TXFULL*, TXHALF*, and TXEMPTY* status flags. When AM* is asserted LOW, these outputs are placed in high-impedance state; when AM* is HIGH, they drive active logic levels. This allows multiple CY7C924ADX devices to share status lines on a common bus without contention.

How does Built-In Self-Test (BIST) validate link integrity?

BIST generates and checks PRBS7 patterns end-to-end: internally injected into the transmit path, sent across the serial link, received, decoded, and compared against expected sequence. It verifies both transmitter and receiver functionality - including serialization/deserialization, clock recovery, and 8B/10B coding - at full operational speed without external test gear.