Analog Devices Inc./Maxim Integrated MAX3784AUGE
- Part No.:
- MAX3784AUGE
- Manufacturer:
- Analog Devices Inc./Maxim Integrated
- Category:
- Specialized
- Package:
- 16-VQFN Exposed Pad
- Datasheet:
-
MAX3784AUGE.pdf
- Description:
- PC BOARD EQUALIZER
- Quantity:
- Payment:

- Shipping:

Inventory:11,988
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Product details
Overview
MAX3784AUGE from Maxim Integrated is a 5Gbps adaptive PCB equalizer IC designed for high-speed backplane and FR-4 trace compensation in NRZ/8b10b systems. It delivers 0.18UI deterministic jitter at 40in FR-4, operates from a single +3.3V supply, consumes 185mW, and features CML I/O with EN-controlled standby mode. It is deployed in 4×1.25Gbps Ethernet multiplexing and 4.25Gbps Fibre Channel chassis interconnects.
For engineers reviewing the MAX3784AUGE datasheet, MAX3784AUGE pinout, MAX3784AUGE application, or MAX3784AUGE equivalent, key selection criteria include deterministic jitter performance at 5Gbps over FR-4, CML input/output compatibility, thermal management via exposed-pad QFN, standby power control, and equalization adaptability to 1.25Gbps/2.5Gbps/5Gbps data rates.
Technical Context
The MAX3784AUGE implements an adaptive equalizer control loop that detects input spectral content and dynamically adjusts equalization gain to compensate for frequency-dependent loss in stripline PCBs up to 40in (1m) of FR-4. Its limiting output driver ensures clean CML signal regeneration after equalization.
It uses current-mode logic (CML) I/O with differential input resistance of 80–120Ω, common-mode voltage >+2.5V, and requires AC-coupling when interfacing with lower-voltage terminations. The EN pin enables low-power standby by disabling internal bias currents while maintaining input/output high-impedance states.
Key Specifications
| Parameter | Value and Actual Design Meaning |
|---|---|
| Data Rate | 5Gbps nominal; supports 1.25Gbps and 2.5Gbps with verified jitter performance per line length. |
| Deterministic Jitter | 0.18UIP-P max at 5Gbps over 40in FR-4 - directly quantifies eye opening recovery capability. |
| Supply Power | 185mW typical at +3.3V - enables thermal design in dense backplane cards without forced air. |
| Input Swing Range | 400–1000mVP-P differential - accommodates wide amplitude variation from lossy media. |
| Output Swing | 550–750mVP-P differential (MAX3784A variant) - higher than MAX3784 for improved noise margin. |
| Latency | 200ps fixed delay - critical for timing-critical backplane synchronization and jitter budget allocation. |
| Operating Temp | 0°C to +85°C ambient - validated for commercial-grade line-card and switch fabric environments. |
Pinout & Package
The MAX3784AUGE is housed in a 4mm × 4mm, 16-pin QFN package with exposed pad (G1644-1), requiring soldering of the EP pad to ground for thermal and electrical integrity.
| Pin/Terminal | Circuit Role | Design Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1, 7, 12 | VCC | +3.3V supply pins - multiple VCC connections reduce supply impedance and improve high-frequency PSRR. |
| 2 | IN+ | Positive CML input - differential pair with 80–120Ω input resistance; requires AC coupling to non-CML sources. |
| 3 | IN- | Negative CML input - matched to IN+ for common-mode rejection and jitter suppression. |
| 4, 6, 9 | GND | Supply ground terminals - distributed GND pins minimize ground bounce in high-speed switching. |
| 5, 8, 14, 15, 16 | N.C. | No-connect pins - must remain unconnected; no internal connection or function. |
| 10 | OUT- | Negative CML output - 50Ω single-ended output resistance; drives 100Ω differential loads. |
| 11 | OUT+ | Positive CML output - matched to OUT-; differential swing 550–750mVP-P at 5Gbps. |
| 13 | EN | Enable control input - logic high or open = active; logic low = standby (30mW), reducing power during link idle. |
| EP | Exposed Pad | Thermal & electrical ground - mandatory solder connection to PCB ground plane for <1.5°C/W θJA. |
Key Features
| Feature | Design Value |
|---|---|
| 40in FR-4 compensation | Validated for edge-coupled 6-mil stripline with εr = 4.4–4.5 and loss tangent 0.02–0.022 - eliminates need for external pre-emphasis. |
| Adaptive equalization control | Self-tuning loop adjusts gain based on input spectrum - maintains optimal equalization across varying trace lengths and loss profiles. |
| CML I/O compatibility | Input common-mode >+2.5V and 50Ω output resistance - interoperable with PECL/LVDS drivers via AC coupling and proper termination. |
| Standby power reduction | Reduces supply current from ~56mA to ~9mA (30mW) - enables dynamic power gating in multi-channel systems. |
| Small-footprint thermal design | 4mm × 4mm QFN with exposed pad achieves <1.5°C/W θJA - supports placement near FPGA/ASIC I/O banks without thermal derating. |
Applications
| 4×1.25Gbps Ethernet Multiplexing | 4.25Gbps Fibre Channel Backplane |
|---|---|
|
Use Scenario: Aggregating four 1.25Gbps Ethernet lanes into a single 5Gbps physical channel across a midplane backplane. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Adaptive equalizer placed at receiver side to restore signal integrity degraded by 40in FR-4 stripline loss. Use Value: Enables full 5Gbps throughput without bit errors by reducing deterministic jitter to ≤0.18UI at the sampling point. |
Use Scenario: Extending reach of 4.25Gbps Fibre Channel links between line cards and switch fabric modules in storage chassis. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Front-end equalizer compensating for insertion loss and phase distortion in multi-layer backplane traces. Use Value: Maintains BER <10−12 over 40in FR-4 by restoring eye height and width - avoids costly redesign with thicker copper or exotic laminates. |
| Chassis Life Extension | NRZ/8b10b Short-Code Interconnect |
|
Use Scenario: Retrofitting legacy 1.25Gbps or 2.5Gbps chassis with 5Gbps capability using existing FR-4 backplanes. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Drop-in equalizer enabling higher data rate operation without replacing mechanical backplane hardware. Use Value: Delivers 0.07UI deterministic jitter at 1.25Gbps over 40in - extends usable life of aging telecom and datacom infrastructure. |
Use Scenario: High-density board-to-board interconnect using short-run NRZ or 8b10b encoded signals on compact PCBs. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Signal integrity conditioner placed between FPGA transceivers and connector interfaces. Use Value: Compensates for 6–12in FR-4 loss while maintaining <200ps latency - preserves timing closure in tight system-level timing budgets. |
Equivalent & Alternatives
The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar high-speed PCB equalizer applications.
| Alternative Part | Technical Difference | Application Difference | Selection Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAX3784UGE | Same 5Gbps equalization core, but lower output swing (400–600mVP-P) and identical 0.18UI jitter spec at 40in. | Preferred where lower drive strength suffices and cost sensitivity is higher; shares same pinout and thermal footprint. | Select MAX3784UGE if system load is light or termination is optimized for lower swing; verify eye margin with actual channel model. |
| LMH0384SQ/NOPB | 3.125Gbps fixed-gain equalizer (not adaptive); 0.25UI jitter at 30in; 2.5V supply; different pinout and no EN pin. | Suitable only for SDI video backplanes up to 3G; lacks 5Gbps support and automatic adaptation for mixed-rate systems. | Choose LMH0384SQ/NOPB only for legacy SDI designs; not a functional substitute for MAX3784AUGE in 5Gbps Ethernet/Fibre Channel. |
Compared with MAX3784UGE and LMH0384SQ/NOPB, the MAX3784AUGE provides higher output drive and adaptive tuning essential for robust 5Gbps operation across variable FR-4 channels - making it the only option supporting both 4×1.25Gbps aggregation and 4.25Gbps Fibre Channel in a single footprint.
Availability
MAX3784AUGE is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for 4.25Gbps Fibre Channel, 4×1.25Gbps Ethernet multiplexing, and chassis life extension applications requiring stable component supply and long-term industrial availability.
Supply support for MAX3784AUGE 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
Maxim Integrated (now part of Analog Devices) is a semiconductor company specializing in high-performance analog, mixed-signal, and RF solutions for communications, computing, and industrial markets.
The MAX3784AUGE belongs to Maxim's high-speed signal integrity product line, engineered specifically for adaptive equalization in FR-4-based backplane and midplane interconnects operating at 1.25–5Gbps.
FAQ
What is the primary function of the MAX3784AUGE in a high-speed data path?
The MAX3784AUGE functions as an adaptive PCB equalizer that compensates for frequency-dependent loss in FR-4 transmission lines up to 40in. It reduces intersymbol interference and deterministic jitter to restore signal integrity at 5Gbps, enabling reliable operation in 4×1.25Gbps Ethernet and 4.25Gbps Fibre Channel systems. The MAX3784AUGE achieves this through a self-tuning control loop and CML I/O architecture.
How does the MAX3784AUGE differ from the MAX3784UGE?
The MAX3784AUGE delivers higher differential output voltage swing (550–750mVP-P) compared to the MAX3784UGE (400–600mVP-P), while sharing identical pinout, package (G1644-1), standby functionality, and 0.18UI deterministic jitter performance at 40in FR-4. This makes the MAX3784AUGE preferable in systems requiring greater noise margin or driving longer or more lossy traces.
Can the MAX3784AUGE operate at data rates other than 5Gbps?
Yes, the MAX3784AUGE supports 1.25Gbps and 2.5Gbps operation with documented deterministic jitter performance: 0.07UI at 1.25Gbps/40in and 0.13UI at 2.5Gbps/40in. Its adaptive equalization loop automatically adjusts to these lower rates, making it suitable for mixed-rate backplane architectures without firmware or configuration changes.
What is the role of the EN pin on the MAX3784AUGE?
EN is the enable control input that places the MAX3784AUGE into low-power standby mode when driven logic low, reducing supply power from 185mW to 30mW. When left open or pulled high, the MAX3784AUGE operates normally. This feature allows dynamic power management in multi-channel systems where individual lanes may be inactive.
Why is soldering the exposed pad of the MAX3784AUGE to ground required?
Soldering the exposed pad of the MAX3784AUGE to the PCB ground plane is mandatory for both thermal dissipation (achieving <1.5°C/W θJA) and electrical stability (reducing ground inductance and improving high-frequency return paths). Failure to do so risks thermal shutdown, increased jitter, and unreliable operation - especially under sustained 5Gbps data traffic.
MAX3784AUGE Specifications
- Product attributes
- Attribute value
- Manufacturer:
- Analog Devices Inc./Maxim Integrated
- Series:
- -
- Package/Case:
- 16-VQFN Exposed Pad
- Packaging:
- Bulk
- Product Status:
- Active
- Applications:
- Data Transport
- Interface:
- -
- Voltage - Supply:
- 3V ~ 3.6V
- Supplier Device Package:
- 16-QFN (4x4)
- Grade:
- -
- Qualification:
- -
- Mounting Type:
- Surface Mount
MAX3784AUGE FAQ
1.How can I place an order for MAX3784AUGE through Aetrix?
Please submit a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for MAX3784AUGE on Aetrix. Our sales agent will provide a competitive quotation and guide you through the order confirmation once you accept the terms.
2.Are the price and stock information for MAX3784AUGE reliable?
The price and inventory of MAX3784AUGE are updated periodically and may fluctuate due to market conditions. Stock and pricing data are typically refreshed every 24 hours. Quotation validity for MAX3784AUGE is usually 5 days.
3.What payment methods are accepted for MAX3784AUGE?
We accept Wire Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card, Western Union, MoneyGram, and Escrow for MAX3784AUGE transactions.
Note: Certain payment methods may incur a processing fee.
4.How is shipping managed for MAX3784AUGE?
MAX3784AUGE orders can be shipped via leading logistics carriers, including DHL, UPS, FedEx, TNT, or Registered Mail.
Once your MAX3784AUGE order is processed, you will receive an email with the shipment details and tracking number.
Note: Tracking information may take up to 24 hours to appear. Express delivery typically takes 3–5 business days.
5.How can I obtain technical support or documentation for MAX3784AUGE?
For technical support, including MAX3784AUGE datasheets, pinout diagrams, or application guidance, please contact our engineering support team. They can provide detailed documentation and assistance for your MAX3784AUGE requirements.
6.How does Aetrix verify that MAX3784AUGE is sourced from the original manufacturer or authorized distributors?
All MAX3784AUGE products on Aetrix are procured from qualified distributors and authorized channels. Our dedicated quality assurance team conducts strict verification, including traceability checks and, if necessary, third-party testing. This ensures that MAX3784AUGE meets industry standards.
7.What is the process for return or replacement of MAX3784AUGE?
All MAX3784AUGE units undergo pre-shipment inspection (PSI). If there is an issue with MAX3784AUGE, returns or replacements are accepted under the following conditions:
1.Quantity discrepancies, incorrect items, or visible external defects (such as breakage or corrosion), acknowledged by Aetrix.
2.The issue is reported within 90 days of delivery.
3.The MAX3784AUGE part is unused and in its original packaging.
Return procedure for MAX3784AUGE:
1.Submit a request within 90 days.
2.Obtain a Return Material Authorization (RMA) from Aetrix.
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