A Multifunctional High Speed Switching Element for ATM Applications

The paper presented describes an one-chip 16 by 8 Switching Element SE16/8 based upon the well-known shared buffer concept. The device´s data inputs/outputs work at a data rate of 176 Mbit/sec, its central clock inputs at a frequency of 352 MHz. To achieve the high system flexibility demanded the circuit is equipped with a lot of powerful functions like: a bit-phase alignment, a priority handling feature, a logic and RAM self test option. The SE16/8 is designed in a state-of-the-art 1¿m CMOS technology comprising 770 000 transistors on a chip area of 216 mm². It is packed in a frequency matched ceramic multilayer Quad Flat Package to properly cope with the high power (3 Watt) and speed requirements. The first switching modules built-up with the SE 16/8 have already shown the great functional superiority of the device presented here.