PERFORMANCE LIMITS OF ELECTRICAL CABLES FOR INTRASYSTEM COMMUNICATION

Three types of cables (commercially available high-performance coaxial and ribbon cables, and an experimental flexible-film cable) were inve stigated for intrasystem communication in high-performance computer an d communication systems. The electrical properties of the cables and t heir respective connectors were obtained and compared through the use of time-domain techniques. Feasibility for use in digital signal propa gation at 500 Mb/s-1 Gb/s was demonstrated by means of pulse propagati on and eye-diagram measurements. Performance limits in terms of maximu m useful cable lengths were determined through simulations which inclu ded the effects of associated connectors, vias, and printed-circuit-ca rd wiring.