1. SEPHY: An Ethernet Physical Layer Transceiver for Space June 12-16, 2016
AMICSA & DSP DAY 2016 1

2. Agenda Introduction to the project
Ethernet in Space: the need for a PHY
Options for a Space Ethernet PHY
SEPHY goals and current status
SEPHY – AMICSA & DSP DAY 2016

3. Introduction to the project
SEPHY is an H2020 EU funded project for the development of an Space Ethernet Transceiver
Consortium:
SEPHY – AMICSA & DSP DAY 2016

4. Consortium roles
ARQUIMEA: Coordination, integration, mixed signal design and support to commercialization.
THALES ALENIA SPACE ESPAÑA: Testing and user requirements.
UNIVERSIDAD ANTONIO DE NEBRIJA: System level verification, signal processing, conformance and standardization.
IHP: Digital design.
ATMEL: Backend support, digital library supplier, fabrication, packaging and commercialization.
TTTECH: Final user requirements, TTEthernet testing, Dissemination and support to commercialization.
SEPHY – AMICSA & DSP DAY 2016

5. Main milestones Project started: 01/05/2015
Requirements review: July 2015
Architectural Design Review: October 2015
1st Annual review meeting & PDR: April 2016
1st Tape-out: July 2016.
2nd Tape-out: Q1 2017
3rd Tape-out: Q4 2017
Project ends: July 2018
SEPHY – AMICSA & DSP DAY 2016

6. Availability Currently there is no Rad Hard Ethernet PHY.
Key to the non dependence for the European industry.
SEPHY will be designed by an European Consortium and will be fabricated with Atmel’s ATMX150 technology, a Silicon On Insulator 150nm process.
SEPHY – AMICSA & DSP DAY 2016

7. Ethernet in Space
For critical applications, Ethernet has to be extended to ensure timely and reliable delivery of frames. A number of technologies that can solve the reliability and real time issues have been proposed, for example Time Triggered Ethernet (TTE)
Networks are needed for a variety of functions in a space vehicle that range from non-critical sensor data collection and processing to tele-commands that are vital for the system operation. Ideally, future space networks can integrate all those functions on a single network thus simplifying the system design and operation
The two issues faced by space networks are the integration of different functions on a single network and the evolution to higher speeds and both can be faced by Ethernet
Ethernet has already been used in some missions like NASA´s Orion but without a PHY (which limits the network span and increases the cost).
SEPHY – AMICSA & DSP DAY 2016

8. Ethernet – What is a PHY?
In the tower of protocols/layers it concerns the Physical one
It deals with the transmission of data over a communications channel
PHY are typically implemented by Mixed signal ASICs which combine analogue and digital functions.
The analogue front end is capable of transmitting and receiving analogue signals.
The digital side performs complex digital signal processing and data controlling
SEPHY – AMICSA & DSP DAY 2016

9. Options within the IEEE 802.3 standard
IEEE standard defines many PHYs covering different transmission media and speeds.
The most commonly used media in Ethernet are Unshielded Twisted Pairs (UTP).
Assuming that the PHY will use UTP, the IEEE standard provides several alternatives.
10BASE-T defined in IEEE 802.3i
100BASE-TX defined in IEEE 802.3u
1000BASE-T defined in IEEE 802.3ab
10GBASE-T defined in IEEE 802.3an.
Each of those standards provides a 10x speed increase over the previous one, starting with the 10 Mb/s of 10BASE-T.
This shows how Ethernet enables the increase in network speed with each new standard
SEPHY – AMICSA & DSP DAY 2016

10. What would be the best choice?
In terms of performance higher speeds are always preferred…
…but as speed goes up so does complexity
For instance: 10GBASE-T PHYs are currently manufactured in 40 or 28 nm technologies and consume several watts. Implementing that PHY on the older nodes qualified for space use will most likely not be feasible.
The development cost also increases with speed. This is not a show-stopping issue for commercial applications where the cost is spread among millions of devices. However, this is not the case for the space market where volumes are orders of magnitude lower.
The selection of the PHY standards to implement the space market needs shall weight both the speed and the cost/complexity.
SEPHY – AMICSA & DSP DAY 2016

11. Understanding the UTP Medium
SEPHY – AMICSA & DSP DAY 2016

12. Ethernet 10/100
10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX use only one pair in half duplex mode for each direction. Therefore, there is no echo and no far-end crosstalk.
For 100BASE-TX the speed increase is achieved by using a larger transmission frequency and number of levels. In the cable, higher frequencies are attenuated and need equalization, also crosstalk and echo grow with frequency.
In any case both standards can be implemented with a moderate cost on an old technology node.
SEPHY – AMICSA & DSP DAY 2016

13. Ethernet 1000/10G
The 1000BASE-T and 10GBASE-T standards use the four pairs in full duplex mode.
This means that the receiver on each pair needs to cancel the echo and the crosstalk from the other three pairs. Additionally, these two standards incorporate a more sophisticated coding schemes that need complex decoders.
SEPHY – AMICSA & DSP DAY 2016

14. SEPHY main goals
To produce an European rad-hard 10/100 Ethernet PHY for space applications
To produce a roadmap and feasibility study for an European rad-hard 1G Ethernet PHY for the evolution of SEPHY
To increase the presence of the European Industry in the development of Ethernet in Space
SEPHY – AMICSA & DSP DAY 2016

15. Acknowledgments This project is founded by
SEPHY – AMICSA & DSP DAY 2016

16. Visit us! www.sephy.eu https://twitter.com/SEPHY_H2020
SEPHY – AMICSA & DSP DAY 2016

17. dgonzalez@arquimea.com jlopez@arquimea.com arquimea_012 arquimea_026
SEPHY – AMICSA & DSP DAY 2016