Socionext, Fujitsu Develop Low-Power, High-Speed Transceiver Circuit

System-on-chip manufacturer Socionext Inc. and network research facility Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. said they have developed the world’s lowest power-consuming transceiver circuit that achieves communications speeds of 56 Gbps per channel.

Compared to previous levels, the circuit doubles data transfer speed between semiconductor chips used in servers, switches and optical models. The two companies developed a timing detection method that combines signal degradation compensation functions with the timing-detection circuit, determining the bit-value of input signals and reducing the number of circuits.

The technology has been in high demand, due to the rapidly expanding needs of cloud computing in data center processing, the companies said. Numerous servers are used, connected through switches to form large-scale systems. As the processing ability of data centers improve, the volume of data exchanged between servers increases.

Socionext and Fujitsu will use the newly developed technology in interface components between optical modules and the chips of servers and switches, aiming for a market release in 2018.

Socionext designs, develops and delivers system-on-hip products, focused on imaging, networking and other dynamic technologies. Fujitsu Laboratories is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fujitsu Ltd., focused on research in the fields of next-generation services, computer servers, networks, electronic devices and advanced materials.