User`s guide

Pattern Marker Theory of operation
The PM50 produces a pattern marker from a 40-bit unique portion of the pattern or by counting a user
specified number of data edges. The pattern marker option decreases the measurement time compared
to using a pattern generator pattern marker or pattern trigger because the PM50 option generates a
marker for every pattern repeat. For example, a typical data analysis on a PRBS 215-1 pattern will take
~2 minutes with the pattern marker option but will take over an hour using a pattern marker from a
pattern generator. Additionally, the pattern marker card, along with the
GigaView software,
automatically locates the marker in a low transition density region of the pattern eliminating the need to
use lines to place the pattern marker in an optimal location thus ensuring reliable and repeatable results.
The PM50 option also has the capability to detect bit errors in the pattern. The capability of logging bit
errors is useful for capturing low probability events. The user can view the errors and their location in
the pattern as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10. The ability to detect bit errors provides additional
information about low probability errors, BER, and pattern dependent errors. Bit error counting can be
performed at distinct frequencies in pattern match mode.
Section 4 - GigaView © WAVECREST Corporation 2005
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