6 Gbps eSATA redriver — what the 240 ps delay and signal conditioning mean for your link budget
The MAX14970ETP+ is a 2-channel buffer/redriver from Analog Devices, purpose-built for eSATA interfaces running at data rates up to 6 Gbps. The 240 ps typical propagation delay sets the timing budget for the receive-side equalisation window — at 6 Gbps the unit interval is 166 ps, so this redriver adds roughly 1.4 UI of latency, well within the retimer-less eSATA link margin. On-board input equalisation and output pre-emphasis compensate for the PCB trace and connector losses characteristic of eSATA cables up to 2 metres, letting the redriver sit at the host or device side of the link without a separate equaliser IC.
Package, layout, and temperature grade for the BOM line
Surface-mount assembly with a tray shipping medium; the 4x4 mm QFN footprint is a standard layout for high-speed redrivers, and the 0.5 mm pitch eases fan-out on a 4-layer board.