SAS/SATA redriver in a 42-TQFN — what it does and where it fits
The MAX4986CTO+ from Maxim Integrated is a single-channel 2:1 multiplexer/demultiplexer switch and redriver designed for SAS or SATA signal paths. It operates from a 3V to 3.6V single supply and is housed in a 42-TQFN (3.5x9 mm) package with an exposed pad for thermal management. The part is rated for the 0°C to 70°C commercial temperature range and is targeted at telecommunications infrastructure — think storage backplanes, server RAID controllers, and base-station line cards where a clean, re-driven SAS/SATA signal needs to be routed between two ports.
Lifecycle and compliance — active, ROHS3, no LTB watch
The MAX4986CTO+ carries an Active product status — no end-of-life notice, no last-time-buy window to track. ROHS3 compliant. For a BOM line in a telecom or storage product that is still in design or mid-production, this part does not introduce obsolescence risk.
Supply voltage and signal compatibility
Single-supply range of 3V to 3.6V — a 3.3V rail is the nominal fit. The 2:1 mux/demux circuit is built for differential SAS or SATA signalling; the redriver equalises and reshapes the eye pattern, which matters when the trace length on the backplane exceeds a few inches. The commercial temperature grade (0°C to 70°C) covers controlled indoor environments — telecom central offices, data-centre racks, and lab equipment — but not outdoor or unheated enclosures.