AN1783

® APPLICATION NOTE

HOW TO MAKE FIRE-WIRE COMMUNICATION PORT SAFE?

P. MERCERON

Video-media equipment growth has lead manufacturers to use fast transmission buses in order to share in-
formation quickly and easily.
In many cases, video equipment use Fire-Wire link (IEEE1394) which brings the following features:
n Up to 63 devices can be plugged on the bus

n 400Mb/s data transmission rate

n Hot plugging

n Power through the cable

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n Plug-and-play

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n Low cost cabling

n Low implementation cost

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As a matter of fact, this race for fast transmission and small compact video machines (cameras, mobiles,
video equipment) has brought more and more integrated and sensitive electronic devices at the same time.

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As a result, on one hand, protection devices have been required to make the system more robust regarding
ESD while, on the other hand, line adaptation have been implemented to prevent fast signal distortion due
o
to high data rate transmission across non ideal elements.
s
ST1394-01SC6 is one of those devices that com-
Ob Fig. 1: ST1394-01SC6 internal diagram.

) -
bine both ESD protection and line termination at a
time in one chip especially designed for Fire-Wire
transmission.
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ct
Its ± 4kV ESD IEC61000-4-2 compliance and
small package (1.5x2.8mm) makes it very conve-
nient for IEEE1394 link.
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characteristics.
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The following internal diagram gives an idea of its

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We can notice on figure 1 the following points:

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n ESD protection is performed with clamping

O bdiodes located at each line side.

n RC elements realize line termination at each
data lines
n Moreover, intrinsic clamping diode capacitors
offers RF rejection for GSM bandwidth.

October 2003 - Ed: 1 1/9

 AN1783 - APPLICATION NOTE

ST1394-01SC6 BOARD PLACEMENT RECOMMANDATIONS

Whatever the protection device at Fire Wire connector, it is known that upon ESD strike occurrence, a re-
maining over voltage is applied at sensitive IC side. In main cases a small part of this over voltage is com-
ing from the clamping of the protection diode and a larger part from the copper track that connects
component altogether. For this reason it is important also to focus on the way component are routed.

The way the ST1394-01SC6 is mounted on the Fire-Wire communication printed board is also a major con-
cern. This will affect the ESD and line termination efficiency. Keep in mind when facing +4kV ESD surge
(IEC61000-4-2, level 2), a 10mm long; 0,5mn wide; 35µm thick copper track will induce about 70V!!
over-voltage due to track parasitic inductance.
Indeed, fast di/dt induced by the ESD IEC61000-4-2 level 2 brings the following calculation:
n The ESD surge has a step rise time of 0.7ns minimum.

n The level 2 of the ESD test table stands for 4kV air discharge and the internal series resistance of the
equivalent ESD generator is 330 ohms, thus the peak current induced by the 4kV surge is roughly 12A
n A 1mm, 35µm thick, 0.5mm wide is 0.4nH

Then considering a 10mm; 35µm; 0.5mm copper track, the voltage drop along this track comes up with:
s)
dI
V = L ; then it is V = 10 × 0.4 × 10 −9
12.1
= 70V !!
c t(
dt 0.7 × 10 −9

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So shorter the tracks, better the ESD suppression.
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Next figures 2 and 3 give an idea of component placement on a printed circuit board:

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Fig. 2: Bad layout.
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Fig. 3: Good layout.

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Pr
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 AN1783 - APPLICATION NOTE

ESD PROTECTION
The ST1394-01SC6 complies with IEC61000-4-2 standard, level 2, air discharge surge test (± 4kV).
The next figure shows the way the ST1394-01SC6 is connected to Fire Wire communication port:
Fig. 4: ST1394-01SC6 connection diagram.

Fire Wire
communication
bus { u c t( s)
o d
P r
te
over-voltage like shown further:
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When the surge is applied at the Fire-Wire communication port, the ST1394-01SC6 eliminates the

The way it works!

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Upon ESD occurrence (cf. fig. 5), Z1 diode clamps the surge and the remaining voltage at its terminations is:

( s )
V 1 = V BR + Rd × I 1 ≡ V BR + 12V

ct
Considering I 1 ≈ 12 A (≈4000V/330Ω per IEC61000-4-2 level 2)
u
d
VBR = Z1; ST1394-01SC6 internal diode breakdown voltage

o
Pr
Rd = dynamic resistance =1Ω for ST1394-01SC6
That means the remaining over-voltage at the ST1394-01SC6 input line is 12V above Z1 diode breaking
voltage.

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Fig. 5: ESD occurence.

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b s Vcc
ESD surge

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I1
I1 IC to
V1 protect
Z1 V1

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 AN1783 - APPLICATION NOTE

WHAT HAPPENS IN A PRACTICAL CASE?

Fig. 6: Test set-up picture.

Fig. 7: Remaining over voltage at ST1394-01SC6 input terminations when +4kV is applied.

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V1 d u
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ct
Fig. 8: Remaining over voltage at ST1394-01SC6 input terminations when -4kV is applied.

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Pr
et e
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O

As a result, last figures show the remaining over voltage at the ST1394-01SC6 output is quite low and that
way ensures a very efficient protection against ± 4kV ESD strike.

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 AN1783 - APPLICATION NOTE

LINE TERMINATION
The ST1394-01SC6 has an internal circuitry that is convenient for line termination.
Indeed non-adapted line load would generate signal distortion and in some cases make big overshoots
over data signal transmission, exposing down-stream ICs to hazardous voltages.
This phenomenon is simply explained in next diagram where a data line transmission is given through
Pspice model.
This shows a Transmitter that communicates with a Receiver via a transmission line.
In case of high-speed data rates, a poor receiver adaptation would create signal distortion as shown in next
figure 11.

Fig. 9: Pspice model of a data line transmission with no adaptation.

TRANSMITTER RECEIVER

R1 T1 L1

)
1 2
50 10nH

t( s
V1 = 10mV
V2 = 2.9
V1
R2

u c C1

d
TD = 0 200k 2pf
TR = 0.5ns
TF = 0.5ns
PW = 1.5ns
PER = 5ns
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0 0 0

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Fig. 10: Poor adaptation on data transmission signal induces overshoots.

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4.0V

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d
2.0V

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0V

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O b -2.0V
0s 1ns 2ns 3ns 4ns 5ns 6ns 7ns 8ns 9ns 10ns

Now, if we consider the same Pspice model where the Transmitter is communicating with a Receiver using
the ST1394-01SC6 device in between, the data signal transmission would have almost no distortion as on
next page:

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 AN1783 - APPLICATION NOTE

Fig. 11: Pspice model of a Receiver when using ST1394-01SC6.

TRANSMITTER RECEIVER

R1 T1 L1
1 2
50 10nH
R3
C3 55
V1 = 10m V1
V2 = 2.9 5pf R2 C1
TD = 0 200k 2pf
TR = 0.5ns C2
TF = 0.5ns 250p
PW = 1.5ns
PER = 5ns
0 0 0 0

Fig. 12: Signal behavior change in case of adapted transmission line.

s)
4.0V
c t(
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2.0V
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0V

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ct
-2.0V

du
0s 1ns 2ns 3ns 4ns 5ns 6ns 7ns 8ns 9ns 10ns

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This Line Adaptation chapter tells us how important it is to implement line termination elements on

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IEEE1394 communication port and how ST1394-01SC6 performs in that case. It is also noticeable that line
adaptation is better realized since down-stream ICs are as close as possible to ST1394-01SC6 device.

l et
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As a results, ST1394-01SC6 has to be as close as possible to the IEEE1394 connector for ESD
consideration, and down-stream ICs have to be located as close as possible to the ST1394-01SC6 for line

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termination consideration as well.

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 AN1783 - APPLICATION NOTE

RF FILTER
Among all the benefits the ST1394-01SC6 offers, there is one that allows the designer to get a low-pass fil-
ter close to the IEEE1394 communication port especially dedicated to GSM bandwidth radiation.

The way the frequency response is measured is shown below:

Fig. 13: Frequency response measurement Fig. 14: Frequency response behavior on TPA
set-up using HP8753E VNA (Vector Network line.
Analyzer).
ST1394-SC6 : S21(dB)response
Aplac 7.70 User: ST Microelectronics Aug 29 2003
0.00

dB

-2.00

-4.00

s)
-6.00
c t(
d u
-8.00

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-10.00

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100.0k

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Line 1
10.0M
f/Hz
100.0M 1.0G

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Thus frequency behavior is monitored and typical TPA or TPB response is given in figure 14.

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Since one ST1394-01SC6 device manages two data transmission lines, some cross-talk phenomenon can
be considered. This phenomenon could be explained by interferences from one line to the other due to in-

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ternal undesirable coupling elements like parasitic capacitors or whatever.

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Cross-talk analysis consists in checking the impact of data transmission of one line on the other during digi-
tal communication. The test set-up schematic given beneath tells more about it:

Fig. 15: Cross-talk set-up.

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Pr
et e Rg

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VNA
O Port 1
Rg

VNA
Port 2

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 AN1783 - APPLICATION NOTE

This cross-talk measurement figure shows the par-
asitic disturbance is about -40dB for a 400Mb/s
signal from one line to the other.
As long as frequency measurement is considered,
caution must be taken in the way the measure-
Fig. 16: Cross-talk response between one line
and the other with ST1394-01SC6 device versus
frequency.
ST1394_PM312 : S21(dB)response
0.00
Aplac 7.62 User: ST Microelectronics Jun 20 2003

ments are performed. And particularly regarding dB

the PCB in order to minimize insertion losses and -10.00

reflection phenomena mainly due to the test board. -20.00

It should have the following features: -30.00
n short tracks, 50Ω impedance adapted
-40.00
n coplanar structure, meaning ground plate lo-
-50.00
cated at the back and top sides of the test PCB
-60.00
n ground vias on the entire pcb surface and all
along the access tracks (that connect the device -70.00
under test to the VNA equipment) -80.00
n SMA connector located at the edge of the test
-90.00
PCB.
-100.00
100.0k 1.0M 10.0M 100.0M

s)
1.0G

t(
f/Hz
A test board example is shown in the next figure 17: Xtalk 1

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Fig. 17: RF test board picture (note the unused
o
Fig. 18: Calibration board for ST1394-01SC6 d
lines are 50Ω loaded).
r
frequency response board analysis.
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1cm te
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Pr
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This is not all, by the way the VNA: it needs to be calibrated before the measurements are performed. This

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imposes the use of a special calibration board that will previously set-up the analyzer and provides it the
test PCB characteristics. Those latter would be subtracted to the final measurements.

OTypical calibration board developed for the ST1394-01SC6 frequency response board measurement is
given in figure 18.

Once "Full two port" calibration is performed on VNA equipment, the ST1394-01SC6 frequency response
analysis can be done.

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 AN1783 - APPLICATION NOTE

CONCLUSION
Fire-Wire communication port systems require ESD protection due to the possibility of external device
plugging, line termination due to fast data signal transmission in imperfect cable elements, GSM parasitic
frequency cut-off because this transmission connection can be used in mobiles environment.

As shown and described in this article, the ST1394-01SC6 device has been especially developed for
IEEE1394 communication port in order to fulfill:

n ESD IEC61000-4-2 protection thanks to internal protection diodes

n Line adaptation with integrated RC components
n GSM bandwidth frequency cut-off
n Easy implementation feature due to small SOT23-6L package

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Information furnished is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, STMicroelectronics assumes no responsibility for the consequences of

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use of such information nor for any infringement of patents or other rights of third parties which may result from its use. No license is granted by
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Othorized for use as critical components in life support devices or systems without express written approval of STMicroelectronics.
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