Advanced Communications Devices was founded in 1996 to produce highly integrated semiconductor devices for networking applications. Its initial products are aimed at OEMs who produce multi-port 10Base-T and 100Base-T Ethernet switches. These systems in turn are targeted to meet the rapidly growing bandwidth needs of workgroup and desktop LANs.
ACD brings significant advantages to this market including patented chip architectures and circuits that yield a much higher level of integration. These advantages translate into products that are a generation or more ahead of competing products from other semiconductor firms. ACD devices are single-chip solutions for multi-port Ethernet switches and greatly reduce both design cycle and associated costs, inventory expenses and manufacturing complexities for OEMs attempting to penetrate high volume, low cost markets.
One of ACD's important advantage is its systems level approach to the networking problem. Its founders possess expertise and experience in systems, software, and networking technologies as well as the traditional analog, digital, and mixed-signal semiconductor technologies. In addition, four of the ACD founders were school mates in mainland China and bring a unique perspective to the challenge of building and growing a business. Blessed with technical talent, the founders were able to immigrate to the US and acquire advanced technical degrees before embarking on careers in the networking, software engineering and semiconductor industries. Drawing on their collective skills and experiences, the founding members of the ACD team were able to develop quickly a revolutionary architecture that resulted in the first breakthrough ACD semiconductor devices, 24-port single chip Ethernet switches.
With the emergence of the highly demanding networking marketplace and the significant technical and economic advantages offered by ACD products, the company is well positioned for rapid growth during the next expansion phase of the networking industry. With proprietary technologies, ACD expects to retain its leadership position in the semiconductor industry serving the networking market, and to continue producing semiconductor devices that are a generation or more ahead of the competition.
Demand for high bandwidth networking products will be a major contributor to the fast paced growth in networking equipment. Recent market surveys from 3Com Corporation and others show that while 80 percent of all small businesses (7 million in the U.S. alone according to IDC/Link) have invested in desktop and portable computers, only 20 percent have installed networks. This will change rapidly over the next several years as small businesses add networking capabilities. This year alone, small businesses expect (according to polls from the Gallup Organization) to increase spending on network equipment by over 280 percent. In addition the remote branch offices of larger enterprises are also expected to increase their networking expenditures dramatically.
The number of small business computers connected via networks are expected to climb to over 20 million by the year 2000.
Rapid growth will be experienced in all sectors of the networking market, but in the Ethernet and Fast Ethernet connectivity sector, growth will be particularly impressive. The reasons for this boom are that Ethernet and Fast Ethernet have become the technologies of choice in networking systems. This is because of a combination of high performance, industry standardization and flexibility.
While other similar technologies have not won wide acceptance in the marketplace, Ethernet and Fast Ethernet standards have been adopted by all of the network equipment manufacturers including 3Com, Bay Networks, Cisco Systems, SMC, D-Link, Black Box, NetVantage, Matrox, Amber Wave Systems, and FORE Systems among others. Other technologies like FDDI and ATM may yet find their place in the networking hierarchy, but for now FDDI is proving too expensive for widespread use, and ATM has yet to emerge as a viable, high quality alternative. As a result, the Ethernet and Fast Ethernet will continue to be the technology of choice for low-cost, high performance interconnectivity.
A key component for Local Area Network architectures are Ethernet switching hubs. Switching hubs provide the basic connections between network elements such as computers and peripherals. As shown in the diagram, networks are growing rapidly by connecting users through workgroup switches and desktop switches. ACD devices are used to reduce the cost of these high performance systems.
New generations of switching equipment feature higher performance than the simple repeater hubs used in the past. Where simple repeaters merely blasted out their data packets to every connected node, contributing to network congestion, modern switches are more selective. They pass on their data packets to just those nodes addressed by the underlying data packet. Intelligent switches eliminate unneeded network traffic and free up ports for other traffic.
In the recent past, Ethernet switches evolved from CPU-based hardware to ASIC-based hardware, primarily because of performance demands. CPU-based switches, while flexible, could not maintain the transmission rates required of high speed networks. As a consequence, todayıs 10 to 100 Mbps Ethernet solutions depend upon highly complex ASIC devices containing digital logic, analog circuitry and mixed-signal circuitry.
Ethernet switches are typically configured in 8-port, 16-port and 24-port versions primarily for historical and economic reasons. They have been implemented using a number of low integration ASICs and supporting glue logic in systems the size of a pizza box. There are typically over 100ıs of components on an multi-layer printed circuit board in a single Ethernet switch system.
Advanced Communication Devices has introduced two circuits that reduce the cost and complexity of building Ethernet and Fast Ethernet switching systems. The ACD82024 is designed for 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet and mixed-mode 100 Mbps and 10 Mbps (Ethernet) switches. The second, the ACD81024 is designed for just 10 Mbps Ethernet switches. The ACD82024 features a patented chip architecture that reduces the number of complex ICs needed for a 24-port Fast Ethernet 100 Mbps switch to only one.
With the single chip ACD82024, six SRAMs, and the interface to the physical media itself, the OEM can design an advanced switching system with just a handful of devices. It represents a dramatic cost breakthrough for manufacturers of Ethernet switches and will enable the proliferation of low-cost, high performance networking systems.
As a result of high performance ACD single-chip switching devices, the retail prices of Ethernet and Fast Ethernet switches are expected to fall from over $300 per port to under $100 per port. At these price points, network switching hubs that retail for over $7,000 will become available for under $2,000. This brings the power of high bandwidth networking within reach of even the smallest businesses.
In addition, for Desktop switching hubs using only 10 Mbps Ethernet, ACD offers the ACD81024 single-chip Ethernet Switching Circuit. This device, like the ACD82024 provides all of the circuitry needed for a 24-port switch, but is limited to 10 Mbps Ethernet speeds. As noted above, the ACD82024 supports both 10 Mbps Ethernet and 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet specifications.
Advanced Communication Devices is committed to pursuing a strategy of producing highly integrated semiconductor solutions for high bandwidth networking systems. It intends to drive the market for Ethernet and Fast Ethernet networking products by producing more powerful integrated circuits that provide the entire functionality of an Ethernet switch in a single chip. This approach will drive down system costs and fuel market growth by bringing high performance networking within reach of small businesses.
ACD is pursuing a three-point strategy: apply advanced design and simulation techniques to achieve higher density devices; utilize state-of-the-art production facilities in joint foundry agreements with some of the largest semiconductor makers in the world; and work closely with networking OEMs to determine exact system requirements before circuit implementation.
At present, ACD possesses several key advantages in the design and development of high speed Ethernet and Fast Ethernet switching devices. A key design advantage is the ability to simulate and test complex switching circuits at the network level rather than at the circuit level. Unlike other semiconductor manufacturers whose focus and expertise is at the chip level, the ACD team is driven by software and systems experts who have devised advanced, proprietary algorithms to simulate network circuits. By simulating at the network level rather than the chip level, far more advanced circuits can be designed with the confidence that they will work in the real-life interactivity of a high speed network. ACD devices are much more integrated than those produced by chip-oriented firms because ACD can implement more complex designs based on detailed network simulations.
A second advantage is that by adopting the fabless semiconductor model, ACD is free to choose the optimal semiconductor process for its design solution. ACD is continually working several state-of-the-art semiconductor foundries to obtain the best combination of technologies for a given digital, analog, and mixed signal circuit. For its first two high volume products, the ACD81024 and ACD82024, ACD has chosen 0.5 micron CMOS processes.
The third ACD advantage is that the founders are committed to working closely with leading industry participants in defining future products. Since ACD takes a systems-level approach rather than a circuit-oriented approach, ACD is able to work with OEMs to solve system-level problems. By integrating customer requirements early in the design process, ACD will continue to achieve breakthrough products that meet industry needs.
Facing the prospect of a fast growing market demand for Ethernet and Fast Ethernet switches and a powerful advantage in developing high performance devices, Advanced Communication Devices is well-positioned to lead the market in low-cost, high performance network ICs. The proof of the ACD technology is its rapid development and successful introduction of its first two highly integrated devices.
Advanced Communication Devices has introduced two products to the market in 1997: the ACD81024, a 24-port Ethernet Switch; and the ACD82024, a 24-port Fast Ethernet/Ethernet Switch. Both devices are single-chip solutions for an IEEE802.3 network. They contain all of the circuitry required for a 24-port 10BaseT Ethernet or Fast Ethernet switch. The ACD81024 supports an aggregate bandwidth of 240 Mbps and the ACD82024 supports an aggregate bandwidth of 2,400 Mbps.
The ACD81024 brings higher performance to existing 10BaseT (10 Mbps) networks by eliminating the bottlenecks associated with standard repeater hubs. It lowers the cost of implementing 10BaseT networks by lowering the cost to manufacture a switching hub. Typical repeater hubs act like old-style party line phones. When one connected port is transmitting to another, it is simultaneously repeating its transmission to all of the other ports, jamming up the lines and causing congestion. An intelligent switching hub using the ACD81024 allows the same transmission to be sent to just the intended recipient and allows multiple transmissions between other ports to take place simultaneously. In this way, the system works like a modern telephone system, allowing simultaneous network traffic to take place. This eases network traffic congestion and yields a higher performance network at no added cost.
When a packet of data arrives on one of the ACD81024 ports, the device's high speed logic quickly extracts the destination address and use the device's address look-up engine to determine which port needs to be connected. This technique, known as cut-through switching eliminates the need for data packet buffering. This aids in performance and cuts cost and is achieved because the single-chip circuitry is fast enough to switch the data before any data is lost.
If a stream of data arrives for a port that is already in use, the ACD81024 uses a technique called back pressure to send a busy signal to the transmitting station to hold the transmission for a few milliseconds until the destination computer becomes available. Since data transfer takes place in defined packets, no single transmission will "hog" the line for very long.
While the function of the ACD81024 device is simple in theory, in practice a number of complex technical feats must be accomplished. First of all, the transceivers that transmit and receive the 10 Mbps data stream must be able to separate the data from the incoming bit stream without becoming confused from the noise inherent in any cabling system. They also must transmit data in conformance to the stringent waveform standards defined by the IEEE 802.3 specification.
The internal logic of the ACD81024 must manage the switching matrix, identify connections, and make those connections quickly before data is dropped. It must keep track of addresses and routing options.
In addition, the ACD81024 contains polarity detection and correction circuits, squelch circuits for noise suppression, built-in clock recovery circuits, Manchester encoding/decoding, built-in LED output signals for display of status indicators and other system level functions.
The ACD82024 contains all of the circuitry needed to design a 24-port 10/100 Mbps Fast Ethernet switch. All 24 ports can transfer data simultaneously, yielding an aggregate bandwidth of 2,400 Mbps. This device dramatically cuts the cost of building high performance Ethernet and Fast Ethernet switching hubs by reducing a board full of ICs to a single chip. This has the effect of lowering the cost of entry to high performance networking for millions of businesses.
Because there is a large installed base of 10 Mbps Ethernet switches, the ACD82024 allows the automatic switching between 10 Mbps and 100 Mbps port speeds. This allows new switching systems using the ACD82024 to maintain compatibility with existing networks and cables.
Like the ACD81024, the ACD82024 allows multiple connections to transmit simultaneously, increasing performance over standard repeater hubs that clog up the network. When a packet of data arrives at one of the ACD82024 ports, the chip dynamically assigns a storage space in an attached SRAM and buffers the frame. Then, the deviceıs look-up engine uses the destination address in the frame to calculate the destination port. If the destination port is busy, the chip holds the frame in SRAM and invokes a queue management algorithm that schedules the frame for transmission as soon as the desired destination port becomes available.
The ACD82024 supports off-chip MIB (Management Information Base) functions and statistics such as those required for SNMP (Small Network Management Protocol) and RMON (Remote Monitoring). The MIB interface device available from ACD in the fourth quarter of 1997, enables the counting of events like packets-per-port, dropped packets and other statistics pertaining to network performance. The ACD82024 also supports the industry standard MII interface to connect to standard single or quad Fast Ethernet PHY transceivers.
The ability of the ACD82024 to switch automatically from 10 to 100 Mbps speeds is very important because of the industryıs need to convert existing networks from standard Ethernet to Fast Ethernet speeds gradually. With the ACD82024, OEMs can design systems that support the use of mixed speed systems.
The design and implementation of the ACD82024 is made possible by the use of ACD proprietary simulation software. The design team used an entirely new design approach developing an optimized switching algorithm and applying a new design technology. By applying simulated streams of network data to the device during the design stage, the simulator enabled the discovery of an optimized data path and a higher level of integration than that thought possible with standard circuit design techniques.
The development of the proprietary simulation and switching algorithms made the development of the ACD82024 a trial of not only the circuit design, but also the design methodology. The trial was successful and the device, that contains over 300,000 transistors, is already available in volume quantities. The ACD82024 is available in a 576-pin Ball Grid Array package and requires 3.3 Volt and 5 Volt power supplies.
Advanced Communications Devices was founded in 1996 to design, develop and manufacture advanced integrated circuits for local and wide area network equipment. Eschewing the traditional semiconductor approach of circuits first, applications second, ACD focused on acquiring both the system level and the circuit level expertise required to establish a leading edge company.
The founding team has expertise in networking, systems, software, and analog and digital semiconductors. They draw on experience with major companies such as LSI Logic, National Semiconductor, Bay Networks, Philips Electronics, and Silicon Graphics.
The founding team also shares a common social and educational background. They are all originally from mainland China where they were schoolmates at the prestigious Tsinghua University in Beijing. All emigrated to the U.S. to attend advanced technical universities and start their careers in the electronics and computer industries.
While staying in touch during their careers, they often discussed how they might combine their talents to create a new company and work together. As they gained experience in networking, systems and semiconductors, they began seriously considering entering the networking industry. With the idea of a new architecture and the invention of new circuits, and with years of accumulated seasoning in semiconductor and systems technology, the team was ready to make its move in 1996.
In July 1996, the group raised its first round of financing from Hypertech Consultants, Ltd. and Glenbrook Partners, L.P. and started its development efforts. The first fruits of this labor was shown to be successful when the first ACD product, the ACD81024 was introduced in May of 1997. The second product, the ACD82024 followed rapdly. Both devices are in volume production.
Deng has over 11 years experience in VLSI design and development. He was the project lead and key designer of several major IC projects for Ethernet, Fast Ethernet and other high speed data transmission technologies in engineering and project management positions with LSI Logic and National Semiconductor. He possesses an MS in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from North Dakota State University and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Tsinghau University, Beijing, China.
Tsui has been heavily involved in systems architecture, firmware, hardware and software design for network devices and switching hubs as technical project lead and project manager at leading network equipment manufacturers including industry leader Bay Networks, during the last five years. He holds a MS and BS in Electrical Engineering from North Dakota State University.
Xie has over nine years experience in VLSI design, leading key technical projects in microprocessors, high speed data transmission controllers, and graphic accelerators. He has held engineering and lead engineering positions with National Semiconductor and Philips Electronics. He is a Ph.D. candidate with the New Jersey Institute of Technology and possesses a MS degree in Electrical Engineering from the Chinese Academy of Science and a BS degree in Electrical Engineering from Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Yu has over eight years of industry experience in software, development tools and embedded systems design. He has managed numerous and successful software development projects with Silicon Graphic. He is a Ph.D. candidate with the University of Toledo, Ohio and possesses both MS and BS degrees in Electrical Engineering from Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Corporate Headquarters:
Advanced Communication Devices Corporation
39335 California Street
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Fremont, CA 94538
Tel: (510) 797-4888
Fax: (510) 494-5730
Web: www.acdcorp.com
The ACD81024 24-port Ethernet Switch - Single chip device that enables the design of 24-port 10 Mbps Ethernet switches using a single IC.
The ACD82024 24-port Ethernet/Fast Ethernet Switch - Single chip IC that supports both 10 Mbps Ethernet and 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet connections. This highly integrated solution to high performance network switching enables the integration of both low speed and high speed networking systems and cabling while reducing costs dramatically.
Advanced Communication Devices Corp. is a privately held corporation, incorporated in California and does not disclose financial information. It has previously raised private funding through Hypertech Consultants, Ltd., and Glenbrook Partners, L.P.
Caity McPherson
(510) 797-4888 x110
email: email: caity@acdcorp.com