Featured Speaker: Mr. Chris Day, Director, Design Center, Analog Devices, Santa Rosa, CA

The movement towards a remote workforce brought on by the COVID pandemic have combined with competition to place strong pressure on Cable Television operators to increase their network performance. Recent industry initiatives are touting up to 10 GBps using the existing coaxial cables with upgraded repeater amplifiers. A new DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) standard has been approved with significant trials slated for later this year. The new specification, DOCSIS 4.0, supports two divergent architectures each with strengths and weaknesses. In this presentation, physical-layer technologies that enable DOCSIS 4.0 systems to reach their goals are discussed. Achieving higher levels of signal output to overcome losses in cables without adding distortion is essential to transmit more complex signal modulation that improves spectral efficiency. Improved amplifier linearity continues to be a key enabler for many communication networks. It can be achieved through a combination of newer device technologies such as GaN (Gallium-Nitride) and careful design with an array of linearization circuit techniques. For more information, please contact the ES Department at engineering@sonoma.edu.