Model High-Speed SerDes Links Using MATLAB | Design and Analyze High-Speed SerDes Links in MATLAB, Part 1

Model high-speed SerDes links in SerDes Toolbox™ to simulate signal integrity and optimize link performance. Learn about a system-level workflow for configuring and analyzing high-speed serial links using the SerDes Designer app. Engineers working on PCIe, USB, or other multi-gigabit interfaces can use this approach to accelerate design and validation.

Start by configuring transmitters, receivers, and interconnect channels using intuitive parameter settings. Adjust analog front-end characteristics, explore different equalization strategies, and import custom S-parameter models to represent real-world channel behavior. Apply feed-forward equalization (FFE), continuous-time linear equalization (CTLE), and decision feedback equalization (DFE) to mitigate signal degradation caused by channel loss and reflections.

Simulate high-loss channels and evaluate system performance using key metrics such as pulse response, statistical eye diagrams, and bit error rate (BER). These visualizations help identify eye closure and jitter issues early in the design process, reducing the risk of late-stage failures. Adaptive equalization techniques are demonstrated to show how closed eyes can be reopened, improving signal integrity and link robustness.

You’ll also learn about the ability to export your SerDes system to Simulink^® for further analysis, setting the stage for time-domain simulation and IBIS-AMI model generation in the next part of the series. Whether you’re developing custom SerDes architectures or validating compliance with industry standards, this workflow provides a fast, flexible, and accurate way to model and simulate high-speed links.