SmartDV’s USB4 Retimer IP is a configurable signal-regeneration solution purpose-built for SoC designs requiring extended-reach, high-integrity USB4 link connectivity across active cables, docking stations, hubs, and long-trace board designs. Compliant with the USB4 Re-Timer Specification, it sits electrically between two USB4 Routers, participating in lane initialization and link training to regenerate and re-equalize the high-speed signal, extending USB4’s effective reach beyond what a passive link can support.
Designed around the USB4 Re-Timer Specification’s defined behavior, the IP participates in Router Detection and Lane Initialization phases, supporting both Non-TBT3 and TBT3-compatible initialization sequences, and implements the full Retimer Channel state machine covering Cold (CLd), Bitlock, Forwarding, and Low Power (CL0s, CL1, CL2) states along with the link Disconnect mechanism. It supports Sideband Channel register access for configuration and status reporting, Retimer index updating via Broadcast RT transactions, and both symmetric and asymmetric transmitter equalization (TxFFE) parameter negotiation for TBT3-compatible operation.
Built for design flexibility and silicon efficiency, the IP core is highly configurable for both ASIC and FPGA implementations, with a strong focus on area optimization, power management, and peak performance. Its parameterized channel and state-machine architecture and clean host interface enable fast integration across a wide range of process nodes and target applications.