In recent years, you’ve probably heard a lot about AEC modules. But what exactly are they? How do they work, why do we need them, and what advantages do they offer over AOC and DAC cables? Let’s explore this fascinating topic together!

What is an AEC (Active Electrical Cable) Module?

An AEC (Active Electrical Cable) is a cutting-edge solution for high-speed data transmission. It combines active signal conditioning technology with the physical properties of traditional copper cables. Unlike DAC (Direct Attach Cable), which can struggle with signal quality over longer distances, AECs incorporate signal amplification and equalization chips right within the cable. This integration enhances signal quality and extends transmission distances significantly.

When compared to AOCs (Active Optical Cables), AECs shine with their lower power consumption, reduced costs, and longer lifespan. The standout feature of AEC modules is their use of integrated active circuitry, such as signal equalizers and retimers, which effectively compensates for signal attenuation and distortion. This makes AEC a versatile solution that bridges the gap between DAC and AOC technologies.

Why Do We Need AEC?

As we transitioned into the 40G era and now into the 800G era, passive copper cables like DACs have been essential for communication links within data centers. They offer benefits like low power consumption and cost-effectiveness. However, as data speeds and bandwidths have surged, the limitations of DACs have become apparent. For instance, the effective transmission distance of DACs has decreased from 3 meters to just 2 meters as we moved from 400G to 800G.

Moreover, as the number of channels in DACs has increased—from 4 to 8, and now up to 16—the diameter of these cables has nearly doubled. This increase can obstruct cabinet wiring and airflow, complicating maintenance. Simply improving DAC materials isn’t enough to keep pace with the growing demands of signal rates.While AOCs have been considered for long-distance transmission, their high power consumption and cost make them less suitable for mid-distance applications.

This is where AEC comes into play, providing a cost-effective and energy-efficient alternative for short-to-medium-distance transmission.

The HiWire Alliance is at the forefront of establishing the technical standards for AEC modules, promoting industry collaboration and ensuring interoperability.

How Do AEC Modules Work?

The working principle of AEC modules revolves around signal conditioning and enhancement. Here’s a simplified breakdown of the process:

• Signal Input:
  1. Data is transmitted from the electrical interface of the device (such as a switch or server) through a copper cable to the AEC module.
  2. During transmission, the signal may suffer from attenuation, noise, and distortion, especially during high-speed transmission (e.g., 25Gbps or higher).
• Signal Conditioning:
  1. The AEC module’s built-in active circuitry (such as equalizers, amplifiers, or retimers) adjusts the signal in real-time. For example, pre-emphasis at the transmitter end and equalization at the receiver end.
  2. The equalizer compensates for high-frequency loss in the copper cable during transmission.
  3. The AEC module includes retimer functionality, which regenerates the signal clock, reducing jitter and bit error rates (BER).
• Signal Output: The conditioned signal is then transmitted to the receiving device with enhanced quality, ensuring data integrity and transmission stability.
• Bidirectional Transmission: AEC supports full-duplex communication, enabling simultaneous data transmission and reception, making it suitable for high-speed network environments.

Advantages of AEC (Active Electrical Cable)

As the demand for high-speed data transmission continues to grow, AEC (Active Electrical Cable) modules have emerged as a powerful solution. Let’s delve into the key advantages that make AECs a compelling choice for modern data centers and high-performance computing environments.

Improved Signal Quality and Stability

Traditional passive cables, such as DACs (Direct Attach Cables), often struggle with signal degradation, noise interference, and clock jitter, particularly over long distances and high speeds. This is due to the absence of signal processing components in passive cables, leading to gradual signal distortion during transmission.
AEC modules, equipped with built-in signal conditioning chips like equalizers, amplifiers, and retimers, significantly enhance signal quality and maintain stability over longer distances. This results in reduced signal loss and a lower bit error rate (BER). Although AECs are copper cables without optical components, they incorporate proprietary DSP (Digital Signal Processing) technology at both ends, ensuring reliable end-to-end signal transmission. This makes AECs particularly suitable for high-performance computing (HPC), data centers, and AI clusters, where high data transmission quality is paramount.

Support for Longer Transmission Distances

In environments like data centers and HPC setups, the need for longer transmission distances is critical. While traditional DACs typically maintain stable connections only up to 3 meters, AEC modules can extend this range to 3 to 7 meters or even longer. This capability meets the demands of high-bandwidth and medium-distance transmission between devices, ensuring seamless connectivity.

Low Power Consumption and High Efficiency

AEC modules are designed to be energy-efficient, consuming less power compared to AOCs (Active Optical Cables). Since AECs rely on electrical signal transmission and circuit processing rather than converting signals to optical formats, their power consumption remains relatively low. This is especially beneficial for large-scale deployments, helping to reduce the overall energy footprint of data centers.

Convenient Cabling

Traditional passive DACs, which rely heavily on copper wire mediums, face significant signal attenuation issues over long distances. Additionally, as transmission rates exceed 400G, DAC cables tend to become bulkier, complicating installation and maintenance. In contrast, AEC cables are more manageable in densely cabled environments, preventing airflow obstruction in racks, aiding cooling, and minimizing signal interference. The integrated DSP chip allows for quick adjustments to transmission rates, enhancing flexibility.

High Reliability and Longevity

AECs boast a much longer service life compared to AOCs, which contain delicate optical components. AECs offer 100 times the reliability, making them a durable solution for high-speed transmission needs. This longevity translates to reduced maintenance costs and less frequent replacements.

Cost-Effectiveness

For shorter transmission distances (e.g., within 3 meters), AEC modules present a more cost-effective solution than AOCs. While AOCs excel in long-distance, high-bandwidth transmission, their higher costs can be prohibitive. AECs strike an excellent balance between price and performance, making them ideal for medium- to short-distance applications.

Flexibility, Compatibility, and High Bandwidth Support

AEC modules typically support a variety of standard interfaces, such as QSFP28 and QSFP-DD, covering port speeds from 100G to 1.6T. This ensures compatibility with devices from various manufacturers. Their plug-and-play feature simplifies installation, eliminating the need for extensive configuration during deployment. As data volumes and application bandwidth demands increase—especially in areas like cloud computing, big data, and AI—the need for high-speed data transmission becomes critical, and AEC modules are well-equipped to meet these challenges.

In summary, the advantages of AEC modules lie in their low power consumption, cost-effectiveness, and space-saving features. They consume 25% less power than optical components, are 50% cheaper than AOCs, and occupy up to 70% less space compared to DACs, all while providing superior reliability. AECs are not just a technological advancement; they represent a strategic solution for the evolving demands of data transmission in modern infrastructures.

Comparison of AOC/DAC/AEC

When comparing AEC modules to DAC and AOC technologies, several unique advantages emerge:

Comparison AEC with DAC

• Transmission Distance: DACs typically support distances of 3-7 meters, while AECs can extend this to 7-15 meters or more.
• Signal Quality: DACs suffer from significant signal attenuation over long distances, whereas AECs enhance signal quality through integrated conditioning chips.
• Power Consumption: AECs consume slightly more power than DACs but remain significantly lower than AOCs.
• Cost: AECs are more cost-effective than AOCs but slightly pricier than DACs, making them suitable for medium-to-long transmission distances where cost sensitivity is a factor.

Comparison AEC with AOC

• Transmission Medium: AOCs utilize optical fiber, supporting longer distances (up to 300 meters), while AECs use copper cables, typically within 15 meters.
• Power Consumption: AOCs require more energy due to optical-electrical conversion, making AECs a more efficient choice.
• Cost: AOCs are generally more expensive than AECs, particularly for short-distance applications, where AECs provide better cost performance.
• Flexibility: AECs are easier to install and maintain, as they do not require the special handling associated with optical fibers.

AEC/AOC/DAC Market Growth Insights

According to a recent report from Lightcounting, this market is anticipated to expand dramatically from $1.2 billion in 2023 to an impressive $2.8 billion by 2028.

• AOC is currently leading the market with a robust foundation, expected to grow at approximately 15% annually. This growth is driven by the increasing demand for high-speed data transmission across various applications, making AOC a critical player in the networking landscape.
• DAC is also on a strong upward trajectory, projected to surge at around 25% per year. Its efficiency and cost-effectiveness make it a favored choice for short-distance connections in data centers, where performance and budget considerations are paramount.
• AEC, while starting from a smaller base, is forecasted to experience a remarkable average annual growth rate of around 45%. This rapid expansion underscores the rising interest in AEC technology, which is becoming an essential component in modern data center architectures as organizations seek to enhance their connectivity solutions.

How to choose from AOC/DAC/AEC?

• Short distance and low cost: choose DAC.
• Medium and long distance transmission, high cost performance, low power consumption: choose AEC.
• Long distance transmission, requiring high bandwidth and signal quality: choose AOC.

Asterfusion AEC Module:

Reference:

AOC, DAC, ACC, AEC Modules: The most Complete Overview

https://www.google.com/search?q=HIGH+SPEED+CABLES%2C+LINEAR+DRIVE+AND+CO-PACKAGED+OPTICS&oq=HIGH+SPEED+CABLES%2C+LINEAR+DRIVE+AND+CO-PACKAGED+OPTICS&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCTEwMjFqMGoxNagCCLACAQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

https://www.lightcounting.com/report/december-2023-aocs-dacs-linear-drive-pluggable-and-co-packaged-optics-209