Universal high-speed crossbar switch supports signal routing up to 20Gbps

Diodes has unveiled the PI3DBS16222, a crossbar switch for high-speed differential and serial signals.

Optimised for the latest protocols, it provides an almost-universal solution to routing high-speed signals up to 20Gbps around high-performance electronic equipment, from personal computers and mobile devices to network switch backplanes and high-end test tools.

With the increasing use of high-speed serial and differential protocols, such as PCIe 4.0, Thunderbolt 3, SuperSpeed USB 20Gbps, and 10 GBase-KR, there is a growing demand for more efficient solutions able to switch and route signals around PCBs and between connectors and integrated circuits. Because these signals now run at up to 20Gbps, any solution must operate without impacting signal integrity or introducing delays or errors.

The PI3DBS16222 is a 4-channel, differential crossbar switch with pass-through mode, configured in a 2 x 2 topology. It features four differential pairs on the input side and four pairs on the output side. A single control signal switches each input pair between two output pairs while a separate enable input provides input/output isolation with high impedance.


The PI3DBS16222 operates at up to 20Gbps with impressive signal integrity, enabling it to cover all of the mainstream protocols today. The performance is enabled in part by Diodes’s use of silicon on insulator (SOI) technology, which drastically reduces the effect of parasitic capacitances within the device, directly contributing to increased performance.

The device is offered in the TQFN package measuring 2.5mm x 4.5mm and the X1QFN package measuring 2mm x 4mm. Its small size makes the PI3DBS16222 suitable for use in space-constrained mobile applications.