Case Study: Knowledge Resources achieves 27‑day delivery of a complex FPGA-based network analyzer prototype with Altium Designer

Knowledge Ressources The Most Difficult Projects Can Be The Most Rewarding

Knowledge Resources, a Basel-based electronics design consultancy, was contracted to deliver a prototype PCIe network-analyzer card built around a 1738-ball BGA FPGA. The 12-layer, high-density design required blind/buried microvias, 288 QDR data lines length-matched to ±20 ps, eight-lane PCIe and 2.5 Gb/s optical transceivers — all on a four-week schedule — creating major signal-integrity, routing and schedule challenges.

By using Altium Designer’s unified environment — including automated pin-swapping, differential-pair and impedance-controlled routing, a robust design-rules framework and real-time ECAD–MCAD collaboration — the team simplified routing, FPGA integration and mechanical fit. The design was completed in 27 days, the first-run prototype met or exceeded performance targets and went into production with only minor adjustments, while layout and revision effort dropped substantially (layout from 250 to 150 hours; revisions from 30 to 10 hours).

Knowledge Resources

Mike Stengle

Principal