The sfp2usb module is used together with the XillyUSB IP core for connecting an FPGA development board with a computer via USB 3.0. The module connects the data wires of a standard SFP+ connector to the SuperSpeed wires of a USB 3.0 Micro-B receptacle, with coupling capacitors and ESD protection components utilized as required. The USB 2.0 signal wires and +5V power wire are not connected.
Since many FPGA development boards have an SFP+ connector, the sfp2usb module allows using these boards as USB 3.0 devices. For this to work, the FPGA must be loaded with logic that implements the USB SuperSpeed protocol. The XillyUSB IP core provides this logic for a selection of FPGA targets.
Note that using this module with other equipment having an SFP+ connector (e.g. some networking routers) will not yield anything useful.Also note that due to PCB layout considerations, the FPGA receives the data signal with reversed polarity. This is something any USB device should tolerate, according to the USB 3.0 specification (the XillyUSB IP core handles this correctly). The data signals in the other direction are passed through without polarity reversal.
The SFP+ cage and SFP+ connector are part of the FPGA development board. None of these are included in this product.
Kit includes