LVPECL to PECL to LVPECL

MAX9375 is another option for LVDS to LVPECL

Differential connections between an FPGA and PECL can usually be done directly. Some FPGAs will make legit LVPECL, allowing all chips to run off 3.3 and ground (well, if the ECL is willing, like the EL and EP parts.) If the FPGA makes LVDS output levels, the common-mode will be a little low for safety, so the ecl Vee should be -1 or.

FPGA LVDS (3.3/gnd) to pecl 3.3/-1.9) should work fine.

Every LVDS receiver that I've tested, discrete and inside Xilinx, behaved like a pretty good rail-to-rail comparator. So LVDS receivers are usually happy looking at differential PECL, or single-ended PECL if you hook the other input to Vbb.

Single-ended 3.3 volt CMOS will drive PECL. A few older ECL parts don't like being pulled all the way up to Vcc, but most new stuff is OK.

ONsemi, Arizona Microtech, and Micrel still make ECL.

John

Except that they are one of the infinite number of Maxim parts that are not made..

Not made in quantity, discontinued or not easy to buy through distribution? I got samples from Maxim quite recently.

They're Maxim. That's enough.

Tell us how it works out for you when they can't (or won't) deliver real product. I think we have two Max parts designed in our products. They'll be gone the next time I touch the boards. I've had to train the disties not to use the 'M' word. ;-)