Excellent Performance in GSPS Data Converter Solutions
Analog Devices has introduced an 800MHz-12.8GHz synthesiser for high-performance ultra-wideband data converter and synchronisation applications.
The new ADF4377 synthesiser enables excellent signal-to-noise performance by providing an ultra-clean clock source to drive the signal sampling process. This allows next-generation wideband receivers and transmitters to use higher levels of dynamic range, which leads to greater receiver sensitivity and transmitter spectral purity. The performance is achieved by the ADF4377 synthesiser delivering jitter levels below 18fs rms as a consequence of the low normalised in-band phase noise at -239dBc/Hz, -147dBc/Hz normalised 1/f noise and a wideband voltage control oscillator (VCO) noise floor of -160dBc/Hz.
The synthesiser is suitable for applications such as radar, instrumentation, and wideband receivers requiring multiple data converters or mixed-signal front-end (MxFE) digitisers to operate together. The ADF4377 significantly simplifies the alignment and calibration routines, by allowing groups of data converters to sample their signals in precise alignment with each other. This is fundamental to the operation of next-generation ultra-wideband multi-channel systems, and is achieved by implementing:
- Automatic reference to output synchronisation;
- Extremely well-matched reference to output delays across process (3ps part to part), voltage, and temperature (0.03ps/C);
- Sub-ps, jitter-free reference to output delay adjustment capability (+/- 0.1ps).
These features allow for predictable and precise multi-chip clock and SYSREF alignment. JESD204B and JESD204C subclass 1 solutions are supported by pairing the ADF4377 synthesiser with an IC that distributes pairs of reference and SYSREF signals. The ADF4377 integrates all necessary power supply bypass capacitors, saving board space on compact boards.
