Date
12/10/2014
PDF
The AD-FMCOMMS6-EBZ evaluation board
Analog Devices announced an integrated direct conversion receiver development platform for radar systems where reduced size, weight and power (SWaP) implementation is critical. The new AD-FMCOMMS6-EBZ platform is a 400-MHz to 4.4-GHz receiver (1350 MHz to 1650 MHz with installed filters) supporting the key L- and S-band frequency radar bands. The platform’s VITA57-compliant form factor ensures seamless connectivity to FMC (FPGA mezzanine card) platforms. The AD-FMCOMMS6-EBZ is suitable for defence, communications, and instrumentation radar systems requiring a high level of integration and performance delivered in a compact footprint. These include early warning detection, weather surveillance, and air traffic control systems.
The AD-FMCOMMS6-EBZ receiver platform integrates the AD9652 dual 16-bit A/D converter, ADL5566 high-dynamic-range RF/IF dual differential amplifier, and ADL5380 quadrature demodulator, all of which are COTS (commercial-off-the-shelf) components. A complete design support package is available for the AD-FMCOMMS6-EBZ, and includes schematics, layout files, noise analysis worksheet, FPGA HDL (hardware description language) code, and software drivers.
About the AD-FMCOMMS6-EBZ Receiver Development Platform
The AD-FMCOMMS6-EBZ utilizes an I/Q demodulator to implement a direct conversion or zero IF architecture in which just one frequency translation is required, compared to a super-heterodyne receiver that must perform several frequency translations. A single frequency translation is advantageous because it reduces receiver complexity and the number of conversion stages needed, which in turn increases performance and reduces power consumption. The architecture also avoids image rejection issues and unwanted mixing by adding an amplification stage to maintain the full-scale input to the A/D converter. In addition, the image rejection inherent to the I/Q modulation scheme removes the need for an expensive anti-aliasing filter. The on-board local oscillator and converter clock share the same reference signal to prevent smearing.
The AD-FMCOMMS6-EBZ receiver development platform incorporates a full direct-receive signal chain path and has a bandwidth of 220 MHz with a pass-band flatness of +/- 1.0 dB. The RF input range of the ADL5380 demodulator is 400 MHz to 6 GHz and is powered by a single 5-V supply. The ADL5566 4.5-GHz dual differential amplifier is optimized for IF and dc applications and provides a gain of 16 dB. The AD9652 dual 16-bit, 310-MSPS A/D converter achieves the industry’s lowest noise at the highest speed; this level of performance enables target identification at a much longer range. The SNR and SFDR measured at an IF of 145 MHz are 64 dB and 78 dBc, respectively. Additional on-board functionality includes power management and clock distribution with fanout.
