Analog Devices: EV-ADF41020EB1Z Evaluation Board for ADF41020 PLL Frequency Synthesizer

Kit Overview

The EV-ADF41020EB1ZEV-ADF41020EB1Z evaluation board is designed to let the user evaluate the performance of the ADF41020ADF41020 frequency synthesizer for phase-locked loops (PLLs). The board contains the ADF41020 synthesizer, a 100 MHz TCXO and  power supplies, USB interface, and RF output connectors. There is also an active loop filter and a 13 GHz VCO on board. The evaluation kit contains software that is compatible with Windows XP and later versions to allow easy programming of the synthesizer. The USB interface allows software programming of the ADF41020 device. A USB cable is included with the board to allow software programmability.

The ADF41020ADF41020 frequency synthesizer can be used to implement local oscillators as high as 18 GHz in the up conversion and down conversion sections of wireless receivers and transmitters. It consists of a low noise, digital phase frequency detector (PFD), a precision charge pump, a programmable reference divider, and high frequency programmable feedback dividers (A, B, and P). A complete phase-locked loop (PLL) can be implemented if the synthesizer is used with an external loop filter and voltage controlled oscillator (VCO).

The synthesizer can be used to drive external microwave VCOs via an active loop filter. Its very high bandwidth means a frequency doubler stage can be eliminated, simplifying system architecture and reducing cost. The ADF41020ADF41020 is software-compatible with the existing ADF4106ADF4106/ADF4107ADF4107/ADF4108ADF4108 family of devices from Analog Devices, Inc. Their pinouts match very closely with the exception of the ADF41020’s single-ended RF input pin, meaning only a minor layout change is required when updating current designs.

Key Applications: Microwave point-to-point/multipoint radios, Wireless infrastructure, VSAT radios, Test equipment, Instrumentation