RoadTest: RoadTest Review the TI LMX2582EVM
Author: s2000gt
Creation date:
Evaluation Type: Evaluation Boards
Did you receive all parts the manufacturer stated would be included in the package?: True
What other parts do you consider comparable to this product?:
What were the biggest problems encountered?: Equipment needed to properly evaluate this board not readily available. No 50 Ohm termination included.
Detailed Review:
LMX2582EVM High Performance, Wideband PLLatinum™ RF Synthesizer Evaluation Board
Setup:
1. Power:
(a) Set power supply to 3.3 V with 500-mA current limit.
(b) Connect VCC with SMA cable or clip to test point VCC_TP.
2. Input Signal
(a) Option 1 (default): The on-board Oscillator is powered on and outputs 100-MHz signal to OSCinP
(pin 8) of the device input.
(b) Option 2: MUST switch R14p to R14, which routes the input signal from the OSCinP SMA
connector instead of on-board Oscillator. Set a low phase noise signal generator to 100 MHz with
6-dBm power level. Connect to OSCinP or OSCinM if you have a single-ended signal. Connect to
both if you have a differential signal.
3. Output
(a) Connect RFoutAM or RFoutAP to a phase noise analyzer. Connect a 50-Ω termination on the
unused output if you are using only single-end. Use a balan if you are using differential-ended.
4. Programming Interface
(a) Connect your laptop to the EVM as shown with included USB2ANY module.
1. Download TICS software from TI.com: http://www.ti.com/tool/TICSPRO-SW
2. To start the EVM software, open TICS.exe from installed directory.
Software:
The TICS Pro software has extensive configuration options for programming the PLL and VCO.
File: Allows you to load or save a setting, export or import the registers in HEX values.
• USB Communications: Check your connection with the USB2ANY module. (If there is new
software follow the on-screen instructions to upgrade.) Load the device (the keyboard shortcut is
CTRL+L), which programs all the registers into the device.
• Default configuration: Load a pre-set setting file given to start from a known state.
• To select the LMX2582: Click Select Device on top menu. Click PLL + VCO and select LMX2582.
• User Controls: Here you can configure registers, organized by function. Hover your mouse over
the register and its information will appear in the Context tab on the left panel.
• Raw Registers: See the entire register map. Enter a HEX value in to the Data cell then click Write
Register to program that value. To read registers you must have MUXout pin (pin 20) connected to
the USB2ANY (by default it is connected to the LED, switch R40 to R39 for readback). Also set
MUXOUT_SEL=0 for readback. You can also read a register by the name of the register in
Register/Field Name section.
• Fosc: Enter the input signal frequency between 5 to 1400MHz
• Doubler: Can double input signal frequency (input must be 50% duty cycle to use this)
• Pre-R divider: Divides frequencies up to 1400 MHz
• Multiplier: Multiplies frequencies between 40 to 70 MHz and outputs between 180 to 250 MHz
• R divider: Used for dividing frequencies below 5 MHz for very low PFD
• Charge Pump Gain: This tab will auto-update both UP and DN to be equal. Go to bits/pins section
if you want to force different values.
• Gain multiplier: Multiplies Charge Pump Gain by a factor
• State: Changes the charge pump output state
• FCAL_EN: Every time you change the output frequency, toggle this off or on to calibrate the device
to the frequency.
• Fvco: Set the VCO frequency between 3550 to 7100 MHz.
• Divider MUX: This determines which of the 3 segments is included for a total division between 2 to
192.
• Output MUX: Selects the signal from the VCO output or the Divider.
• Power Settings: Changes the output power (increase 0 to 31, then additional boost with 49 to 63).
• Enter a register in Load Register or delay in seconds.
• You can run and stop the commands in a single burst or continuous loop.
USB to Any:
This interface provides full access to all the features of the LMX2582 via SPI.