Analog Devices EV-ADF4159EB1Z User manual

Evaluation Board User Guide
UG-383
One Technology Way •P. O. Box 9106 •Norwood, MA 02062-9106, U.S.A. •Tel: [phone] •Fax: [phone] •www.analog.com
Evaluating the ADF4159 Frequency Synthesizer for Phase-Locked Loops
PLEASE SEE THE LAST PAGE FOR AN IMPORTANT
WARNING AND LEGAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS.Rev. A | Page 1 of 16
FEATURES
Self-contained board, including synthesizer, 100 MHz
reference, USB interface, and voltage regulators
Accompanying software allows control of synthesizer
functions from a PC (via USB interface)
Externally powered by 5.5 V and 15 V supplies
EVALUATION KIT CONTENTS
EV-ADF4159EB1Z or EV-ADF4159EB3Z evaluation board
CD with evaluation software
USB cable
REQUIRED ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT
VCO (for EV-ADF4159EB3Z)
Loop filter components (for EV-ADF4159EB3Z)
Soldering equipment
Spectrum analyzer
Power supplies (5.5 V and 15 V)
Windows®-based PC with USB port for evaluation software
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
ADF4159 data sheet
UG-383 user guide
REQUIRED SOFTWARE
Analog Devices ADF4158-9 evaluation software, Version 4.x
or higher (included on the CD in the evaluation board kit or
available for download at www.analog.com)
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The EV-ADF4159EB1Z/ EV-ADF4159EB3Z evaluates the
performance of the ADF4159 frequency synthesizer for phase-
locked loops (PLL). A photograph of the evaluation board is
shown in Figure 1. The evaluation board involves the ADF4159
synthesizer, a USB connector, SMA connectors, a reference
oscillator, and power supply connectors. There are also footprints
for active filter components and a voltage controlled oscillator
(VCO); if used, these components must be soldered to the board
to complete the loop. An on-board temperature compensated
crystal oscillator (TCXO) provides the 100 MHz reference
frequency, and a USB cable is included to connect the board to
a PC USB port.
In addition, the evaluation kit contains Windows-based software
to allow easy programming of the synthesizer.
EVALUATION BOARD PHOTOGRAPH
Figure 1.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Features .............................................................................................. 1
Evaluation Kit Contents................................................................... 1
Required Additional Equipment .................................................... 1
Required Documents ....................................................................... 1
Required Software ............................................................................ 1
General Description ......................................................................... 1
Evaluation Board Photograph......................................................... 1
Revision History ............................................................................... 2
Evaluation Board Hardware ............................................................ 3
Overview........................................................................................ 3
Power Supplies .............................................................................. 3
Local Oscillator............................................................................. 3
VCO................................................................................................ 3
Output Signals ...............................................................................3
Loop Filter ......................................................................................4
VCO Configuration ..........................................................................5
EV-ADF4159EB1Z........................................................................5
EV-ADF4159EB3Z........................................................................5
Evaluation Setup ................................................................................6
Getting Started...................................................................................7
Installing the Software ..................................................................7
Configuring and Setting up the Board.......................................7
Using the Software—Main Controls...........................................8
Using the Software—Ramp and Shift-Key Controls ................9
Evaluation Board Schematics........................................................ 11
REVISION HISTORY
11/13—Rev. 0 to Rev. A
Deleted EV-ADF4159EB2Z ..............................................Universal
Changes to Figure 7.......................................................................... 8
Changes to Figure 8.......................................................................... 9
Changes to Figure 9........................................................................ 10
8/13—Revision 0: Initial Version

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EVALUATION BOARD HARDWARE
OVERVIEW
The evaluation board kit includes a cable for connecting the
evaluation board to the USB port of a PC. The silkscreen for the
evaluation board is show in Figure 2, and the schematics for the
evaluation board are shown in Figure 10 to Figure 13.
POWER SUPPLIES
The evaluation board is powered by a 5.5 V power supply con-
nected to the red and black banana connectors. Connect the
red connector to a 5.5 V power supply and the black connector
to ground.
The op amp is powered by a 15 V power supply.
Optionally, the VCO can be powered independently by connecting
a 5 V supply to the VVCO SMA and removing R27. When this
option is used, reduce the voltage on the banana connectors to 5 V.
The USB section of the evaluation board (see the area bounded
by the gold box in Figure 1) is powered by the USB host.
LOCAL OSCILLATOR
The 100 MHz TXCO provides the reference frequency. To
ensure that the PFD frequency is also 100 MHz, set the on-chip
R-divider to 1.
Alternatively, an external reference can be used by connecting
the reference to the REFIN SMA and removing R10 and L1.
VCO
The VCO configuration is different for each evaluation board
model: EV-ADF4159EB1Z and EV-ADF4159EB3Z. See the
VCO Configuration section for more information.
OUTPUT SIGNALS
With a VCO connected, the evaluation board outputs the VCO
output on the EXT_VCOOUT SMA and the VCO output is
divided by 2 on the VCO/2 SMA.
Figure 2. Evaluation Board Silkscreen
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LOOP FILTER
The loop filter schematic is included in Figure 13. The general
placement of loop filter components is shown in Figure 3. When
using a loop filter, calculate the values of the necessary com-
ponents and solder them to the board. The ADIsimPLL software,
which is available on the CD included in the evaluation board kit or
from www.analog.com/adisimpll, provides tools for designing loop
filters and calculating component values.
After soldering the loop filter components to the evaluation board,
connect a 15 V supply to the op amp power supplies, a 15 V supply
to the red 15 V test point, and the ground to the black AGND
test point (see Figure 1). See the Sample Loop Filter section for
an example configuration.
Figure 3. Placement of Loop Filter Components
Sample Loop Filter
Use the parameters of the sample loop filter described in this
section as a guide for adding a loop filter onto the evaluation
board.
Refer to Figure 3 for proper placement of components and to
Table 1 for recommended component values.
The sample loop filter is designed for
•VCO kV = 150 MHz/V
•PFD frequency = 100 MHz
•Charge pump current = 2.5 mA
•Loop bandwidth = 152 kHz
•Phase margin = 46.8°
Table 1. Sample Loop Filter Components Values
Component Value
R1 220 Ω
R2 300 Ω
R3 1 kΩ
C1 120 pF
C2 8.2 nF
C3 270 pF
C4 270 pF
OP AMP
R2
C2
C3
C1
R1
R3
C4
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VCO CONFIGURATION
EV-ADF4159EB1Z
The EV-ADF4159EB1Z evaluation board has a MACOM VCO
(MAOC-009269) with a range of 11.4 GHz to 12.8 GHz installed.
The RFOUT signal is connected to the EXT_VCOOUT SMA.
The RFOUT/2 signal of the VCO is fed back to the ADF4159
PLL; therefore, when the VCO outputs 12 GHz, the ADF4159 is
locked at 6 GHz.
For optimum performance, ensure that the components values
are as described in Table 2.
Table 2. Component Values for EV-ADF4159EB1Z
Component Value1
R73 0 Ω
C29 100 pF
R31, R34, R51, R62, R68, R70,
R71, R72 (Bottom Layer)
DNP
C40, C62, C63, C64, C65, C66,
C70, C71, C75, C76
DNP
L3, L4 DNP
1DNP is do not populate.
Terminate the VCO/2 SMA with 50 Ω..
EV-ADF4159EB3Z
The EV-ADF4159EB3Z evaluation board does not have a VCO
installed. The board is configured for use with an external VCO
board. Connect an external VCO to the evaluation board using
SMA cables. There are two configuration options:
•The VCO control voltage can be connected to the VTUNE
SMA, and the VCO RFOUT signal can be connected to the
VCO/2 SMA. This configuration uses the on-board loop filter.
•The CPOUT SMA can be used to connect the ADF4159
charge pump output to an external loop filter. Connect the
VCO RFOUT signal to the VCO/2 SMA to feed the signal
back into the ADF4159.
For optimum performance, ensure that the component values
are as shown in Table 3.
Table 3. Component Values for EV-ADF4159EB3Z
Component
Value
1
R34 50 Ω
R31 DNP
C29 DNP
1DNP is do not populate.

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EVALUATION SETUP
Figure 4. Evaluation Setup Block Diagram
Figure 5. Evaluation Setup
REFERENCE
CRYSTAL
OP AMP
TO SPECTRUM ANALYZER
50Ω TERMINATION
GND
15V
ADF4159
VCO
TO PC
GND
5.5V
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GETTING STARTED
INSTALLING THE SOFTWARE
For the software installation procedure, see the UG-476 user
guide. The control software for the EV-ADF4159EB1Z and EV-
ADF4159EB3Z is provided on the CD included in the evaluation
board kit.
CONFIGURING AND SETTING UP THE BOARD
1. Set up the circuit as shown in Figure 4.
2. Run the ADF4158-9 software.
3. Select ADF4159 and USB board (green), and then click
Connect (see Figure 6).
4. Click the Main Controls tab to view the main controls (see
Figure 7). The default values are set to lock a VCO at 12 GHz.
5. Click Write All Registers (7, 6, 6, 5, 5, 4, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0) or
manually write to each register (Wri te R7, Write R6 - Ramp 1,
Write R6 - Ramp 2, Wr ite R5 - Ramp 1, Write R5 - Ramp 2,
Write R4 - Ramp 1, Wr ite R4 - Ramp 2, Write R3, Wr ite R2,
Write R1, and Write R0).
6. On the spectrum analyzer, confirm that the output signal is
locked at 12 GHz.
Figure 6. Software—Device Selection
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USING THE SOFTWARE—MAIN CONTROLS
Use the Main Controls tab to select the RL and PLL settings.
Because the evaluation board is set up to feedback the VCO/2
output to the ADF4159, in the RF Settings area, set the RF VCO
Output Frequency to half the VCO output. Set the Reference
Frequency to be the same as the applied reference signal. The
PFD frequency is calculated from the reference frequency, the
R-counter, the reference doubler, and the reference-divide-by-2.
Ensure that the value in the PFD Frequency box matches the
value specified in the loop filter design.
In the PLL Settings area, program the Charge Pump Setting
to the value for which the loop filter was designed. Program the
Phase Detector Polarity to negative when using an inverting
active loop filter configuration (as is on this evaluation board).
The Muxout drop-down box allows you to choose the signal
that is connected to the output of the MUXOUT pin.
Clicking Pulse TXdata triggers a pulse on the TXDATA pin. This
pulse starts low and then stays high for approximately 4 µs.
The register values are shown at the bottom of the window.
When the background of a register value is green, this indicates
that the value has been changed and needs to be written to the
part. Clicking the button below each register value writes that
value to the part.
Figure 7. Software—Main Controls
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USING THE SOFTWARE—RAMP AND SHIFT-KEY
CONTROLS
In the Ramps and Shift-keying tab, you can configure the
ramping and shift-keying functionality of the ADF4159.
The ramp type can be selected in the Ramp mode drop-down
box, and the various ramp parameters can be set in CLK1 and
Up Ramp boxes.
Example
Figure 8 shows the ramping and shift-keying settings for an
example of a continuous triangular ramp of 128 up ramp steps
over 50 MHz with an up ramp time of 96 µs. (Up ramp refers to
the ramp from the initial frequency to the end frequency,
whereas down ramp refers to the ramp/jump from the end
frequency back to the initial frequency.) For 50 MHz, the PLL is
programmed for a 25 MHz ramp because the evaluation board
uses the RFOUT/2 signal. After each parameter is set in the
software, it needs to be written to the part.
The other options in this tab allow configuring the various
ramps and shift-keying controls of the ADF4159.
Figure 8. Example of Ramp
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Figure 9. Software—Ramp Controls
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