Analog Devices UG-160 User manual

Evaluation Board User Guide
UG-160
One Technology Way •P. O. Box 9106 •Norwood, MA 02062-9106, U.S.A. •Tel: [phone] •Fax: [phone] •www.analog.com
Evaluation Board for the Integer-N PLL Frequency Synthesizer
PLEASE SEE THE LAST PAGE FOR AN IMPORTANT
WARNING AND LEGAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS.Rev. B | Page 1 of 16
FEATURES
Self-contained board for generating RF frequencies
Contains the ADF4108—an 8 GHz frequency synthesizer IC
Accompanying software allows complete control of
synthesizer functions from a PC
EVALUATION KIT CONTENTS
EV-ADF4108EB1Z board
CD that includes
Self-installing software that allows users to control the
board and exercise all functions of the device
Electronic version of the ADF4108 data sheet
Electronic version of the UG-160 user guide
Electronic version of the UG-476 user guide
ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT
PC running Windows XP or more recent version
Spectrum analyzer
Oscilloscope (optional)
Power supplies of 5.5 V and 15 V
DOCUMENTS NEEDED
ADF4108 data sheet
REQUIRED SOFTWARE
Analog Devices Int-N software (Version 7 or higher)
ADIsimPLL
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The EV-ADF4108EB1Z evaluation board allows the user to
evaluate the performance of the ADF4108 frequency synthesizer
for phase-locked loops (PLLs). Figure 1 shows the board, which
contains the ADF4108 synthesizer, an SMA connector for the
reference input, the power supplies, a USB interface, and the RF
outputs. There is also an active loop filter and a VCO on board. The
user has the option of using an alternate loop filter and VCO by
connecting the board to the following SMA connectors: VTUNE
and CPOUT. The evaluation kit contains software that is com-
patible with Windows® XP and more recent versions to allow
easy programming of the synthesizer.
The USB interface allows software programming of the ADF4108
device. A USB cable is included in the evaluation board kit to
allow software programmability.
EVALUATION BOARD
09145-001
Figure 1. EV-ADF4108EB1Z

UG-160 Evaluation Board User Guide
Rev. B | Page 2 of 16
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Features .............................................................................................. 1
Evaluation Kit Contents................................................................... 1
Additional Equipment ..................................................................... 1
Documents Needed.......................................................................... 1
Required Software ............................................................................ 1
General Description ......................................................................... 1
Evaluation Board .............................................................................. 1
Revision History ............................................................................... 2
Quick Start Guide............................................................................. 3
Evaluation Board Hardware ............................................................ 4
Power Supplies...............................................................................4
Input Signals...................................................................................4
Output Signals ...............................................................................4
Default Operation .........................................................................4
Evaluation Board Software...............................................................5
Evaluation and Test ...........................................................................7
Evaluation Board Schematics and Artwork...................................9
Bill of Materials............................................................................... 15
Related Links............................................................................... 16
REVISION HISTORY
12/12—Rev. A to Rev. B
Changes to General Description and Figure 1 ............................. 1
Changes to Default Operation Section and Figure 2 ................... 4
Deleted Evaluation Board Setup Procedure and Figure 3 to
Figure 6; Renumbered Sequentially ............................................... 5
Deleted Figure 7 to Figure 12.......................................................... 6
Deleted Figure 13 to Figure 16........................................................ 7
Changes to Evaluation Board Software Section ........................... 5
Changes to Figure 4.......................................................................... 6
Changes to Evaluation and Test Section and Figure 5................. 7
Changes to Figure 7.......................................................................... 9
Changes to Figure 8........................................................................ 10
Changes to Figure 9........................................................................ 11
Changes to Figure 10...................................................................... 12
Changes to Figure 11 and Figure 12 ............................................ 13
Changes to Figure 13 and Figure 14............................................. 14
Changes to Table 1 .......................................................................... 15
3/12—Rev. 0 to Re v. A
Changes to Features Section and General Description
Section................................................................................................ 1
Added Evaluation Kit Contents Section, Additional Equipment
Section, Documents Needed Section, Required Software
Section, and Evaluation Board Section; Deleted Block Diagram
Section; Replaced Figure 1 .............................................................. 1
Added Quick Start Guide Section .................................................. 3
Deleted Hardware Description Section and Figure 3,
Renumbered Sequentially................................................................ 3
Changes to Evaluation Board Hardware Section and Power
Supplies Section ................................................................................ 4
Replaced Figure 2; Added Input Signals Section, Output Signals
Section, and Default Operations Section .......................................4
Deleted Software Description Section, Programmable Software
Settings Section, and Figure 4..........................................................4
Added Evaluation Board Setup Procedure Section Software
Installation Section, and Figure 3 to Figure 5................................5
Added Windows Vista and Windows 7 Software Installation
Guide Section and Figure 6 to Figure 9..........................................6
Added Windows XP Driver Installation Guide Section and
Figure 10 to Figure 14 .......................................................................7
Added Figure 15 and Figure 16 .......................................................8
Changes to Evaluation Board Software Section, Added
Figure 17 .............................................................................................9
Added Figure 18 ............................................................................. 10
Added Evaluation and Test Section, Figure 19, and
Figure 20 .......................................................................................... 11
Changed Evaluation Board Schematics Section to Evaluation
Board Schematics and Artwork Section...................................... 12
Changes to Figure 21...................................................................... 12
Changes to Figure 22...................................................................... 13
Added Figure 23 ............................................................................. 14
Added Figure 24 ............................................................................. 15
Added Figure 25 ............................................................................. 16
Added Figure 26 ............................................................................. 17
Added Figure 27 ............................................................................. 18
Added Figure 28 ............................................................................. 19
Changes to Table 1.......................................................................... 18
Added Related Links Section ........................................................ 19
7/11—Revision 0: Initial Version

Evaluation Board User Guide UG-160
Rev. B | Page 3 of 16
QUICK START GUIDE
Use the following steps to evaluate the ADF4108 device:
1. Install the Int-N software (see the UG-476 user guide, PLL
Software Installation Guide).
2. Follow the hardware driver installation procedure.
3. Connect the power supplies to the EV-ADF4108EB1Z:
a. Connect the 5.5 V power supply to the on-board
banana connectors.
b. Connect the 15 V power supply to the test points
labeled +15 V and AGND1.
4. Connect the USB cable to the PC and to the
EV-ADF4108EB1Z.
5. Run the Int-N software.
6. Select the ADF4108 device and the USB board in the
Select Device and Connection tab of the main window.
7. Ensure that Analog Devices RFG.L Eval Board connected
is displayed at the bottom left of the main window.
8. Connect the reference frequency to REFIN (SMA).
9. Click the Main Controls tab to input the RF and other
settings.
10. Note that the Phase Detector Polarity drop-down box in
the Settings section should be set to Negative to suit the
active loop filter in inverting mode.
11. Update all registers.
12. Connect the output to a signal source analyzer. The board
offers two outputs.
a. VCO/2 via the SMA labeled VCO/2.
b. VCO via the SMA labeled EXT_VCOOUT.
13. Measure the results.

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EVALUATION BOARD HARDWARE
The evaluation board comes with a mini-USB cable to connect
the evaluation board to the USB port of a PC. The evaluation
board silkscreen is shown in Figure 2. The EV-ADF4108EB1Z
schematics are shown in Figure 7 to Figure 10.
POWER SUPPLIES
The board is powered via two external supplies, 5.5 V and 15 V,
and connected as described in the Quick Start Guide section.
INPUT SIGNALS
The necessary reference input can be supplied from an external
generator. A low noise, high slew rate reference source is best for
achieving the stated performance of the ADF4108. This reference
source is connected to the REFIN SMA connector. A second
option is to solder a footprint-compatible TCXO to Footprint Y1.
OUTPUT SIGNALS
The VCO output is available at EXT_VCOOUT through a
standard SMA connector. A divide-by-2 option is also available
at the VCO/2 SMA connector. To use an alternate loop filter
and VCO, the charge pump output (CPOUT) and the VCO
tune voltage (VTUNE) are available as outputs via standard
SMA connectors.
DEFAULT OPERATION
All components necessary for local oscillation (LO) generation
can be inserted on the board. The board is shipped with the
ADF4108 synthesizer, an active loop filter, and the VCO.
An active loop filter using standard feedback is inserted between
the charge pump output and the VCO input. The design para-
meters for the loop filter are for a center frequency of 6400 MHz,
a PFD frequency of 2500 kHz, and an active loop filter bandwidth
of 15 kHz. To design a filter for different frequency setups, use
the ADIsimPLL simulation software to generate filter component
values and evaluate results.
09145-002
Figure 2. Evaluation Board Silkscreen

Evaluation Board User Guide UG-160
Rev. B | Page 5 of 16
EVALUATION BOARD SOFTWARE
The control software for the EV-ADF4108EB1Z is provided on
the CD included in the evaluation board kit. To install the
software, see the UG-476 user guide, PLL Software Installation
Guide.
To run the software, click the Int-N v7 file on the desktop or
select the file from the Start menu.
On the Select Device and Connection tab, choose the device
and connection method, and then click Connect.
Confirm that Analog Devices RFG.L Eval Board connected is
displayed at the bottom left of the window (see Figure 3). If this
message is not displayed, the software cannot connect to the
evaluation board.
Note that when the board is connected, there is about a 5 sec to
10 sec delay before the status label changes.
From the File menu, the current settings can be saved as and
loaded from a text file.
09145-017
Figure 3. Int-N Software, Main Window—Select Device and Connection

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The Main Controls tab controls the PLL settings (see Figure 4).
Use the RF Settings section to control the output frequency.
You can type the desired output frequency in the RF VCO
Output Frequency text box (in megahertz).
Use the Reference Frequency text box to set the correct
reference frequency and the reference frequency divider. The
default reference on the software window is 100 MHz.
The Settings section lets you select general options available for
the PLL, including the charge pump current settings and phase
detector polarity. The EV-ADF4108EB1Z uses a charge pump
setting of 5 mA and a negative phase detector polarity.
In the Registers tab, you can manually input the desired value
to be written to the registers.
In the Sweep and Hop tab, you can make the device sweep a
range of frequencies or hop between two set frequencies.
In the Latches/Registers section at the bottom of the Main
Controls tab of the main window, the values to be written to
each register are displayed. If the background on the text box is
green, the value displayed is different from the value actually on
the device. Click Write R Counter Latch or Write N Counter
Latch to write the value displayed to the device. To update all
Latches in the correct order, click Write All Latches.
09145-018
Figure 4. Int-N Software, Main Window—Main Controls

Evaluation Board User Guide UG-160
Rev. B | Page 7 of 16
EVALUATION AND TEST
To evaluate and test the performance of the ADF4108, use the
following procedure:
1. Install the Analog Devices Int-N software (see the UG-476
user guide, PLL Software Installation Guide).
2. Use ADIsimPLL to generate the loop filter component
values if a different loop filter is required.
3. Solder new filter components specified by ADIsimPLL.
4. Install the USB software drivers. Connect the evaluation
board to a PC using the supplied USB cable. Follow the
hardware driver installation procedure that appears.
5. Connect the USB connector to the EV-ADF4108EB1Z.
6. Connect a reference signal to REFIN.
7. Connect a spectrum analyzer to EXT_VCOOUT or VCO/2.
8. Run the Int-N software.
9. Select the USB board and the ADF4108 device in the
Select Device and Connection tab of the main window of
the evaluation board software.
10. In the Main Controls tab in the main window of the
evaluation board software, set the VCO center frequency in
the RF VCO Output Frequency text box (the example in
Figure 5 uses a 6.4 GHz VCO). Set the PFD Frequency text
box as specified in ADIsimPLL, and program the Reference
Frequency value to equal the reference connected to the
REFIN SMA Connector (or the TCXO). See Figure 6 for
the suggested setup.
11. Measure the output spectrum. Figure 5 shows 6.4 GHz
phase noise output.
09145-019
R&S FSUP 26 Signal Source Analyzer LOCKED
Settings Residual Noise [T1 w/o spurs] Phase Detector +0 dB
Signal Frequency: 6.400000 GHz Int PHN (1.0 k .. 30.0 M) –40.5 dBc
Signal Level: –4.73 dBm Residual PM 0.768 °
Cross Corr Mode Harmonic 1 Residual FM 1.86 kHz
Internal Ref Tuned Internal Phase Det RMS Jitter 0.3334 ps
Phase Noise [dBc/Hz] Marker 1 [T1] Marker 2 [T1]
RF Atten 5 dB 10 kHz 100 kHz
Top –70 dBc/Hz –82.78 dBc/Hz –111.06 dBc/Hz
–170
–160
–150
–140
–130
–120
–110
–100
–90
–80
10kHz 100kHz 1MHz 10MHz1kHz 30MHz
–170
–160
–150
–140
–130
–120
–110
–100
–90
–80
LoopBW Spur Pow er (dBc)
1 CLRWR
SMTH 1%
2 CLRWR
EXT
SPROFF
TH 0dB
FREQUENCY OFFSET
1
2
Figure 5. Spectrum Analyzer Display

UG-160 Evaluation Board User Guide
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SPECTRUM
ANALYZER
PC
EXTERNAL DC
GND
EXTERNAL DC
SUPPLY
TCXO
VCO
ACTIVE LOOP
FILTER
PLL
POWER
LED
USB INTERFACE
REFERENCE IN
(REFERENCE OUT)
PLL
LOCK
CPOUT
AGND
+15V
VTUNE VVCO
VCO/2
EXT_VCOOUT
DETECT
LED
POWER
SUPPLIES
SIGNAL
GENERATOR
POWER
SUPPLIES
09145-020
Figure 6. Typical Evaluation Setup

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EVALUATION BOARD SCHEMATICS AND ARTWORK
09145-021
Figure 7. Evaluation Board Schematic (Page 1)

UG-160 Evaluation Board User Guide
Rev. B | Page 10 of 16
09145-022
Figure 8. Evaluation Board Schematic (Page 2)