Furaxa SYNTH300D User manual

SYNTH300D
Dual 300kHz - 300MHz Direct Digital Synthesizer
(Also covers SYNTH300S version)
PRELIMINARY Product Specification and Manual – v1.0
April 15, 2004
Covers Boards With Firmware rev 0.95 (12/1/03)
For Windows XP TM, Windows 2000 TM, Linux TM 7.2 and Solaris 8TM
Furaxa, Inc.
34 Canyon View, Orinda, CA 94563
[phone]
Fax [phone]
e-mail : [email protected]
URL : www.furaxa.com
copyright c 2004 Furaxa, Inc.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. WARRANTY .........................................................................................................................................4
2. MODEL DESCRIPTIONS ...................................................................................................................5
2.1 MODEL SYNTH300D....................................................................................................................5
2.2 MODEL SYNTH300S ....................................................................................................................5
3. SPECIFICATIONS ...............................................................................................................................5
3.1 SYNTHESIZER OUTPUTS ....................................................................................................................5
3.2 FREQUENCY STABILITY ....................................................................................................................6
3.3 PHASE RESOLUTION .........................................................................................................................6
3.4 TTL TRIGGER/MODULATION INPUTS................................................................................................6
3.5 TTL OUTPUTS ..................................................................................................................................6
3.6 GENERAL..........................................................................................................................................6
3.7 PHYSICAL .........................................................................................................................................6
4. HARDWARE ARCHITECTURE .......................................................................................................7
4.1 SYNTHESIZER A&BOUTPUTS (DDS AOUT, DDS BOUT)..........................................................7
4.2 CONTROL TTL OUTPUT CONNECTOR ...............................................................................................7
4.2.1 AUX/MODA and TRIG/MODB Input Lines ............................................................................9
4.2.2 TTL_Out[7..0] .........................................................................................................................9
4.3 LED INDICATOR...............................................................................................................................9
5. HARDWARE INSTALLATION AND SETUP................................................................................10
6. SOFTWARE INSTALLATION AND SETUP .................................................................................11
6.1 SOFTWARE INSTALLATION FOR WINDOWS 2000 OR WINDOWS XP TM............................................11
6.1.1 Disabling the “Found New Hardware” prompt....................................................................11
6.1.2 Continuing with the software installation in 2000 and XP....................................................12
6.2 SOFTWARE INSTALLATION FOR SOLARIS 9, 8OR 7(SPARC PLATFORM EDITION ONLY)TM .............12
6.3 SOFTWARE INSTALLATION UNDER REDHATTM LINUX ....................................................................13
7. RUNNING SYNTH300 PROGRAMS ...............................................................................................15
7.1 USING THE SYNTH300 SERIES UNDER WINDOWS 2000/XP ............................................................15
7.2 USING THE SYNTH300 SERIES UNDER LINUX OR SOLARISTM..........................................................15
7.2.1 Example: Synthesizing two sinusoids with independent frequencies....................................15
7.2.2 Example: Sythesizing a 4-FSK signal...................................................................................16
7.2.3 Example: Synthesizing a QPSK signal .................................................................................16
7.2.4 Example: Frequency sweeping.............................................................................................16
7.2.5 Example: External modulation control ................................................................................16
8. USING THE SYNTH300 GUI UNDER WINDOWS XP.................................................................18
8.1 EXAMPLE #1 –TWO INDEPENDENT SINUSOIDS ...............................................................................19
8.2 EXAMPLE #2 –PHASE-LOCKED SINUSOIDS .....................................................................................20
8.3 EXAMPLE #3 –TWO FULLY INDEPENDENT SWEPT SINUSOIDS .........................................................21
8.4 EXAMPLE #4 –EXTERNAL MODULATION EXAMPLE .......................................................................22
9. LOW LEVEL SOFTWARE INTERFACE.......................................................................................23
9.1 PCI CONFIGURATION HEADER .......................................................................................................23
9.2 SYNTH300 CONTROL REGISTER ...................................................................................................23
9.2.1 Unreset (write only)...............................................................................................................24

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9.2.2 Update Frequency/Phase (write only)...................................................................................24
9.2.3 Synthesizer A Profile Select (write only) ...............................................................................24
9.2.4 Synthesizer B Profile Select (write only) ...............................................................................24
9.2.5 External Modulation Mode (write only)................................................................................25
9.2.6 Enable External Modulation (write only)..............................................................................25
9.2.7 Write is to Synth B, Write is to Synth A (write only)..............................................................25
9.2.8 Synthesizer IC Register Address (write only) ........................................................................26
9.2.9 Sample IC Data Word (write only)........................................................................................26
9.3 AUXILIARY REGISTER.....................................................................................................................28

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1. Warranty
Furaxa, Inc. hardware, software and firmware products are warranted against defects in materials
and workmanship for a period of two (2) years from the date of shipment of the product. During
the warranty period, Furaxa, Inc. shall, at its option, either repair or replace hardware, software or
firmware products which prove to be defective. This limited warranty does not cover damage
caused by misuse or abuse by customer, and specifically excludes damage caused by the
application of excessive voltages to the inputs and/or outputs of data acquisition boards. The
limited warranty additionally excludes damage caused by overheating due to installation of the
product in systems that do not have direct forced air flow over the PCI bus slots.
While Furaxa, Inc. hardware, software and firmware products are designed to function in a
reliable manner, Furaxa, Inc. does not warrant that the operation of the hardware, software or
firmware will be uninterrupted or error free. Furaxa products are not intended to be used as
critical components in life support systems, aircraft, military systems or other systems whose
failure to perform can reasonably be expected to cause significant injury to humans. Furaxa
expressly disclaims liability for loss of profits and other consequential damages caused by the
failure of any product, and recommends that customer purchase spare units for applications in
which the failure of any product would cause interruption of work or loss of profits, such as
industrial, shipboard or military equipment.
THIS LIMITED WARRANTY IS IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES EXPRESSED OR
IMPLIED. THE WARRANTIES PROVIDED HEREIN ARE BUYER’S SOLE REMEDIES. IN NO
EVENT SHALL FURAXA, INC. BE LIABLE FOR DIRECT, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL
OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES SUFFERED OR INCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE USE
OF, OR INABILITY TO USE THESE PRODUCTS. THIS LIMITATION OF LIABILITY REMAINS
IN FORCE EVEN IF FURAXA, INC IS INFORMED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so
the above limitation and exclusion may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal
rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.

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2. Model Descriptions
The SYNTH300 series of Direct Digital Synthesizer (DDS) boards are complete low noise
precision synthesizers on a single PCI bus card. Designed for low jitter operation in
communications, industrial and scientific applications these boards function in PCI bus systems
using supplied drivers for Windows 2000TM or XPTM ,Solaris 8 (Sparc Platform EditionTM 10/00 or
later, Linux (Red HatTM 7.2, or Solaris 8TM or 9 (Sparc Platform Edition). In addition to their single
or dual synthesizers, all SYNTH300 boards have two TTL inputs which can be used to
dynamically switch between up to four frequency profiles, for generating modulated waveforms.
2.1 MODEL SYNTH300D
Model Synth300D is a Dual-channel DDS board having two independent Direct Digital
Synthesizers,each separately programmable for any frequency between 300kHz and 300MHz in
increments of approximately 0.223 Hz.
2.2 MODEL SYNTH300S
Model Synth300S is a Single-channel DDS board having a single Direct Digital
Synthesizers,each separately programmable for any frequency between 300kHz and 300MHz in
increments of approximately 0.223 Hz.
3. Specifications
3.1 Synthesizer outputs
Number of DDS Output Channels: 2, independently programmable, or single
channel ( Model SYNTH300S)
Analog output voltage (into 50 ohms): 250mV RMS +/-10% from 2-200MHz
250mV RMS +/-20% from 300kHz-300MHz
Output impedance: 50 ohms || 10pF
Output connectors: Two SMA connectors.
Wideband SFDR (DC to Nyquist):
40MHz Fout 60 dBc
100MHz Fout 54 dBc
180MHz Fout 53 dBc
Narrowband SFDR:
40MHz Fout (+- 1 MHz) 87 dBc
40MHz Fout (+- 50 kHz) 88 dBc
100MHz Fout (+- 1 MHz) 82 dBc
100MHz Fout (+- 50 kHz) 86 dBc
180MHz Fout (+- 1 MHz) 84 dBc
180MHz Fout (+- 50 kHz) 85 dBc

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Output Phase Noise (103MHz Iout):
@ 1kHz Offset -147 dBc/Hz
@ 10kHz Offset -150 dBc/Hz
@ 100kHz Offset -152 dBc/Hz
3.2 Frequency stability
Initial frequency accuracy +/-0.01% of specified frequency +/-0.223Hz
3.3 Phase Resolution
The intra-synthesizer (Synth A to Synth A) phase relationship is limited only by the DDS phase
resolution (14 bits). The inter-synthesizer (Synth A to Synth B) phase relationship is not
guaranteed to this accuracy, and varies proportional to the frequency of synthesis.
3.4 TTL Trigger/Modulation inputs
Number of TTL Input lines: 2, Standard TTL (V0l < 0.8V, Vih > 2.4V)
3.5 TTL Outputs
Number of TTL Ouput lines: 8, software programmable
Standard TTL (V0l < 0.8V, Vih > 2.4V)
8mA max output drive
3.6 General
Operating Temperature Range: 0 to +55 Degrees Celsius
Storage Temperature Range: -25 to +85 Degrees Celsius
Power Requirements:
SYNTH300D: +5V +/-5% at 0.3A Maximum
+3.3V +/-5% at 1.5A Maximum
SYNTH300S: +5V +/-5% at 0.3A Maximum
+3.3V+/-5%at1AMaximum
3.7 Physical
SYNTH300 boards are half size 32-bit PCI bus boards, which will operate in either 64-bit or 32-bit
33MHz or 66MHz PCI slots with either 5V or 3.3V signalling environment. The figure below
shows the locations of the SMA signal output and digital I/O connectors, and LED indicator.
To avoid overheating, all SYNTH300 boards must be installed a in well-cooled workstation,
PC or server chassis.

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Figure 3.1 SYNTH300D PCI Board (SYNTH 300S Similar)
4. Hardware Architecture
SYNTH300 series boards are comprised of a digital section and an analog section. The digital
section includes a high speed programmable logic devices which implement the bus interface
and the PCI interface.
The analog section contains a 1GHz low-jitter clock, and one or two single-chip Direct Digital
Synthesizer (DDS) ICs. The current outputs of each DDS are fed to a broadband RF
transformer and 300MHz low-pass filter.
4.1 Synthesizer A & B Outputs (DDS A OUT, DDS B OUT)
The two analog synthesizer outputs have SMA connectors and provide analog sine wave signals
with amplitude 0dBm 220mV RMS into 50 ohms). The frequency, frequency sweep (if any) rate,
and other parameters are software programmable. The output amplitude is fixed. If a lower
amplitude is desired, a wide range of 50 ohm coaxial attenuators, such as those from Mini-
Circuits (Brooklyn, NY) may be used.
4.2 Control TTL Output connector
Reserved for future use.
.
Note: EXTREME CARE MUST BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT NO VOLTAGES GREATER
THAN +/-3V ARE EVER CONNECTED TO ANY ANALOG OUTPUT, AND NO VOLTAGE
OUTSIDE THE 0 TO +5V RANGE IS EVER APPLIED TO ANY OTHER LINE.

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Pin Signal Name Pin Signal Name
1 TTL OUT 0 2 Digital GND
3 TTL OUT 1 4 Digital GND
5 TTL OUT 2 6 Digital GND
7 TTL OUT 3 8 Digital GND
9 TTL OUT 4 10 Digital GND
11 TTL OUT 5 12 Digital GND
13 TTL OUT 6 14 Digital GND
15 TTL OUT 7 16 Digital GND
17 Not used 18 Digital GND
19 Not used 20 Digital GND
21 Not used 22 Digital GND
23 Not used 24 Digital GND
25 Not used 26 Digital GND
Figure 4.1. Pinout for I/O cable for SYNTH300 models. .
PIN 25 Not used
PIN 23 Not used
PIN 21 Not used
PIN 19 Not used
PIN 17 Not used
PIN 15 TTL OUT 7
PIN 13 TTL OUT 6
PIN 11 TTL OUT 5
PIN 9 TTL OUT 4
PIN 7 TTL OUT 3
PIN 5 TTL OUT 2
PIN 1 TTL OUT 0
PIN 3 TTL OUT 1
PIN 26 Digital Ground
PIN 24 Digital Ground
PIN 22 Digital Ground
PIN 20 Digital Ground
PIN 18 Digital Ground
PIN 16 Digital Ground
PIN 14 Digital Ground
PIN 12 Digital Ground
PIN 10 Digital Ground
PIN 8 Digital Ground
PIN 6 Digital Ground
PIN 4 Digital Ground
PIN 2 Digital Ground
Figure 4.2 Bottom view of mating I/O connector for 26-conductor I/O cable.

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4.2.1 AUX/MODA and TRIG/MODB Input Lines
Two (2) TTL-compatible Trigger/Modulation signals permit low-latency switching between four
frequency/phase profiles for each synthesizer. This external modulation functionality enables
frequency/phase profile switching for applications in which the overhead or uncertainty of
software-controlled frequency/phase profile selection is not acceptable. The MOD_A and
MOD_B inputs are synchronized with the on-board 125MHz clock
The synthesizer profile selection is controlled by the 2 external TTL bits as described in section
9.2.5.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES MAY VOLTAGES BELOW 0V OR ABOVE +5V BE
CONNECTED TO THE TRIGGER/MODULATION INPUT JACKS.
4.2.2 TTL_Out[7..0]
Reserved for future use.
4.3 LED Indicator
The Red/Green LEDs on the top edge of the SYNTH300 board are useful during system
integration for monitoring the board status. The functions of the LEDs are outlined below.
CASE 1: NO EXTERNAL MODULATION: If the LED illuminates with a green color, and external
modulation has not been enabled, this means that the synthesizers have not yet been unreset
(via the software unreset command). If the LED illuminates with a red color, and external
modulation has not been enabled, this means that the synthesizers have been unreset and are
therefore running.
CASE 2: EXTERNAL MODULATION ENABLED: If the LED illuminates with a red color, this
means that the MOD A and MODB inputs are both 0, If the LED does not illuminate, and the
board has been told to run, this means that either the MOD A or MOD B input is 1.

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5. Hardware Installation and Setup
Before you begin, be sure your system has at least 256MB installed RAM. To avoid
overheating, the SYNTH300 must be installed in a well-cooled workstation or server
chassis, or alternatively in an industrial chassis PC. Installation in a standard desktop PC
without fans at the front end of the card cage may cause the SYNTH300 to overheat, and
resulting damage is not covered by warranty.
1. Use the shutdown command on your system and then turn OFF the power to the system.
BEFORE REMOVING THE COMPUTER SYSTEM COVER OR REMOVING ANY BOARD, BE
SURE THAT THE POWER TO THE COMPUTER, AS WELL AS TO ALL PERIPHERAL
DEVICES IS OFF. WEAR A STATIC-DISSIPATING WRISTBAND WHICH IS GROUNDED TO
THE SYSTEM CHASSIS WHILE OPENING OR WORKING ON YOUR SYSTEM.
2. Remove any screws that attach the computer system cover and remove the cover.
3. Remove the filler bracket from the PCI bus slot into which you wish to install your
SYNTH300 board. If a mixture of 5V and 3.3V slots are available in the system, choose a 32-bit
5V slot as your first preference. If that is not available, install it in a 32 or 64-bit 3.3V slot. For
details, refer to the hardware manual for your computer system.
4. Hold the SYNTH300 board by the top of the metal PCI bracket. Then hook the tab on the
bottom edge of the SYNTH300's metal bracket into the corresponding slot in the computer's rear
panel. Carefully push the SYNTH300 down so its PCI bus connector mates with the PCI bus
connector on the motherboard. Be sure that the SYNTH300 is seated firmly into the motherboard
PCI bus connector. Check that no other PCI boards have become unseated when the
SYNTH300 was installed, as motherboards may flex slightly when installing PCI boards.
5. Plug coaxial I/O cables for the analog outputs into the appropriate SMA connectors on
the SYNTH300's rear bracket at the rear of the system. Please refer to the diagram on page 8 of
this manual.
6. We recommend that synthesizer output channels Aand B (the 1st and 2nd SMA
connectors from the bracket top) initially be connected to an oscilloscope set for 200mV/div., so
you can observe the two synthesized waveforms operation when running the example software.
7. Replace the computer system cover, installing all screws you had removed. Reconnect
the power cables to the system and peripherals.
8. Power up and reboot the system. The system will then be ready for software installation.