XRM(2)-DAC-D4/1G User Guide
V2.2 - Mar 8, 2018
1 Introduction
Alpha Data provide three variants of a fast analogue signal generation card operating at sampling frequencies
up to 1 GHz, based on the DAC5681, DAC5681Z and DAC5682Z devices from Texas Instruments.
The DAC5681 provides a non-interpolating architecture for wideband signal generation.
The DAC5681Z implements an interpolating architecture and provides filtering and mixing circuitry and is
essentially a single-channel version of the DAC5682Z.
The DAC5682Z also has an interpolating architecture and provides filtering and mixing circuitry for the two DACs
contained within the package. Note that in this case the second DAC output in each package is not accessible,
although the data can be processed and combined internally as two channels.
All versions utilise a common circuit board with build options being used to match the board configuration to the
DAC fitted.
These boards differ only in the following aspects:
a)
The DAC fitted - the DAC5681/ DAC5681Z version uses a single channel DAC normally aimed at
producing wide bandwidth signals. The DAC5682Z has 2 full DAC channels, which allows signal
generation from complex data streams.
b)
Minor differences in pin functions.
c)
Register addresses and bit allocations for the internal DAC registers in the DAC581Z and DAC5682Z are
supersets of those in the DAC5681.
d)
Inclusion of a PLL on the interpolating devices (DAC5681Z, DAC5682Z) for DAC sample clock generation
from a reference clock. In normal circumstances this facility is not used since because of the limited set of
frequencies that can be produced, but if used the high-frequency clocks required for the FPGA must be
synthesised in the FPGA fabric using MMCM or DCM.
These XRM modules are compatible with Alpha-Data's family of FPGA cards fitted with Virtex 4, Virtex 5, Virtex
6, Kintex 7 and Virtex 7 devices.
Both configurations are referred to in this document by the generic title XRM(2)-DAC-D4-1G; where required,
any DAC-specific differences will be made explicit.
The code and hardware descriptions given below reflect the functions implemented at the date of this document.
1.1 Block Diagram
The block diagram (see Figure Block Diagram) shows the major components of the XRM(2)-DAC-D4-1G board.
The DAC has its own dedicated power supplies and uses a mixture of single-ended (serial control) and
differential (data, clocks and synchronisation) signals to/from the FPGA. A clock synthesis/distribution circuit is
included to provide flexible clock generation options.
Dedicated serial interfaces are implemented in the VHDL code to communicate with the DAC and the
synthesiser. These interfaces are initialised automatically by the FPGA as part of the reset sequence.
DAC sample data is transferred to each DAC from the FPGA via 16 LVDS pairs plus synchronisation (SYNC)
and data clock (DCLK) differential pairs. The data clock (DCLK), synchronous with the data, is generated from a
half-rate copy of the DAC clock (DACCLK). The DCLK signal runs at 0.5 * the DAC clock rate present on the
clock input connector. Within the FPGA the DCLK is further divided by 2 for use as a global clock (FABRCLK) for
data generation, so runs at 0.25 * DACCLK.
The synthesiser/distribution circuit provides three options for clocking the DAC.
a)
Internal reference, internally synthesised clock, giving integer sub-divisions, including 1, of 1GHz.
b)
Externally generated clock, integer sub-divisions, including 1.
Page 1
Introduction
xrm-dac-d4-1g-manual_v2_2.pdf