UG-1698
Rev. 0 | Page 16 of 23
USING EXTERNAL FILES
The
DPGDownloader
software allows users to import and use
files generated outside the tool. Perform the following steps to
import an external file:
1.
Generate a file with the following criteria: text file signed
integer, one value per line, minimum value = −2
(bits − 1)
− 1
(for a 16-bit DAC, this is −(2
15
− 1) = −32,767), maximum
value = 2
(bits − 1)
− 1 (for a 16-bit DAC, this is (2
15
− 1) =
32,767), and file length divisible by 256.
2.
Import the file on
DPGDownloader
by clicking
Add Data
File
(below the
File
menu).
3.
Select the text file (see Figure 17).
4.
Select and download this file like any other signal file. An
I/Q file must be generated for any of the complex data
modes.
CLOCK NETORK PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION
The user can measure the
performance directly by
routing the
output to J4 and away from the
CLK± pins, by looping the RFAUX8x output toward J4 as
shown in Figure 1. In this case, the
does not receive a
DAC clock.
Alternatively, the
phase noise can be inferred directly
from the
output, as shown in Figure 16.
The on-board loop filter external to the
is a standard
Type II, third-order low-pass filter. The user can customize and
optimize the filter by using
register settings generated by the
AD9166
STARTUP WIZARD
are typical, optimized for improved phase
noise performance at the output of the
. The user can
use the standalone
tools (found in the zip file available
settings, and enter them into the register map view of the
by selecting
ADF4372
from the
DAC Clock Source
dropdown box (see Figure 4). To simplify configuration and
avoid entering commands manually into the register map one at
a time, an
macro can be used to play a sequence.
macros can play a sequence of SPI commands, inserting delays
to allow the PLL to lock where necessary.
phase frequency detector (PFD) spur level is
related to the PFD frequency. A lower PFD frequency can help
reduce the PFD spur, while it also narrows the loop bandwidth
and affects the PLL output phase noise. A higher PFD frequency
increases the loop bandwidth and may improve the output
phase noise of the PLL. Operating the
PLL in
fractional-N mode necessarily results in fractional spurs and a
noticeably worse phase noise when compared to a similar
frequency that allows operating the PLL in integer mode.
Consult the
data sheet for more details.
The PFD frequency typically used in the
AD9166 STARTUP
WIZARD
is 245.76 MHz, generated from a 122.88 MHz
VCXO, and multiplied 2× internally to the
. The user
can choose the PFD frequency according to the phase noise and
the PFD spur level requirements.
Optimal phase noise performance is achieved with a laboratory
grade, external clock source. A comparison of various clock
sources and the resulting phase noise measured at the
output is shown in Figure 16. Figure 16 compares different
external clock sources with the on-board
. In this case,
the
is clocked at 5898.24 MHz, a rate that is an integer
multiple of 122.88 MHz. The
output is 900 MHz in
NCO only mode.
–180
–160
–140
–120
–100
–80
–60
–40
–20
0
10
100
1k
10k
100k
1M
10M
100M
P
O
W
E
R
(d
Bc/
H
z)
OFFSET FREQUENCY (Hz)
Rohde & Schwarz SMA100B, UNIT 1
KEYSIGHT PSG
Rohde & Schwarz SMA100B, UNIT 2
ON-BOARD ADF4372, REFERENCE = 122.88MHz VCXO
22
32
4
-02
4
Output Phase Noise
22
32
4-
0
16
Figure 17. Choosing to Load an External File