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PLL/VCO Solution Serves Next-Gen RF and Microwave Needs

Analog Devices has announced a synthesizer consisting of a phase-locked loop (PLL) with fully integrated voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) as well as integrated low dropout regulators (LDOs) and integrated tracking filter technology. The new ADF4371 supports RF/microwave system designs that must meet the most exacting next-generation requirements across multiple markets, including aerospace and defense, test/measurement, communications infrastructure, as well as high-speed converter clocking.

According to ADI, the ADF4371 is the highest frequency synthesizer on the market today and offers the widest continuous RF output range of 62 MHz to 32 GHz. Together with ultra-low PLL FOM (-234 dBc/Hz), ultra-low spurious (-100 dBc typ.), low VCO phase noise (-134 dBc/Hz at1 MHz offset at 8GHz), and with built-in tracking filter technology, this device leads the way for performance and adaptability. Its feature-rich, highly configurable architecture means that designers can now choose a single, ultra-compact, synthesizer solution to cover almost any LO/clock requirement within these frequency ranges, thereby reducing development costs, risk and time to market.

The ADF4371 facilitates implementation of high resolution (39-bit) fractional-N or integer-N PLL frequency synthesizers when used with an external loop filter and an external reference source. The wideband microwave VCO design allows frequencies from 62.5 MHz to 32 GHz to be generated. The device features the industry’s lowest jitter (36 fs at 10 GHz) and reference spurious (-100 dBc typ.), together with operation to 105°C without loss of lock.

For applications requiring very small compact footprints, the ADF4371 supports integrated power supply decoupling, integrated LDOs and integrated harmonic tracking filters. The tracking filter technology facilitates at least 30dB harmonic and sub-harmonic rejection across the entire VCO range. This hugely reduces the total solution footprint, particularly in the case where fixed range filters are required to meet these rejections across octave bandwidths. For applications that do not require the full frequency range capability of the ADF4371 (up to 32 GHz), ADI also offers the ADF4372 with operation up to 16 GHz.

The ADF4371 and ADF4372 are supported within ADI’s popular ADIsimPLL™ circuit design and evaluation tool that assists users in evaluating, designing and troubleshooting RF and microwave systems.

Analog Devices | www.analog.com

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PLL/VCO Solution Serves Next-Gen RF and Microwave Needs

by Circuit Cellar Staff time to read: 1 min