Texas Instruments ADC1 D (RF )RB Series, ADC12D800RF, ADC12D1600RF, ADC12D1800RF, ADC12D1600, ADC10D1500, ADC12D1800 User Manual
Specifications and Main Features
Frequently Asked Questions
User Manual
ADC1xDxxxx(RF)RB Reference Board
User's Guide
Literature Number: SNAU146
September 2013
ADC1xDxxxx(RF)RB Reference Board
1Overview
The ADC1xDxxxx(RF)RB demonstrates a high-performance signal acquisition sub-system that achieves
10/12-bit resolution and corresponding SNR and dynamic range on two channels at signal frequencies in
excess of 1.0 GHz and sampling rates of up to 1.8 GS/s on two channels or one channel at a sampling
rate of up to 3.6 GHz.
Since the 10- and 12-bit GSPS ADC family is pin-compatible, the same PCB is able to support the
following devices:
•ADC12D1800RF, ADC12D1600RF, ADC12D800RF
•ADC12D1800, ADC12D1600
•ADC10D1500
In some cases, the same board may be used to evaluate two different products, with the addition of an
external signal generator. For example, to evaluate the ADC10D1000, use the ADC10D1500RB with an
external clock signal generator running at 1GHz. The table below shows which Reference Board (RB) to
use to evaluate which product.
❏ Demonstrates the ADC1xDxxxx(RF)'s typical dynamic performance – see the datasheet for full details.
❏ Dual channel sample rates of up to 1.8 GS/s (limited by the ADC specifications and the FPGA capture
limitations)
❏ Single channel (Interleaved) sample rates of up to 3.6 GS/s (limited by the ADC specifications and the
FPGA capture limitations)
❏ FMC Expansion Header for streaming data capture
❏ SMA I/O for easy AutoSync feature evaluation
❏ External Hardware Trigger
❏ Status LEDs
❏ On-board LMX2541 based clock circuit with option for a selectable external clock
❏ A complete high-performance low-noise power management section for the ADC, clock circuit, FPGA
and USB controller
❏ Single +12V power adapter input
❏ Simplicity and performance of USB 2.0 connection to the PC
❏ Functions with Texas Instruments' latest WaveVision 5 signal-path control and analysis software
The ADC1xDxxxx(RF)RB kit consists of the following components:
•ADC1xDxxxx(RF)RB Reference Board
•Hardware Kit Including
– 110V-240V AC to +12V DC Power Adapter
– USB cable
– 4 – DC blocks
– 2 – 50Ω terminators
– 1 – ADC-LD-BB low distortion balun board useful bandwidth of 400 MHz to 3 GHz)
– 1 – ADC-WB-BB wide band balun board (useful bandwidth of 4.5 MHz to 3 GHz)
– 4 – 6” SMA cables
The most up-to-date documentation can be found on the product web folder; the Design Package contains
FPGA source code, schematic, layout, and BOM source files. The WaveVision5 software may be
downloaded for free from Texas Instruments web site: http://www.ti.com/tool/wavevision5.
1.3References
•*ADC1xDxxxx(RF) data sheet
•*LMX2541 data sheet (SNOSB31)
•*Application Note 2132: Synchronizing Multiple GSPS ADCs in a System: The AutoSync Feature
(SNAA073)
*Note: See www.TI.com for the latest edition of all data sheets and application notes.
This section will aid in bringing up the board for the first time as well as a brief tutorial on the WaveVision
5 (WV5) software. Further description of the Reference Board is in subsequent sections of this document.
The software is further described in the WaveVision 5 Users' Guide or the HELP function within the
software. The ADC1xDxxxx(RF) and LMX2541 data sheets should be consulted for detailed
understanding of device functionality.
The user is advised to construct a lab setup as close to the one shown in Figure 3 as possible. This setup,
along with the board and software configuration described below, is what was used to test the reference
board at Texas Instruments lab. This set of conditions produces the stated reference performance – which
is normally included with each board shipped to customers. The objective is to assure that the user can
achieve the same performance as that recorded at Texas Instruments lab prior to board shipment.
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Figure 3. Recommended Lab Setup. A filter may not be necessary on the clock if the generator is very
Note: The WaveVision 5 software will function on Windows 7 and Windows XP 32-bit operating systems.
1. Navigate to the web page:
2. Download the WaveVision5 software to PC or laptop and unzip the file.
3. Run the WV5.exe file.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
2.2Installing the ADC1xDxxxx(RF)RB Hardware
1. Place the ADC1xDxxxx(RF)RB Reference Board on a clean, static-free surface.
2. Connect the enclosed +12V DC power adapter to the power jack. Connect the other side of the power
supply to an AC outlet (100-240 VAC, 50-60 Hz).
3. Connect (but do not yet turn on) the input signal generator, the band-pass filter, the balun and the DC
blocks to the ADC1xDxxxx(RF)RB Reference Board's I-channel input connectors. Set the signal
generator at one of the frequencies and signal levels stated in the reference performance report.
Always use high-quality RF SMA cables for optimum performance.
NOTE: Do not overdrive the signal and clock inputs as the ADC may be damaged. Refer to the
Electrical Specification section of the datasheet for the voltage tolerance of these inputs.
Including insertion loss from filters, baluns, cables, DC blocks, etc. input power should not
exceed operating limits as found in the datasheet.
Quick Start
4. In the Texas Instruments lab, the following (or equivalent performance) equipment are used to test the
board. It is essential that the customer use signal generators, filters, DC blocks and a balun of
equivalent or better performance.
•Rohde & Schwarz SME-03 or SMA-100 signal generator
•Filters - Trilithic 5VF 5% tunable bandpass filter or other fixed frequency bandpass filter of
equivalent performance
•Balun – ADC-LD-BB
•DC blocks – Mini Circuits BLK-89 S+
•50Ω terminators – Mini Circuits ANNE 50+
Note: The board comes equipped with DC-blocks applied to the I-channel signal input connectors and
DC blocks and terminators applied to the unused Q-channel input connectors. These must be used at
all times - that is, the channel being used must be connected through dc-blocks if the ADC is
configured for ac-coupled operation (as shipped). The unused channel must also be DC blocked then
terminated to ac ground. This is graphically illustrated in Figure 3.
5. Turn on the SW2 rocker power switch. Verify that the red LED (labeled LD10, near the J12 power jack)
is lit.
6. Connect the supplied USB 2.0 cable from the PC USB port to the ADC1xDxxxx(RF)RB USB jack. Note
that the power should be turned on before the USB cable is plugged in.
2.3Launch the WaveVision 5 Software
Start the WaveVision 5 software on your computer by selecting the desktop icon “WaveVision 5” or by
clicking on the Start button, and selecting
Programs -> WaveVision 5 -> WaveVision 5
The software will automatically detect the board and load the appropriate software profile and will proceed
to download the controller firmware and FPGA code onto the reference board. As an alternative, the icon
on the desktop can be used to launch WaveVision 5. The WaveVision 5 user interface will appear on the
computer screen.
The status LED’s should take on the following states when the system is initially powered up, Wavevision
5 has loaded the FPGA image and the system is ready for an acquisition (where green is on, black is off):
Figure 5 above shows the WV5 user interface panel (GUI). This is the top level interface panel. It is
arranged in such a way that the plot is always in the middle. There are tabs arranged on each side of the
window to give the user additional information or control of features.
The tabs available on the left side access panels that are pertinent to the current plot window - such as
channel selection, grid selection, FFT Readouts, and FFT controls.
The right side panels allow the user to take control of the hardware. These include the Signal Source,
Signal Control and Registers panels (the most relevant for this board).
In addition, a small FFT parameter summary box can be displayed by pressing CTL-R.
For more details on the general operation and use of WaveVision 5, see the WaveVision 5 Users Guide.
Prior to capturing data, confirm that the board is in the "ECE (Extended Control Enable)" mode, The ECE
jumper is located in the ADC pin control jumper area as shown in Figure 6. The board should be sent with
this jumper in place. This means that the ADC will be controlled through the SPI interface and not with
jumpers driving the control pins. This allows the user to control the ADC's behavior through the
WaveVision 5 Registers panel.
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Figure 6. WaveVision 5 overview of control buttons
Figure 7. WaveVision 5 main window command buttons
The main menu bar of the WaveVision 5 software has several control buttons as shown in Figure 6 and
Figure 7, which may be used to perform most tasks with a button click.
1 - Load Plot
A new plot window is created and the Plot Load dialog is displayed. The selected plot file is loaded into
the new window.
2 - Import Data
Clicking this button creates a new time-domain plot and opens the Import Data dialog. Data may be
imported from WaveVision 4 data files as well as from ASCII data files created by other programs.
3 - Create a New Time Domain Plot
Clicking this button creates a new time-domain plot. The plot will contain no data, but is available as a
data destination.
4 - Create a New Hardware Histogram Plot
Clicking this button creates a new hardware histogram plot. Hardware histograms are available only in
conjunction with evaluation boards which can gather histogram data internally. This button is enabled
only when an evaluation board which supports hardware histograms is attached.
5 - Acquire Data
Click this button to acquire data to the active plot. If you have created more than one plot, the Active
plot has a highlighted title bar.
6 - Continuous Acquisition
This button is a toggle - when it is pressed, data is acquired continuously, one buffer after another as
fast as the hardware can go; when pressed again data acquisition stops. When in continuous
acquisition mode, acquisition may be started and stopped using the Acquire button without leaving the
continuous acquisition mode.
7 - FFT Averaging
This button is also a toggle - when it is pressed, FFT's are averaged. The number of buffers to be
averaged is specified in the hardware section of the Signal Sources tab.
Please refer to the WaveVision 5 Users Guide for more information.
Quick Start
2.5.2Plot Window Controls
1 - Load Plot
The Plot Load dialog is displayed, and the selected plot file is loaded into the new window.