Microwave synthesiser delivers operation from 55MHz to 15GHz

ADI’s ADF5610 wideband fractional-N synthesiser generates RF outputs from 55MHz to 15GHz and provides the industry’s lowest phase noise performance on a single chip.

When compared to alternative solutions that require multiple narrowband GaAs voltage controlled oscillators and phase-locked loops (PLLs), the ADF5610 offers 50% less power dissipation, smaller footprint and simpler architecture which translates into bill of materials cost savings and reduced time to market.

Developed on ADI's proprietary advanced SiGe BiCMOS process, the ADF5610 enables high modulation bandwidths and low BIT error rates. It features industry leading VCO phase noise (-114dBc/Hz @ 100kHz offset and -165dBc/Hz @ 100MHz offset both at 10GHz) and low normalised phase noise floor (FOM) of -229dBc/Hz.

The integrated PLL function provides fast frequency hopping and lock times (<50μs with appropriate loop filter). The phase detector spurious levels are below -45dBc typical, and the RF output power level is 6dBm.

The ADF5610 wideband fractional-N synthesiser is easy to design-in, and fully supported by the ADIsimPLL, Analog Devices' comprehensive and easy-to-use PLL synthesiser design and simulation tool for assessing phase noise, lock time, jitter and other design considerations. The device is also customer programmable through the use of integrated SPI interface and control software.

The ADF5610 is specified over the -40°C to +85°C range. It operates from nominal 3.3V analog and digital power supplies as well as 5V charge-pump and VCO supplies, and feature 1.8V logic-level compatibility. The synthesiser also contains hardware and software power down modes.