Wideband synthesizer generates 800MHz to 12.8GHz

The ADF4368 is a high-performance, ultra-low jitter, integer-N and fractional-N phase-locked loop with integrated VCO.

It is ideally suited for frequency conversion applications.

The high performance PLL has a figure of merit of −239 dBc/Hz, very low 1/f noise of normalized −287 dBc/Hz and high PFD frequency that can achieve ultra-low in-band noise and integrated jitter.

It can generate any frequency from 800 MHz to 12.8 GHz without an internal doubler, eliminating the need for sub-harmonic filters.

The Σ-Δ modulator includes a 25-bit fixed modulus that allows hertz frequency resolution and an additional 17-bit variable modulus, which allows even finer resolution and flexibility for frequency planning.

It requires DC supplies of 3.3 V and 5 V. 

The ADF4368 eases development time with a simplified serial-peripheral interface register map, external SYNC input, and repeatable multichip phase alignment in integer mode and fractional mode.

It has a jitter of less than 30 fs and a noise floor of -160 dBc/Hz (at 12.8 GHz).

The synthesizer uses the SYNC input or EZSync software programming to support multiple frequency conversions systems, such as MIMO or phased array applications.