AD9737A/AD9739A
Data Sheet
Rev. | Page 48 of 64
THEORY OF OPERATION
A high performance TxDAC core delivers a signal dependent,
differential current (nominal ±10 mA) to a balanced load
referenced to ground. The frequency of the clock signal appearing
sets the TxDAC’s update rate. This clock signal, which serves as
the master clock, is routed directly to the TxDAC as well as to a
clock distribution block that generates all critical internal and
external clocks.
and DB1) to reduce the data interface rate to the TxDAC
update rate. The host processor drives deinterleaved data with
offset binary format onto the DB0 and DB1 ports, along with
an embedded DCI clock that is synchronous with the data.
Because the interface is double data rate (DDR), the DCI clock
is essentially an alternating 0-1 bit pattern with a frequency that
is equal to the TxDAC update rate (fDAC). To simplify synch-
passes an LVDS clock output (DCO) that is also equal to the
DCI frequency.
internal sampling clock for the DDR receiver such that the data
instance sampling is optimized. When enabled and configured
properly for track mode, it ensures proper data recovery between
receiver controller has the ability to track several hundreds of
picoseconds of drift between these clock domains, typically caused
by supply and temperature variation.
As mentioned, the host processor provides the
AD9737A/AD9739A with a deinterleaved data stream such that the DB0
and DB1 data ports receive alternating samples (that is, odd/even
to reassemble (that is, multiplex) the odd/even data streams
into their original order before delivery into the TxDAC for
signal reconstruction. The pipeline delay from a sample being
latched into the data port to when it appears at the DAC output
is on the order of 78 (±) DACCLK cycles.
circuit controlled via a Mu controller to optimize the timing
and TxDAC core. Besides ensuring proper data reconstruction,
the TxDAC’s ac performance is also dependent on this critical
hand-off between these clock domains with speeds of up to
2.5 GSPS. Once properly initialized and configured for track
mode, the DLL maintains optimum timing alignment over
temperature, time, and power supply variation.
A SPI interface is used to configure the various functional blocks
as well as monitor their status for debug purposes. Proper
blocks be initialized upon power-up. A simple SPI initialization
routine is used to configure the controller blocks (se
e Table 28).An IRQ output signal is available to alert the host should any of
the controllers fall out of lock during normal operation.
The following sections discuss the various functional blocks
in more detail as well as their implications when interfacing
to external ICs and circuitry. Although a detailed description of
the various controllers (and associated SPI registers used to
configure and monitor) is also included for completeness, the
recommended SPI boot procedure can be used to ensure
reliable operation.
L
V
DS
DDR
R
EC
EI
VER
DCI
SDO
SDIO
SCLK
CS
DACCLK
DCO
DB0[
13:
0]
DB1[
13:
0]
CLK DISTRIBUTION
(DIV-BY-4)
DAT
A
C
ON
TR
OLLE
R
4
-T
O
-1
DAT
A
AS
S
E
M
BL
E
R
SPI
RESET
DLL
(MU CONTROLLER)
L
V
DS
DDR
R
EC
EI
VER
DAT
A
L
AT
CH
IOUTN
IOUTP
VREF
I120
IRQ
1.2V
DAC BIAS
AD9737A/AD9739A
TxDAC
CORE
09616-
077
C