EVALUATING THE AD9154 DIGITAL-TO-ANALOG CONVERTER
Preface
This user guide describes both the hardware and software setup needed to acquire data capture from AD9154-FMC-EBZ evaluation board to characterize AD9154 16-bit 2.4Gsps quad JESD204B signal processing RF Digital to Analog Converter.
The AD9154-FMC-EBZ is an FMC mezzanine card and connects to an ADS7-V2 data pattern generator system. The ADS7-V2 automatically formats the data and sends it to the AD9154-FMC-EBZ via its JESD204B lanes. +12V, +3.3V, and VADJ power supply rails are provided by the ADS7-V2 system via the FMC connector P1. A clock distribution chip AD9516 is included on this EVB as a clock fan-out and frequency divider for the DACCLK, JESD204B SYSREF signals, and a GBTCLK clock used by the ADS7-V2. There is also an FMC standard I2C bus that is used by the ADS7-V2 to identify the AD9154-FMC-EBZ. This I2C interface is implemented in software in the AD9154-FMC-EBZ PIC processor (XU1). All ADS7-V2 to/from AD9154-FMC-EBZ interface signals are connected via the FMC connector P1.
Typical Setup
Figure 1. AD9154-FMC-EBZ Setup with ADS7-V2EBZ
Tip: Click on any picture in this guide to open an enlarged version.
Helpful Files/Links
Software Needed
Hardware Needed
-
-
PC with ACE and DPG Lite Software Applications
Low Phase Noise High-Frequency Continuous Wave Generator
Signal/Spectrum Analyzer and/or Wide Bandwidth Oscilloscope
2 to 5 SMA Cables
Quick Start Guide
Attach AD9154-FMC-EBZ onto the FMC connector of ADS7-V2 controller board. Connect the evaluation board to PC via
USB, the continuous waveform generator output to J1, one of the DAC outputs to a spectrum/signal analyzer and the rest to an oscilloscope. Connect ADS7-V2 to PC via
USB and to a 12V 60W AC/DC power supply, then switch the board ON using S1 beside the connector for 12V supply. Refer to Typical Setup section for pictures of actual evaluation setup.
Set the frequency of the continuous waveform generator output to
1.5 GHz and the output level to
+3 dBm. Enable the output.
Figure 2. ADS7-V2 and AD9154 detected in DPG Software
Start DPG Lite or DPG Downloader. A panel named after the detected controller board should appear at the bottom of the DPG window. The device on the evaluation board and the data interface should also be automatically detected by the software and shown at
Evaluation Board and
Port Configuration, respectively. See Figure 2.
Figure 3. AD9154-FMC-EBZ detected in ACE
Open ACE. The board will automatically be recognized by the software as shown in Figure 3. Otherwise, install the plugin for AD9154 evaluation board by following the steps in this page:
Quickstart - ACE Quickstart and Plug-in Installation.
Figure 4. ACE Initial Configuration Wizard
Figure 5. ACE AD9154 Chipview Tab
In ACE, apply the configuration wizard settings enumerated below and shown in Figure 4. JESD204B
PLL should lock and the indicator should turn green.
Links: Single Link
JESD Mode: 0
Subclass1: False
Interpolation: 2
-
FDAC: 1.5
GHz
Figure 6. Single Tone and ADS7-V2 Configuration Panels in DPG
In DPG Lite or DPG Downloader, configure single tone waveform generation. From the Add Generator Waveforms pulldown menu, select Single Tone. Apply the following settings:
In the ADS7-V2 panel in the DPG window, configure
Data Playback by selecting tones for the DAC outputs from each dropdown menu. Set
JESD Mode to Mode 0,
Links to Single, and
Subclass to 0.
Figure 7. AD9154 DAC Output FFT for Data Rate = 750 MHz, FOUT = 180 MHz
Figure 8. Oscilloscope Capture of Other DAC Outputs
Press the download arrow (

) then the play button (

). As in Figure 6,
Serial Line Rate should appear as 7.5
Gbps and
Sync Status should have a check mark. FFT plot of one of the DAC outputs is shown in Figure 7 while the oscilloscope capture of the other outputs is Figure 8.