Digital Synthesizers House 14-b DACs

Jan. 16, 2007

A line of direct-digital-synthesizer (DDS) integrated circuits (ICs) uses digital technology to synthesize waveforms in frequency-agile applications. These ICs flaunt on-chip, 14-b digital-to-analog converters (DACs). Impressively, the AD9910 and AD9957 achieve speeds of 1 GSample/s. With that operating speed and 14-b DAC resolution, the AD9910 DDS allows communications, defense, and instrumentation system engineers to improve dynamic performance for output frequencies to 400 MHz. For wireless and wired systems, the AD9957 DDS modulator or quadrature digital upconverter (QDUC) simplifies data transmission by offering real outputs up to intermediate frequencies of 400 MHz. In addition, the AD9910 features a 16b parallel port with update rates to 250 MHz. It allows designers to update a 32-b frequency tuning word every 8 ns. This fast programming capability benefits applications requiring extremely fast changes in frequency or phase. The AD9910 DDS and AD9957 QDUC are sampling now with full-production quantities available in February.

Analog Devices, Inc., 804 Woburn St., Wilmington, MA 01887; (800) 262-5643, FAX: (781) 937-1021, Internet: www.analog.com

See Associated Figure

About the Author

Nancy Friedrich

RF Product Marketing Manager for Aerospace Defense, Keysight Technologies

Nancy Friedrich is RF Product Marketing Manager for Aerospace Defense at Keysight Technologies. Nancy Friedrich started a career in engineering media about two decades ago with a stint editing copy and writing news for Electronic Design. A few years later, she began writing full time as technology editor at Wireless Systems Design. In 2005, Nancy was named editor-in-chief of Microwaves & RF, a position she held (along with other positions as group content head) until 2018. Nancy then moved to a position at UBM, where she was editor-in-chief of Design News and content director for tradeshows including DesignCon, ESC, and the Smart Manufacturing shows.