4-transmit, 6-receive, Ku-band RF-sampling transceiver, max 1200-MHz IBW

The AFE7960 is a high performance,

wide bandwidth multi-channel transceiver, integrating four (4T) RF sampling

transmitter (TX) chains and a total of six (6R) RF sampling receivers. Out of the

six receivers, four have full functionality and can be used as receive (RX) signal

chains in a radio application. The other two receivers can optionally be configured

as feedback (FB) receivers in a Digital pre-distortion (DPD) signal chain.

Alternatively, all six can be used as receive signal chains. With operation up to 18

GHz, the AFE enables direct RF sampling in the Ku band without the need for

additional frequency conversions stages. This high density and configurability

enables high-channel-count, multi-mission systems.

The TX and RX interface data rates can

be chosen based on signal bandwidths, and is limited by the JESD204B/C interface

speed. The data streams are matched to the DAC update rate or to the ADC conversion

rate using interpolation in the DUC or decimation in the DDC.

The DAC runs at a maximum rate of

12GSPS and operates in the 2nd and 3rd Nyquist, enabling the generation of RF

signals up to 18GHz.

Each receive chain has a 3GSPS ADC

which can convert higher Nyquist zones to digitize RF signals up to a maximum of

18GHz. Digital power detectors at the ADC output can be configured to assist an

external Automatic Gain control (AGC) loop to control the RF front-end gain.

The AFE7960 can be programmed using

the SPI interface. The device has programmable GPIOs that can be configured to

various functions like interrupt generation, fast frequency hopping, and so

forth.