3 Description

The AFE8000 is a high performance, wide bandwidth multi-channel transceiver, integrating eight RF sampling DACs and 10 RF sampling ADCs. Pin and programming compatible lower channel count versions (AFE8004 with 4TX and 4RX channels, AFE8010 with 10RX channels) are available to allow scalable system designs.

Each receiver (RX) chain includes a 25 dB range DSA (Digital Step Attenuator) followed by a 4 GSPS ADC (analog-to-digital converter). The 10 ADCs are connected to 8 receiver paths (1RX though 8RX) and 2 feedback paths (1FB and 2FB). The ADCs are identical between RX and FB but the digital down converter paths are different (the FB paths are capable of wider bandwidth and can be used as receivers). Each receiver channel has analog peak power detectors and digital peak and power detectors to assist an external or internal autonomous automatic gain controller, and RF overload detectors for device reliability protection. The single or dual digital down converters (DDC) provide up to 800 MHz of signal BW for 8 channels or 400 MHz for 8 channels in addition to 800 MHz for 2 channels.

Each transmitter (TX) chain includes a single or dual digital up converter (DUC). Supporting up to 800 MHz signal bandwidth for eight channels or 1200 MHz for 4 channels. The output of the DUCs drives a 12-GSPS DAC (digital-to-analog converter) with a mixed mode output option to enhance 2nd Nyquist operation. The DAC output includes a variable gain amplifier (TX DSA) with 40 dB range and 1 dB analog and 0.125 dB digital steps.