2-24 GHz RF Rx & Tx front end for MxFE

The 2-24GHz RF Front End is a complete RF receiver and transmitter front end designed to meet the specifications of typical wideband instrumentation and electronic warfare (EW) systems. The latest generation of high performance RF/microwave and mixed signal components available from ADI are used to reduce system SWaP (size, weight, and power) and architectural complexity.

The full system block diagram is shown below, consisting of four functional blocks- the receiver front end, transmitter front end, digitizer, and LO generation.

Figure 1 2-24GHz RF front end system block diagram

Specifications

The receiver and transmitter specifications, shown in the table below, are fairly typical of many wideband instrumentation and EW systems in operation today. The signal chain is capable of 1GHz instantaneous bandwidth (IBW) in both receive and transmit modes across the full 2-24GHz operating range.

These specs may not be “one-size-fits-all” for every potential use case, but the signal chain architecture and component selection is extremely flexible, allowing for modifications of the individual pieces to meet specific performance or functionality targets. Everything from the digitizer sample rates to the individual RF components and signal chain filtering can be adjusted to facilitate changes in frequency planning or system-level functionality.

Figure 2 Receiver and transmitter specifications

Support

For support on this reference design, please contact us through our technical support portal.

Resources

• 2 to 24GHz Wideband Transceiver Reference Design Webinar

• Digitizer overview
• Receiver front end overview & theory of operation
  • Rx input stage & modes of operation
  • Downconversion stage & frequency plan
  • Spurious analysis
  • IF section
  • Timing & control
  • Receiver performance simulations
• Transmitter front end overview & theory of operation
  • IF input stage
  • Frequency conversion stage & frequency plan
  • RF output stage
  • Timing & control
  • Transmitter performance simulations
• LO generation options
  • Fixed LO source
  • Tunable LO source
• Size estimate
• Power architecture overview
• 2-24 GHz reference design hardware prototyping
• 2-24 GHz reference design software resources
  • SD card setup
  • ZCU102 configuration
  • User interfaces

Bill of materials

The full Bill of Materials (BOM) is provided for planning purposes. The list below does not include passive devices typically used for filtering power supplies, control lines, loop filters, etc… This is provided for planning purposes only.

Circuit	Part Number	QTY	Manufacturer	Notes
Rx	ADRF5020	4	Analog Devices Inc.	Path Selection
	ADL9005	3	Analog Devices Inc.	LNA, RF Amps
	ADMV8818	2	Analog Devices Inc.	Tunable Filtering
	ADRF5740	1	Analog Devices Inc.	RF DSA
	HMC8412	2	Analog Devices Inc.	LF/IF Amp
	HMC773a	1	Analog Devices Inc.	LB mix
	L254XF3S	1	Knowles	HB Image Filter
	HFCN-9700+	1	Mini-Circuits	LB IF Filter
	HMC8191LC4	1	Analog Devices Inc.	Primary Mix
	QCS-592+	1	Mini-Circuits	90 Degree Hybrid
	ADRF5730	1	Analog Devices Inc.	IF DSA
	HMC8413	1	Analog Devices Inc.	IF Amp
	HFCN-3100+	1	Mini-Circuits	Anti-Aliasing Filter
	LFCW-5000+	1	Mini-Circuits	Anti-Aliasing Filter
Rx Power Supply	maxm17632	1	Analog Devices Inc.	12v -> 5.5v Regulator
	ADP150-3.3	1	Analog Devices Inc.	3.3v LDO
	ADP5600	1	Analog Devices Inc.	-2.5v CP/LDO
	ADP7183-3.3	1	Analog Devices Inc.	-3.3v CP/LDO
	ADM7171	1	Analog Devices Inc.	5v LDO
	ADP150-2.5	1	Analog Devices Inc.	2.5v LDO
Tx	HMC994APM5E	1	Analog Devices Inc.	0.5W Wideband PA
	ADMV8818	1	Analog Devices Inc.	Tunable Filtering
	ADL9006	2	Analog Devices Inc.	RF Amps
	ADRF5020	2	Analog Devices Inc.	Path Selection
	HMC882A	1	Analog Devices Inc.	LB Tunable LPF
	HMC8412	2	Analog Devices Inc.	LB and IF Amps
	HMC652	2	Analog Devices Inc.	Fixed Attenuators
	HMC773A	1	Analog Devices Inc.	LB Mix
	HFCN-9700+	1	Mini-Circuits	LB IF Filter
	LFCV-1452+	1	Mini-Circuits	LB IF Filter
	L254XF3S	1	Knowles	HB Image Filter
	HMC8191LC4	1	Analog Devices Inc.	Primary Mix
	QCS-592+	1	Mini-Circuits	90 Degree Hybrid
	LFCG-4800+	2	Mini-Circuits	DAC Image Filter
	ADRF5730	1	Analog Devices Inc.	IF DSA
Tx Power Supply	MAXM17632	1	Analog Devices Inc.	12v -> 5.5v Regulator
	ADP150-3.3	1	Analog Devices Inc.	3.3v LDO
	ADP7183-3.3	1	Analog Devices Inc.	-3.3v CP/LDO
	ADM7171	1	Analog Devices Inc.	5v LDO
	ADP5600	1	Analog Devices Inc.	-2.5v CP/LDO
	ADP150-2.5	1	Analog Devices Inc.	2.5v LDO
	LT3081	1	Analog Devices Inc.	10v LDO
Fixed LO	ADF41513	1	Analog Devices Inc.	PLL Chip
	ADA4625	1	Analog Devices Inc.	OP-AMP
	HMC8362	1	Analog Devices Inc.	VCO
	BFCQ-1892+	1	Mini-Circuits	Harmonic Filter
	HMC654LP2E	1	Analog Devices Inc.	Attenuator
	ADL8105	1	Analog Devices Inc.	Mixer Driver Amp
Tunable LO	ADF4371	1	Analog Devices Inc.	PLL/VCO
	ADMV8416	1	Analog Devices Inc.	Tunable Filter
	ADMV8432	1	Analog Devices Inc.	Tunable Filter
	HMC656LP2E	1	Analog Devices Inc.	Attenuator
	HMC652LP2E	2	Analog Devices Inc.	Attenuator
	ADRF5024	1	Analog Devices Inc.	Path Selection
	HMC7950	2	Analog Devices Inc.	Driver Amp
	HMC654LP2E	1	Analog Devices Inc.	Attenuator
	HMC383	1	Analog Devices Inc.	Mixer LO Driver Amp
Digitizer	AD9082	1	Analog Devices Inc.	ADCs/DACs
	BALH-0009SMG	4	Marki Microwave	Baluns - assuming 2 ADCs/ 2 DACs used
	ADF4377	1	Analog Devices Inc.	Clock for AD9082
Digitizer Power Supply	LTM8051	1	Analog Devices Inc.	Multi-ch Regulator
	LT3045	3	Analog Devices Inc.	3.3v/5v LDO
	ADP7158-2	2	Analog Devices Inc.	2v LDO
	LT8625S	1	Analog Devices Inc.	1v Regulator
	LT8627S	1	Analog Devices Inc.	1.3v Regulator
	ADP1765-1	2	Analog Devices Inc.	1v LDO

To request the full BOM, see Requesting design files.

Requesting design files

The following design files are available on request:

Design files	Described in
Full Bill of Materials (BOM)	Bill of materials
Keysight Genesys/SystemVue simulation workspaces for the Rx and Tx signal chains	Receiver performance simulations, Transmitter performance simulations
ADI SimPLL simulation files for the fixed and tunable LO circuits	LO generation options
LTpowerPlanner design files	Power architecture overview
TX and RX platform configuration files (BOOT.BIN and device tree)	2-24 GHz reference design software resources

Download

To request any of these files, please send a request through the technical support case form and include the following info:

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• Job Title

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• Application/Use Case

• Which design files you are requesting