Open RF Prototyping

RF Blocks Hardware Modules

RF Blocks modules provide specific, discrete RF signal processing functions such as gain blocks, frequency synthesizers, mixers, RF switches, attenuators. RF Blocks modules are open hardware and all design files are available under the CERN-OHL-S v2 license.

Frequency Synthesizers

An HMC833 Frequency Synthesizer HMC833 Synthesizer

  • 25 to 6000 MHz with 3 Hz resolution

  • Exact frequency mode

  • Phase noise: -120 dBc @ 10 kHz and 1 GHz carrier

  • Dual outputs to 15 dBm

  • Reference switchable between on-board and external sources
An AD9913 DDS Signal Source AD9913 Synthesizer

  • Agile frequency source to ∼100 Mhz

  • Phase noise ∼130 dBc @ 1 kHz and 10 MHz carrier

  • Low power (∼50 mW)

Mixers

A Quad FET Mixer Using the PE4140B PE4140B Mixer

  • High linearity: nominal IIP3 of 30 dBm

  • Nominal conversion loss of 6.5 dB

  • Nominal 35 dB LO to RF isolation

  • Good wideband performance. 100 to 4000 MHz for both up- and down-conversion.
An LTC5510 Active Mixer LTC5510 Mixer

  • High linearity: nominal IIP3 of 27 dBm

  • Input RF and LO range to 6000 MHz

  • Excellent LO to RF isolation: 65 dB at 1100 MHz

  • Noise figure 11.6 dBm at 1500 MHz

Amplifiers

MMIC Amplifier Block DFN-6 Amp

  • Board design for general MMIC amplifiers

  • SMA or MMCX connectors

  • Customizable input/output networks

  • Allow common MMIC package footprints: SOT-89, DFN-6, SOT-86

  • Optional input filter

  • Characterized example designs
OPA847 High Linearity IF Amplifier OPA846 Amp

  • High linearity and low distortion up to ∼50 MHz: OIP3 > 25 dB and HD3 < -70 dBc at 50 MHz

  • Customizable gain

  • Flat 20 dB gain up to ∼100 MHz, -3 dB at 70 MHz for 27 dB gain.

  • Excellent reverse isolation: < -70 dB up to 100 MHz

Clock Generation

A Variable Rate Clock Generator to 1000 MHz AD9552 clock generator

  • RMS jitter ∼0.5 ps

  • Agile frequency selection up to 1000 MHz

  • Reference switchable between on-board and external sources

  • Up to four clock outputs with CMOS clock signals or two clock outputs with LVPECL or LVDS
Low Phase Noise Reference Clock Low noise reference

  • 100 MHz clock output

  • Very low phase noise: -140 dBc @ 1 KHz offset typical

  • Reference switchable between on-board and external 10 MHz sources

RF Attenuators

A PE43711 Step Attenuator Step Atten

  • Insertion loss: 1.5dB for 9kHz to 1GHz, 2.0dB for 1 to 2GHz, 2.5dB for 2 to 4GHz.

  • Error at 30dB attenuation of ±0.5 dB from 9kHz to 2.5GHz and ±1.0 dB from 9kHz to 4GHz. Usable to 6GHz with increased attenuation error.

  • Input 0.1dB compression: 31 dBm.

  • Input IP3: 56 dBm.

  • Choice of board designs with SMA or MMCX connectors.

RF Switches

SPDT RF Switches PE42420 Switch

  • Broad frequency ranges: 9 kHz to 8 GHz (PE42553) and 0.1 GHz to 6 GHz (PE42420).

  • High isolation: 45 dB at 3 GHz (PE42553) and 62 dB at 3 GHz (PE42420).

  • Good return loss characteristics.

RF Detectors

A 0.1 to 6 GHz LTC5582 Power Detector LTC5582 Detector

  • Broadband performance: ±0.5 dB over the range 0.1 to 4 GHz.

  • Linear dynamic range of 50 dB over the range 0.1 to 4 GHz.

  • Usable to over 6 GHz with reduced dynamic range.

  • On board EEPROM for calibration parameters.

  • Optional access to detector output voltage.
A 5 to 600 MHz LT5537 Power Detector LT5537 Detector

  • Broadband performance: ±0.5 dB over the range 5 to 600 MHz.

  • Linear dynamic range of 55 dB over the range 5 to 600 MHz.

  • Usable to 1 GHz with reduced dynamic range.

  • On board EEPROM for calibration parameters.

  • Optional access to detector output voltage.

Filters

SAW Filter Blocks SAW Filter

  • Passive dual filter configuration with 3 x 3mm case (DCC6C)

  • Filter/amplifier configuration with 3 x 3 mm case (DCC6C)
Connectorized LTCC Filters SAW Filter

  • Designed for use with Minicircuits LFCN/HFCN/BFCN series LTCC filters

  • SMA Connectors

Couplers/Power Dividers

Resistive Bridge Coupler Bridge coupler

  • Wide bandwidth operation.

  • Directivity: >30dB for f < 1 GHz, >20dB for f < 4 GHz.

  • 1.75dB insertion loss.
Resistive Power Divider and Splitter Power divider

  • Wide bandwidth operation

  • SMA and MMCX connectors

Controllers

Raspberry Pi Pico Board USB Controller

  • Serial control via USB from host computer

  • SPI device control, 23 general purpose IO pins

  • High performance with low cost
Atmega USB Controller USB Controller

  • Serial control via USB from host computer

  • SPI device control, 16 general IO lines

  • Light weight design with minimal components