Analog to digital … Part II

Analog signals can never be digitized too fast, it seems, based on the wave of A/D modules hitting the market these days. Accordingly, Pentek announced its fastest-ever data acquisition module for the popular Cobalt family. The Model 71640, in FMC form factor, provides a substantial jump in speed over existing 1 GHz A/D modules and will take customers into new wideband radar and communication applications where 1,500 MHz bandwidth signals can now be digitized by a single A/D. This makes the 71640 ideal for UAV applications where weight and space are tightly constrained. Leveraging the National Semiconductor ADC12D1800 12-bit A/D converter, the 71640 provides two transformer-coupled RF input ports that can operate in single- or dual-channel mode. For even wider bandwidths or for multichannel systems, the 71640 offers a unique synchronization bus that works with a companion timing module for sample-accurate synchronization of multiple Cobalt modules.