Pentek Introduces High-Speed Synchronization Products

Pentek has just introduced two high-speed system synchronization and distribution products: the Model 7892 PCI Express module and the Model 9192 rack-mount unit. These high speed synchronizers are designed to support multiple Pentek Virtex-6 Cobalt^® and Pentek Virtex-7 Onyx™ modules at sample rates to 3.6 GHz.

Synchronization is important in multichannel applications like phased-array radar, diversity receivers, direction finding, and beamforming systems. These applications abound in military systems, but the same concepts are also used in medical imaging and industrial inspection systems where beamforming improves image resolution.

At these very high sample rates, synchronous sampling, gating and triggering is a real challenge for system integrators. With the CML (Current Mode Logic) signaling over convenient micro HDMI connectors, Pentek can now offer its customers pre-configured and validated FPGA system architectures capable of operating at the highest speeds in the industry.

The Model 7892 board can synchronize up to four Cobalt boards, each receiving a common clock along with timing signals that can be used for synchronizing, triggering and gating functions. Packaged in a 19″ 1U rack-mount unit, the Model 9192 synchronizes up to twelve boards. These models enable synchronous sampling and timing for a wide range of multichannel high-speed data acquisition, DSP, and software radio applications.

Both products are compatible with any combination of Pentek’s Model 78670 Quad 1.25 GHz D/A boards, Model 78630 1 GHz A/D and D/A boards, and Model 78640 1.8/3.6 GHz A/D boards.

All Pentek boards are available in PMC/XMC, 3U OpenVPX, PCI Express, 3U and 6U cPCI. Most of these formats are also available in rugged form factors that support environments ranging from lab to harsh.

The 7892 and 9192 clock and sync generators can accept a user supplied external clock or use the on-board programmable VCXO (Voltage Controlled Crystal Oscillator) as the clock source. The VCXO can operate alone or can be locked to a system reference clock signal.

These products allow programming of operation parameters including, VCXO frequency, clock dividers and delays that allow the user to make timing adjustments on the gate and sync signals before they are sent to buffers for output through the uSync connectors.

Pentek’s ReadyFlow^® board support packages include functions for initialization and control of sample and reference clocks and clock routing, as well as example code for multiboard synchronization.