Pentek, Inc., introduced two high-speed system synchronization and distribution products: the Model 7192 PMC/XMC 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 clock rates up to 1.8 GHz and sample rates to 3.6 GHz.

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

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

The Model 7192 is a PMC/XMC board that can synchronize up to four Cobalt modules, each receiving a common clock along with timing signals that can be used for synchronizing, triggering and gating functions. The Model 9192 is packaged in a 19" 1U rack-mount unit supporting up to twelve modules. The Model 7192 and 9192 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 71670 Quad 1.25 GHz D/A boards, Model 71630 1 GHz A/D and D/A boards, and Model 71640 3.6 GHz A/D boards. The modules are available in PMC/XMC, PCI, VPX, cPCI and rugged form factors supporting a range of environments from the lab to deployment.

Supporting Features and Products

The 7192 and 9192 clock and sync generators can accept a user supplied external clock or use the on-board programmable voltage controlled crystal oscillator (VCXO) 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. ReadyFlow board support packages are available for Windows®, Linux® and VxWorks® operating systems. Support for the Models 7192 and 9192 is included in the 71630, 71640 and 71670 ReadyFlow board support packages.