Initial configuration for ADL5240 Evaluation kit

HI,

For the initial configuration or steps need to be followed to verify variation in signal power as we vary attenuation  through GUI application

Equipment required :

• Voltage supply/supplies capable of delivering:
  • +5 V 1 A

• One RF signal generator capable of generating up to  4000 MHz @ 0 dBm.
• One RF signal analyzer capable of analyzing up to 4000MHz

Calibration

1. Set the RF Source to 2140MHz and the output power to 0dBm.
   1. Connect the signal generator and the spectrum analyzer as shown in Figure 2 but replace DUT with a “thru”. (Center 2140MHz, Span 1MHz, Attenuation Auto, Ref Level +30dBm, Resolution Bandwidth Auto, Marker at 2140MHz)
   2. Turn the signal generator output on
   3. Place a spectrum analyzer marker on 2140MHz and measure the power. It would be best to hit the spectrum analyzer peak search button due to slight frequency offsets between the signal generator and spectrum analyzer
   4. Record this value, this is the correction factor for cable loss
   5. Turn off the generator

Test Setup 1: AMP

2. Connect a +5V DC supply between VCC and GND3 test loops
   1. Set Voltage limit to 5V and Current limit to 1A
   2. Turn on DC supply, the device should draw 89 ± 8mA
3. On the RF source set the power to -20dBm, the frequency should be 2140MHz, and turn it on
4. The spectrum analyzer should already be on (Ref Level +30dBm). On the spectrum analyzer, place a marker on the signal at 2140MHz.  It would be best to hit the spectrum analyzer peak search button due to slight frequency offsets between the signal generator and spectrum analyzer.
5. Measure the output power on the marker.
6. Subtract the correction factor obtained from step 1d from the measured output power. (For example: if Pout is 10dBm and the correction factor is -0.5dBm, the Pout corrected is

10dBm − (−0.5dBm) = 10.5dBm).

7. Verify the corrected output power obtained from step 6 is between –2.5dBm and 1.5dBm

Test Setup 2: DSA

Parallel Mode

8. Set switch S1 to VDD (the raised part should be towards the right)
9. Connect evaluation board to a PC through USB cable
10. Use the control software provided to control the DSA (see Table 2 for pin description)
11. Connect a +5V DC supply between VDD and GND1 test loops
    1. Set Voltage limit to 5V and Current limit to 1A
    2. Turn on DC supply, the device should draw less than 0.5mA
12. Connect the RF Source and Spectrum analyzer as shown in Figure 3
13. On the RF source set the power to 0dBm, the frequency should be 2140MHz, and turn it on
14. The spectrum analyzer should already be on (Ref Level +30dBm). On the spectrum analyzer, place a marker on the signal at 2140MHz. It would be best to hit the spectrum analyzer peak search button due to slight frequency offsets between the signal generator and spectrum analyzer.
15. If using the software provided Figure4, click on the ADL5240 icon created on the desktop
    1. Select the parallel mode option
    2. Configure the preset modes for 0dB, 0.5dB, 1dB, 2dB, 4dB, 8dB, 16dB and 31.5dB
16. On the spectrum analyzer measure the output power after clicking each preset mode, record the output power
17. Subtract the correction factor obtained from step 1d from the measured output power recorded above. (For example: if Pout is 10dBm and the correction factor is -0.5dBm, the Pout corrected is 10dBm−(−0.5dBm) = 10.5dBm)
18. Verify the corrected output power obtained from step 17 is as shown in Table 1 below

Serial Mode

19. Set switch S1 to GND (the raised part should be towards the left)
20. Connect evaluation board to a PC through USB cable
21. Use the control software provided to control the DSA (see Table3 for pin description)
22. Connect a +5V DC supply between VDD and GND1 test loops
    1. Set Voltage limit to 5V and Current limit to 1A
    2. Turn on DC supply, the device should draw less than 0.5mA
23. Connect the RF Source and Spectrum analyzer as shown in Figure 3
24. On the RF source set the power to 0dBm, the frequency should be 2140MHz, and turn it on
25. The spectrum analyzer should already be on (Ref Level +30dBm). On the spectrum analyzer, place a marker on the signal at 2140MHz. It would be best to hit the spectrum analyzer peak search button due to slight frequency offsets between the signal generator and spectrum analyzer.
26. If using the software provided Figure4, click on the ADL5240 icon created on the desktop
    1. Select the serial mode option
    2. Configure the preset modes for 0dB, 0.5dB, 1dB, 2dB, 4dB, 8dB, 16dB and 31.5dB
27. On the spectrum analyzer measure the output power after clicking each preset mode, record the output power
28. Subtract the correction factor obtained from step 1d from the measured output power recorded above. (For example: if Pout is 10dBm and the correction factor is -0.5dBm, the Pout corrected is 10dBm−(−0.5dBm) = 10.5dBm)
29. Verify the corrected output power obtained from step 28 is as shown in Table 1 table below

Table 1. Pout vs Attenuation State

 Table 2. Parallel Mode

Table 3. Serial Mode

With regard  to the AMP-DSA loop configuration

From the datasheet under the Evaluation board section on Page 23, The EVB needs to be configured in the AMP-DSA loop as shown in below. Can you please confirm on this?

“The evaluation board can be configured to handle either option. In normal operation, R12 and R13 are open, and R10 and R11 are 0 Ω and are used to terminate any RF coupling onto the bypass trace. To configure the ADL5240 in AMP-DSA loop configuration, R12 should be replaced with a capacitor, R13 should be replaced with a 0 Ω resistor, and R10 and R11 should be left open.”

Hope this helps.

Warm Regards,

Rachana

Hi Rachana,
 Thanks for your detailed reply for my query. 

I have done the hardware changes mentioned in Page 23 for AMP-DSA loop configuration.
Connected only USB cable to the laptop and selected serial mode in the GUI and tried varying attenuation and observed there is no change in the analyzer output.

1. Do we need to connect external power supply inspite of USB powered ON to the Eval board to use it in Serial mode for AMP-DSA loop configuration?
2. I am not seeing any figure for reference as mentioned in the description.Can you please send those?
3. What does the Test setup-AMP and Test setup-DSA mean?
4. In our design, we are feeding input to AMP-IN and taking output at DSA_OUT connectors. Which above configuration we need to use for this requirement?

HI Manoj,

We tried the EVB on a  Windows 10 machine and  it doesn’t recognize it.  

I found out from the team that the  ADL5240 GUI was written for Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7 PC running a 32bit OS, so it may not work with the Windows 10 operating system.

Here is the EVB document attached.

Warm Regards,

Rachana

DOC

Thank you so much Rachana. Will try on Windows 7 system with external power supply connected.

Will update once it is verified.

Hi Rachana,
 I would like to get info on one more thing.

Is the Driver for ADL5240 available? Or any reference Driver?

AD8366 Dual-Digital Variable Gain Amplifier Linux Driver [Analog Devices Wiki]

AD8366 Dual-Digital Variable Gain Amplifier Linux Driver [Analog Devices Wiki]