Programmable clock synthesizer in a PMC form factor introduced by Pentek for radar and communications applications

July 29, 2010
UPPER SADDLE RIVER, N.J., 29 July 2010. Pentek Inc. in Upper Saddle River, N.J., is introducing the user-configurable Model 7191 programmable clock synthesizer PCI Mezzanine Card (PMC) module for radar, communications, and other applications using A/D converters and D/A converters that need a precise clock source. The Model 7191 gives designers working with A/Ds and D/As not only a clock source, but also custom frequency generation under simple software control. "Multichannel A/D and D/A systems for most radar and communication applications require synchronized sampling using precision clocks," says Rodger Hosking, vice president of Pentek.

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, N.J., 29 July 2010. Pentek Inc. in Upper Saddle River, N.J., is introducing the user-configurable Model 7191 programmable clock synthesizerPCI Mezzanine Card (PMC) module for radar, communications, and other applications using A/D converters and D/A converters that need a precise clock source.

The Model 7191 PMC gives designers working with A/Ds and D/As not only a clock source, but also custom frequency generation under simple software control. "Multichannel A/D and D/A systems for most radar and communications applications require synchronized sampling using precision clocks," says Rodger Hosking, vice president of Pentek. "The Model 7191 is ideal when the desired clock frequency is not initially known, such as in laboratory systems or field-configurable deployed applications."

The board product for embedded systems can replace bulky and expensive frequency synthesizers in systems that need several high-quality clock signals, all phase locked to a system reference. The Model 7191 for embedded computing systems uses low-noise VCXOs for the fundamental frequency generation. The VCXO output is followed by a clock synchronizer from Texas Instruments to allow synchronization with common frequency reference sources.

The board generates four different user-programmable VCXO frequencies, plus four divided versions (by 2, 4, 8 and 16) of each oscillator. Using the provided software, users can freely route up to five different frequencies from this set of 20 choices to the board's eight buffered 50-ohm outputs.

The user-programmability of the Model 7191 provides arbitrary frequencies to help speed development by providing immediate access to non-standard operating frequencies. Conventional crystal oscillators for custom frequencies often require extremely long lead times.

For more information contact Pentek online at www.pentek.com.

About the Author

John Keller | Editor

John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.

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