3 Description

The AFE8030 is a high performance, wide bandwidth multi-channel transceiver, integrating eight RF sampling transmitter chains, eight RF sampling receiver chains and two separate RF front end for the auxiliary chains (feedback paths). The high dynamic range of the transmitter and receiver chains allows generating and receiving 3G, 4G and 5G signals for wireless base stations, while the wide bandwidth capability makes the AFE8030 devices suitable for multi-band 4G and 5G base stations.

Each receiver chain includes a 31-dB range DSA (Digital Step Attenuator), followed by a 4-GSPS ADC (analog-to-digital converter). Each receiver channel has analog peak power detectors and digital peak and power detectors to assist an external or internal autonomous automatic gain controller, and RF overload detectors for device reliability protection. The single or dual digital down converters (DDC) provides up to 400 MHz of combined signal BW in 8-channel mode and 800 MHz in 4-channel mode. In TDD mode, the receiver channel can be configured to dynamically switching between traffic receiver (TDD RX) and wideband feedback receiver (TDD FB), with the capability of re-using the same analog input for both purposes.

Each transmitter chain includes a single or dual digital up converters (DUCs) supporting up to 800-MHz combined signal bandwidth (1200 MHz in 4-channel mode). The output of the DUCs drives a 12-GSPS DAC (digital to analog converter) with a mixed mode output option to enhance 2nd Nyquist operation. The DAC output includes a variable gain amplifier (TX DSA) with 40-dB range and 1-dB analog and 0.125-dB digital steps.

The feedback path includes a 25-dB range DSA driving a 4-GSPS RF sampling ADC, followed by a single wide or dual narrow DDCs with up to combined 800-MHz bandwidth (1200 MHz in 4-channel mode).