SLAA870 February   2019 AFE7422 , AFE7444

 

  1.   Evaluating the frequency hopping capability of the AFE74xx
    1.     Trademarks
    2. 1 Introduction
    3. 2 Phase Coherency vs Phase Continuity
    4. 3 AFE74xx Architecture
      1. 3.1 AFE74xx Receivers: Multiband DDC
      2. 3.2 AFE74xx Transmitters: Multiband DUC
      3. 3.3 Numerically Controlled Oscillator (NCO)
        1. 3.3.1 Programming the NCO frequency
          1. 3.3.1.1 Example: Programming NCO to 1700MHz
        2. 3.3.2 Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS) Mode
    5. 4 Frequency Hopping Methods
      1. 4.1 Maintaining Phase Continuity
        1. 4.1.1 Phase Continuous Hop Time
          1. 4.1.1.1 Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI)
          2. 4.1.1.2 Test Setup
          3. 4.1.1.3 Software Configuration
          4. 4.1.1.4 Test Results
      2. 4.2 Maintaining Phase Coherency
        1. 4.2.1 TX NCO Hopping Using SPI
          1. 4.2.1.1 TX NCO Switch Using SPI Hop Time
            1. 4.2.1.1.1 Software Configuration
            2. 4.2.1.1.2 Test Results
          2. 4.2.1.2 AFE74xx DAC Settling Time
            1. 4.2.1.2.1 Hardware Setup
            2. 4.2.1.2.2 Software Configuration
            3. 4.2.1.2.3 Test Results
        2. 4.2.2 RX NCO Hopping Using the GPIO Pins
          1. 4.2.2.1 Test Setup
          2. 4.2.2.2 Software Configuration
          3. 4.2.2.3 Test Results
    6. 5 NCO Frequency Resolution Versus Hop Time
    7. 6 Fast Frequency Hopping With the Load and Switch
    8. 7 Register Addresses
    9. 8 References

4.2.1 TX NCO Hopping Using SPI

Phase coherency is maintained when dynamically switching between NCOs because NCOs run continuously, whether currently selected or not. Rapidly switching between two or three fixed frequencies is a suitable use case for certain applications, such as radar attempting to frustrate the efforts of a jammer signal.

In the case of the AFE74xx, a one-time SPI write is required when switching between the RX or TX NCOs. Though the AFE74xx receivers can switch NCOs through the SPI or GPIO, the AFE74xx transmitters can only switch NCOs through the SPI. Figure 16 gives a visual depiction of how phase-coherent frequency hopping is implemented on the AFE74xx transmitter.

phase-coherent-frequency-hopping-with-AFE74xx-transmitter.gifFigure 16. Phase Coherent Frequency Hopping With an AFE74xx Transmitter

The following experiment calculates the hop time when switching from TXNCO0 to TXNCO1 using the SPI. The test setup for measuring phase coherency is the same setup used to measure continuity.