D.V. Kondakov1, A.P. Lavrov2, S.V. Zavjalov3, A.S. Orlova4

1-4 Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (St. Petersburg, Russia)

1 dmitrii.kondakov@spbstu.ru; 2 lavrov_ap@spbstu.ru; 3 zavyalov_sv@spbstu.ru; 4 ovsyannikova_as@spbstu.ru

Formulation of the problem. High-speed analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) are key components of modern radio engineering systems [1-2]. High-speed ADCs are characterized by clock signal jitter, uneven amplitude-frequency response (FRA), and group delay. The applied calibration methods allow to improve their characteristics, but require complex digital processing algorithms, which leads to an increase in power consumption. It is also known that the operating frequency band of an ADC is limited by its input amplifier (buffer) and sample-and-hold device [3]. To expand the operating bandwidth of an ADC, external track-and-hold devices (THA) can be used, while the issue of monitoring the relative time position of the clock pulses of the external THA and the ADC is important. Expansion of the operating frequency band of an ADC is in demand in the construction of various radio engineering systems, including the task of restoring the amplitude spectrum when using multichannel subsampling methods in a digital receiver [4].

Goal. A study of the influence of a controlled delay line on the performance of a signal amplitude spectrum restoration unit using the multichannel subsampling method.

Results. A prototype of a subsampling unit based on an ADC with a sampling frequency of 3 GHz and an external wideband THA (0–18 GHz), as well as an experimental setup for testing its operation, was developed and implemented. The use of a cascade of two programmable delay lines with a tuning step of 3 ps provided delay control in the range of up to 192 ps. The optimal mutual temporal position of the clock pulses of the external THA and ADC was found to be 168 ps, the criterion being the maximum amplitude of the first harmonic of the digitized output signal. It was found that the use of an external THA with an optimal clock pulse delay made it possible to expand the operating frequency band of the digital receiver from 5,3 GHz (when using only the ADC (with its internal THA)) to 17,3 GHz. Thus, a method for expanding the frequency band of a digital receiver with joint operation of an ADC and an external THA due to precise control of the mutual position of their clock pulses was experimentally tested.

Practical significance. The possibility of expanding the operating bandwidth of the subsampling channel by more than three times using an external amplifier before the ADC with an optimal time delay between their clock pulses has been experimentally confirmed. The resulting time delay values can be taken into account when developing the printed circuit board layout for the clock circuits of the subsampling receiver channels. This eliminates the need for separate delay line ICs in its channels.

Kondakov D.V., Lavrov A.P., Zavjalov S.V., Orlova A.S. Digital subsampling receiver bandwidth exntending under ADC’s and Tha’s mutual sync pulses control. Radiotekhnika. 2026. V. 90. № 4. P. 115−125. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18127/j00338486-202604-14 (In Russian)

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