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REV. 0
AD9777
–33–
The complex carrier synthesized in the AD9777 digital modulator
is accomplished by creating two real digital carriers in quadrature.
Carriers in quadrature cannot be created with the modulator
running at f
DAC
/2. As a result, complex modulation only func-
tions with modulation rates of f
DAC
/4 and f
DAC
/8.
Regions A and B of Figures 37 through 42 are the result of the
complex signal described above, when complex modulated in the
AD9777 by +e
j t
. Regions C and D are the result of the complex
signal described above, again with positive frequency components
only, modulated in the AD9777 by –e
j t
. The analog quadrature
modulator after the AD9777 inherently modulates by +e
j t
.
Region A
Region A is a direct result of the upconversion of the complex
signal near baseband. If viewed as a complex signal, only the
images in Region A will remain. The complex Signal A, consist-
ing of positive frequency components only in the digital domain,
has images in the positive odd Nyquist zones (1, 3, 5...) as well
as images in the negative even Nyquist zones. The appearance
and rejection of images in every other Nyquist zone will become
more apparent at the output of the quadrature modulator. The
A images will appear on the real and the imaginary outputs of the
AD9777, as well as on the output of the quadrature modulator,
where the center of the spectral plot will now represent the
quadrature modulator LO and the horizontal scale now repre-
sents the frequency offset from this LO.
Region B
Region B is the image (complex conjugate) of Region A. If a
spectrum analyzer is used to view the real or imaginary DAC
outputs of the AD9777, Region B will appear in the spectrum.
However, on the output of the quadrature modulator, Region B
will be rejected.
Region C
Region C is most accurately described as a down conversion, as
the modulating carrier is –e
j t
. If viewed as a complex signal, only
the images in Region C will remain. This image will appear on the
real and imaginary outputs of the AD9777, as well as on the
output of the quadrature modulator, where the center of the
spectral plot will now represent the quadrature modulator LO
and the horizontal scale will represent the frequency offset
from this LO.
Region D
Region D is the image (complex conjugate) of Region C. If a
spectrum analyzer is used to view the real or imaginary DAC
outputs of the AD9777, Region D will appear in the spectrum.
However, on the output of the quadrature modulator, Region D
will be rejected.
Figures 43 through 50 show the measured response of the AD9777
and AD8345 given the complex input signal to the AD9777 in
Figure 43. The data in these graphs was taken with a data rate of
12.5 MSPS at the AD9777 inputs. The interpolation rate of 4
×
or 8
×
gives a DAC output data rate of 50 MSPS or 100 MSPS.
As a result, the high end of the DAC output spectrum in these
graphs is the first null point for the SIN(x)/x roll-off, and the
asymmetry of the DAC output images is representative of the
SIN(x)/x roll-off over the spectrum. The internal PLL was enabled
for these results. In addition, a 35 MHz third order low-pass filter
was used at the AD9777/AD8345 interface to suppress DAC images.
An important point can be made by looking at Figures 45 and 47.
Figure 45 represents a group of positive frequencies modulated
by complex +f
DAC
/4, while Figure 47 represents a group of nega-
tive frequencies modulated by complex –f
DAC
/4. When looking at
the real or imaginary outputs of the AD9777, as shown in Fig-
ures 45 and 47, the results look identical. However, the spectrum
analyzer cannot show the phase relationship of these signals. The
difference in phase between the two signals becomes apparent
when they are applied to the AD8345 quadrature modulator,
with the results shown in Figures 46 and 48.