Pentek’s Quad 1.25 GHz D/A Module Extends Signal Bandwidth Range for Beamforming and Software Radio

Upper Saddle River, NJ, September 28, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Pentek, Inc., today released its highest-performing D/A converter module for RF and IF waveform playback, the Cobalt® Model 71671. The module delivers four independent analog outputs each through its own digital upconverter and 16-bit D/A with sampling rates to 1.25 GHz. An on-board Xilinx Virtex-6 FPGA contains factory-installed intellectual property (IP) that provides turnkey waveform generation for output signal bandwidths from less than 1 kHz up to 250 MHz with an extended interpolation range from 2x to 1,048,576x. Users can also customize the module’s operation by implementing their own IP in the FPGA.

The Model 71671 uses two DAC3484 D/A converters from Texas Instruments (TI), each providing two digital upconverters (DUCs) and 16-bit D/A channels that can translate a quadrature (I+Q) baseband signal to a user-selectable IF (intermediate frequency) center for transmitting.

Complementary synchronizer products can deliver clock and timing signals to multiple 71671 modules for synchronizing, triggering and gating functions. Synchronization is essential for multichannel applications such as phased array radars and beamformed communications antennas. These applications abound in government and military systems, but the same beamforming concepts are also used in medical and industrial systems.

“The built-in IP for extended interpolation allows customers to handle an extremely wide range of transmit signal bandwidths,” noted Rodger Hosking, vice president of Pentek. “Because the DAC3484 provides a maximum interpolation of only 16x, it accommodates input transmit signal bandwidths from 250 MHz down to 62.5 MHz. However, many radar and communication signals need to generate IF signals with much lower bandwidths. By extending the interpolation to 1,048,576x, the Model 71671 now supports input signal bandwidths as low as 850 Hz, while still covering maximum bandwidths up to 250 MHz, making it a perfect complement to our family of Cobalt A/D converter modules with built-in digital downconverters.”

Pentek also provides users with its GateFlow® software development tool for implementing custom IP in the FPGA. The tool includes source code for the factory-implemented configuration as well as other system IP, allowing users to customize the module’s default operation as well as incorporate proprietary IP. Customers can also choose the size of the FPGA on their module, ensuring they will have adequate capacity for implementing the functionality they desire.

Pricing and Availability
For the latest pricing and availability information, please contact Mario Schiavone by phone at (201) 818-5900 ext.229, or by email at mario@pentek.com.

About Pentek
Pentek develops, manufactures and markets innovative DSP systems and recorders to original equipment manufacturers, distributors and value-added resellers. Pentek offers powerful VME, VPX, VXS, PMC, XMC, cPCI, PCI, PCIe and AMC boards for data acquisition, software radio and digital signal processing featuring Texas Instruments C6000 DSPs, Freescale G4 PowerPCs and Xilinx FPGAs. Pentek's I/O includes A/Ds, D/As, FPGAs, digital up/downconverters and more. Pentek equips all products with high-performance I/O including gigabit serial interfaces and offers strong DSP software support.

Pentek, Cobalt, GateFlow and ReadyFlow are trademarks or registered trademarks of Pentek, Inc. Brand or product names are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders.

For access to the release and data sheets, please visit: http://www.pentek.com/whatsnew/viewrelease.cfm?index=167

North American Sales Contact: Mario Schiavone, Pentek, Inc., One Park Way, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458-2311; Telephone 201-818-5900, ext. 770; Fax 201-818-5904; Email news@pentek.com; Website www.pentek.com.

International Sales Contacts: Galleon Embedded Computing in Germany at (49) 89 5908 2101, LVD Systems in Italy at (39) 011 966 1319, RECAB AB in Sweden at (46) 8 6830300, Advanced Embedded Systems in the UK, Spain and Portugal at (44) 0 1202 885 675, Sela Electronic Systems in Israel at (972) 3 6479969, MISH International in Japan at (81) 42-538-7650, Beijing Betaone Sysjob Ltd. in China at (86) 10 82784106 and Acetronix Co. Ltd. in Korea at (82) 24202343, ext. 106, Dynamic C4 Pte. Ltd. In Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia at (65) 6405 4506. For a list of Pentek representatives and distributors, please visit http://www.pentek.com/contact/replist.pdf.

Media Contact:
Barbara Stewart
Patterson & Associates
480-488-6909
barbara@patterson.com