company blog about Supply ADI Clock IC & Timers Evaluation Board:Clock IC,Real-Time Clocks & Timers

Supply ADI Clock IC & Timers Evaluation Board:Clock IC,Real-Time Clocks & Timers

Shenzhen Mingjiada Electronics Co., Ltd., as a globally leading distributor of electronic components, provides comprehensive solutions through robust supply chain networks, professional services, competitive pricing and a trustworthy business philosophy.

Its supply advantages are primarily reflected in the following aspects:

Global Supply Chain Network: Direct collaboration with international brands ensures genuine product supply, eliminating counterfeit or substandard goods.

Stock Availability and Rapid Delivery: Large warehousing centres in Shenzhen, Hong Kong and other locations support dispatch within 24 hours, particularly suited for R&D sample requirements and urgent orders.

Price Competitiveness: Reduces client costs through bulk procurement, with additional discounts for large orders, delivering high-value solutions.

Flexible Procurement Options: Supports procurement needs from small-batch samples to large-scale production orders, meeting clients' requirements across all stages from R&D pilot production to mass manufacturing.

I. ADI Clock ICs: Core Components for High-Precision Clock Generation and Distribution

ADI clock ICs focus on clock generation, distribution, synchronisation, and jitter suppression. With sub-picosecond jitter performance, broad frequency coverage, and high integration, they are the preferred choice for high-speed signal processing systems. The product family encompasses clock generators, clock distributors, jitter attenuators, and other specialised categories, with core advantages in low phase noise, flexible configuration, and industrial-grade stability.

1. Core Technical Features and Representative Products

ADI clock ICs typically integrate core modules such as phase-locked loops (PLLs), voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs), and programmable dividers. They achieve multifunctional integration within compact packages while meeting stringent industrial temperature range requirements (-40°C to +85°C).

- AD9518-1: As a low-jitter clock distribution device, it integrates an on-chip PLL and VCO with sub-picosecond jitter performance. Designed for applications demanding low phase noise, it supplies clocks for 10/40/100 Gb/s network line cards, high-speed ADCs/DACs, and similar equipment. Its flexible output configuration adapts to diverse high-speed device clock interface requirements.

- AD9520-3: A 12-channel LVPECL/24-channel CMOS output clock generator integrating a 2 GHz band VCO with a tuning range of 1.72 GHz to 2.25 GHz. It supports automatic/manual reference voltage switching and zero-delay operation. Non-volatile EEPROM within the package stores power-up configurations, enabling flexible control via dual SPI and I²C interfaces. Widely employed for clock generation and conversion in protocols such as SONET and 10Ge.

- HMC7044B: High-performance 3.2 GHz jitter attenuator providing 14 outputs, supporting JESD204B/C protocols. Effectively suppresses noise interference in clock signals, delivering pristine clock sources for RF transceivers and test instruments. Serves as a core clock device for wireless infrastructure and automated test equipment (ATE).

2. Core Technical Advantages

The core competitiveness of ADI clock ICs lies in their exceptional control over jitter and phase noise. Through optimised PLL loop design, integration of high-performance VCOs, and precision power decoupling technology, they achieve sub-picosecond jitter performance, ensuring optimal operation for high-speed data converters (ADCs/DACs) and digital signal processors (DSPs). Additionally, diverse input/output interfaces (LVPECL, CMOS, CML, etc.) alongside programmable division ratios and phase delay capabilities enable adaptation to varied clock topology requirements across systems.

II. ADI Real-Time Clocks (RTC): Reliable Low-Power Precision Timekeeping

Real-time clock ICs are specifically engineered to record ‘real-world’ time, with core requirements centred on low power consumption, high precision, power-down retention capability, and compact packaging. Leveraging micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology and precision clock calibration algorithms, ADI's RTC products deliver long-term accurate timing in battery-powered scenarios. They also integrate power management functions, catering to diverse applications across industrial and consumer electronics sectors.

1. Core Products and Technical Highlights

The ADI RTC family encompasses multiple sub-series featuring ultra-low power consumption, high precision, and integrated power management. Key metrics include timing accuracy (ppm level), static current (sub-microampere), and power-down retention time. Certain products integrate crystal oscillators or MEMS oscillators to simplify system design.

- MAX31328: Recommended for new designs requiring high-accuracy RTC, delivering timing precision of ±3.5 ppm. Integrates crystal and power management modules with I²C interface support. Its low-power design enables long-term operation in battery-powered applications, coupled with industrial-grade temperature stability. Suitable for demanding scenarios such as industrial control and medical equipment requiring stringent time accuracy.

- MAX31343: An RTC with an integrated MEMS oscillator, offering timing accuracy of ±5 ppm. Leveraging the vibration and shock resistance inherent to MEMS devices, it maintains stable timing even in harsh industrial environments. It supports I²C interface communication and low-current operation, providing a reliable time reference for automotive and industrial IoT endpoints.

- MAX31331: An ultra-low-power RTC with integrated power management, featuring minimal quiescent current and post-power-down time retention. Suited for battery-powered applications like portable devices and smart sensors, it enables convenient control via I²C interface and offers a compact package for high-density PCB layouts.

III. ADI Timers: Fundamental Modules for Efficient Timing Control

ADI timer products encompass counters, programmable pulse width modulators (PWM), and the TimerBlox series. They offer high-precision timing, low power consumption, and simplified programming compared to traditional discrete components. These advantages reduce component count and enhance timing control accuracy, making them widely applicable in fundamental scenarios such as circuit timing synchronisation, pulse generation, and delay control.

The core characteristics of ADI timers are manifested in three key aspects: firstly, high-precision timing capability achieved through integrated precision oscillators and frequency-division circuits, enabling nanosecond-level delay and pulse width control; secondly, low-power design suited for battery-powered and low-power systems; and thirdly, high integration, with certain products incorporating multifunctional modules such as counters, PWM, and delay lines to simplify peripheral circuit design. For instance, the TimerBlox series employs a modular design, enabling flexible configuration as counters, timers, or pulse generators. These components operate independently without microcontroller intervention, significantly reducing system design complexity.

IV. ADI Evaluation Boards: Efficient Verification Platforms Accelerating Product Deployment

To lower customer R&D barriers and shorten time-to-market, ADI provides dedicated evaluation boards for clock ICs, RTCs, and timer products. These offer complete hardware testing environments, software tools, and reference designs, enabling ‘out-of-the-box’ performance verification and solution optimisation.

1. Core Configuration and Advantages of Evaluation Boards

ADI evaluation boards feature professional PCB layout design optimised for RF signals and power supply noise. They integrate essential power management, interface conversion, and debugging circuits, complemented by dedicated software tools for precise parameter configuration and performance testing.

- Optimised hardware design: Utilises RF-specific PCB layout with complete inner ground planes; critical traces feature impedance matching and shielding to minimise interference and signal reflection. Equipped with standard SMA connectors and terminal blocks for compatibility with common test instruments (spectrum analysers, oscilloscopes, signal generators). Integrates LDO regulators and power decoupling circuits, supporting multiple power supply modes to facilitate testing of power noise impact on performance. For instance, the EVAL-AD9520-3 evaluation board provides five AC-coupled differential LVPECL SMA connectors and an on-board PLL loop filter. Connecting via USB to a PC enables direct evaluation of the full range of AD9520-3 characteristics.

- Software tool support: Dedicated design and evaluation software such as ADIsimCLK enables device parameter configuration, frequency adjustment, phase calibration, and performance monitoring via a graphical user interface (GUI). ADIsimCLK facilitates design optimisation for ultra-low jitter clock products, rapidly predicting clock performance to meet diverse design requirements across wireless infrastructure, instrumentation, and other domains. Certain evaluation boards feature USB-to-SPI/I²C interfaces, enabling rapid deployment without complex debugging expertise.

- Compatibility and expandability: Evaluation boards typically support multiple devices within the same series, accommodating varied pin definitions and functional requirements via jumper settings and component configuration. Reserved test points and expansion interfaces facilitate user-defined test scenarios to validate device performance within actual systems. For instance, the AD9861/AD9863 evaluation board accommodates both devices, configurable via jumpers for distinct pin outputs. It also provides separate analogue and digital power interfaces for precise power supply performance testing.

2. Typical Evaluation Board Examples

EVAL01-HMC749LC3C: Specifically designed for the HMC749LC3C broadband PLL frequency synthesiser, supporting wideband output from 20MHz to 6GHz. At 1GHz frequency, phase noise is as low as -110dBc/Hz at 10kHz offset. The evaluation board integrates SPI interface level-shifting circuitry and RF filtering networks. Frequency adjustment and status monitoring are achievable via a USB-to-SPI module connected to a computer, making it an ideal tool for verifying frequency source solutions in RF/microwave systems. It finds extensive application in scenarios such as 5G base stations, radar, and satellite communications.

V. Typical Application Scenarios

ADI clock ICs, real-time clocks, timers, and their evaluation boards have penetrated multiple high-end sectors due to their high performance and reliability:

1. Communications: Within 10/40/100 Gb/s network line cards and 5G base station RF units, clock ICs such as the AD9518-1 and AD9520-3 provide low-jitter clock distribution and generation, ensuring synchronous signal transmission. Evaluation boards enable rapid verification of phase noise and spurious rejection performance in clock solutions, accelerating base station RF unit development.

2. Instrumentation and ATE: High-performance oscilloscopes, spectrum analysers, and automated test equipment demand exceptional clock precision. Jitter attenuators like the HMC7044B, paired with the EVAL01-HMC749LC3C evaluation board, enable the construction of high-accuracy frequency source test platforms, ensuring measurement accuracy and stability.

3. Industrial Control and IoT: Within industrial controllers and smart sensor terminals, RTCs like the MAX31328 and MAX31343 provide precise time references, supporting power-down retention and low-power operation. Timer modules enable device timing control and pulse generation, ensuring synchronisation in industrial processes.

4. Radio Frequency and Microwave Systems: Radar and electronic countermeasure equipment require rapidly switchable, pure frequency sources. ADI clock ICs and evaluation boards, with their wide frequency coverage, rapid frequency switching, and low phase noise characteristics, meet the frequency conversion demands of radar systems while enhancing anti-interference performance.