
MAX5856A
Dual 8-Bit, 300Msps DAC with 4x/2x/1x
Interpolation Filters and PLL
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19
CLKXP
1
CLK
DA0–DA7/
CONTROL WORD
tCXD
tDCSR
tDCHR
DAN
DBN
CONTROL WORD
DAN+1
DBN+1
1. CLKXP AND CLKXN MUST BE PRESENT ONLY WHEN PLL IS DISABLED, WITH PLLEN CONNECTED TO GND. THE DIAGRAM SHOWS 4x INTERPOLATION.
2. CLK IS AN OUTPUT WHEN PLL IS DISABLED, WITH PLLEN CONNECTED TO GND; OTHERWISE, IT IS AN INPUT.
CLKXN
1
tCWH
DB0–DB7
CW
tCXD
tCWS
Figure 6. Timing Diagram for Noninterleave Data Mode (IDE = Low)
Figure 6 illustrates the DAC write cycle in 4x interpola-
tion mode. With the interpolation feature enabled, the
device can operate with the PLL enabled or disabled.
To obtain best phase noise performance, disable the
PLL and keep the capacitive load at the CLK output low
(10pF or less at fDAC = 165MHz).
With the PLL disabled (PLLEN = 0), the clock signal is
applied to CLKXP/CLKXN and internally divided by 4 to
generate the DAC’s CLK signal. The CLK signal is a
divide-by-4 output, used to synchronize data into the
MAX5856A data ports. The CLKXP/CLKXN signal dri-
ves the interpolation filters and DAC cores at the
desired conversion rate.
If the PLL is enabled (PLLEN = 1), then CLK becomes
an input and the clock signal may be applied to CLK. In
Figure 6, the CLK signal is multiplied by a factor of four
by the PLL and distributed to the interpolation filters
and DAC cores. In this mode, CLKXP must be pulled
low and CLKXN pulled high.
The MAX5856A can operate with a single-ended clock
input used as both data clock and conversion clock. To
operate the device in this mode, disable the interpolation
filters and enable the PLL (PLLEN = 1). Apply a single-
ended clock input at CLK. The CLK signal acts as the
data synchronization clock and DAC core conversion
clock. Though the PLL is enabled, the lock pin (LOCK) is
not valid and the PLL is internally disconnected from the
interpolating filters and DAC cores. In this mode, CLKXP
must be pulled low and CLKXN pulled high.
Figure 6 shows the timing for the CW. An 8-bit control
word routed through channel A’s data port programs
the gain matching, interpolator configuration, and oper-
ational mode of the MAX5856A. The control word is
latched on the falling edge of CW. The CW signal is
asynchronous with conversion clocks CLK and
CLKXN/CLKXP; therefore, the conversion clock (CLK or
CLKXN/CLKXP) can run uninterrupted when a control
word is written to the device.