AD9545

• Edge compute platform for machine vision and real-time sensor fusion for autonomous robots and vehicles applications
• 8 x GMSL2 camera interfaces with up to 6 Gbps/channel
• 10 Gbps SFP+ Ethernet interface
• IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol for synchronization with host systems and other edge devices
• Advanced embedded processing capabilities
• ROS2 compliant
• Advanced camera triggering functions and control features
• Open-source software stack and FPGA design to enable custom applications development

The AD-GMSL2ETH-SL is an edge compute platform enabling low-latency data transfer from eight Gigabit Multimedia Serial Link™ (GMSL) interfaces on to a 10 Gb Ethernet link. The target applications include autonomous robots and vehicles where machine vision and real-time sensor fusion is critical.

The system includes two MAX96724 Quad Tunneling GMSL2/1 to CSI-2 Deserializers, enabling connectivity to eight GMSL cameras. The video data from the cameras is transferred from the MAX96724 deserializers via MIPI CSI2 interfaces to an AMD KV26 System on Module which implements the logic to aggregate the video data from all the GMSL cameras into a 10 Gb Ethernet link, so that it can be sent to a central processing unit.

The IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) with hardware timestamping is supported, enabling accurate synchronization with host systems and other edge devices. The AD9545 Quad Input, 10-Output, Dual DPLL/IEEE 1588, 1 pps Synchronizer and Jitter Cleaner is used to generate the required clocks for the 10 Gb Ethernet interface and the PTP logic.

A software networking stack can be used to realize the communication over the 10 Gb Ethernet link. Since the system runs Linux tools like gstreamer can be used to send the video data to a host and remote connection into the system is possible via ssh. The software network stack has limitations in terms of the maximum achievable transfer rate, and for this reason there is also the option to have an FPGA accelerated UDP or TCP implementation with Real Time Transfer (RTP) protocol for data packetization, which can get up to the maximum achievable data rate on the 10 Gb ethernet interface.

Accurate camera triggering control is achieved through dedicated FPGA logic, with configurable frequency and phase as well as selecting the trigger source between the internal logic and external signals.

Sixteen (16) general purpose I/O pins are available with software configurable functionality, operating at 3.3 V voltage level. A RS232 dedicated interface can be used to connect UART peripherals such as GNSS devices.

The design is accompanied by an open-source software stack and FPGA design, and reference applications, enabling custom software development to start from a proven implementation.

APPLICATIONS

• Autonomous robots and vehicles

• Simple power connection using 6V wall adapter and on-board LDO voltage regulators.
• 10 ac-coupled single-ended (differential signal recombined via a balun) output SMA connectors, with user-configurable output termination for HCSL, CML, or LVDS-compatible (default).
• 4 configurable reference inputs, selectable between a single ended to differential reference input SMA connector.
• 1 ac-coupled single-ended input SMA connector for system clock.
• Pin programmable, power on ready configurability.
• Status LEDs.
• USB connection to PC.
• Microsoft Windows-based evaluation software with simple graphical user interface via an ACE plug-in module

The AD9545 evaluation board is a compact, easy-to-use platform for evaluating all features of the AD9545 dual digital PLL and 1 pps synchronizer. The AD9545 provides high-precision, multi-output clock generator functions, along with two on-chip jitter cleaning digital PLL cores. PLL0 and PLL1 are optimized for high performance synchronous clocking applications such as GPS, IEEE1588v2, Synchronous Ethernet, OTN, and next generation wireless baseband protocols. The PLLs are fully configurable via serial port control as well as configurable via an external EEPROM for power on ready configurations.

The AD9545 can output up to 5 differential clock signals, plus two single-ended clocks driven by a mix of two high performance digital PLLs, plus two high-precision NCOs (numerically controlled oscillators). 12 total outputs and 4 reference inputs are accessible on the evaluation board.

The output differential transmission line pairs use 50Ω single ended characteristic impedance and are connected to standard edge launch SMA connectors. The AD9545/PCBZ has a fully configurable power supply to allow the user to evaluate the AD9545 while being powered directly by a step down switching regulator or external LDOs. The AD9545 evaluation board uses RoHS-compliant FR-4 material. For convenience, detailed information from the AD9545 data sheet has been included here. Use the user guide in conjunction with the data sheet that has been provided by ADI.

The AD-SYNCHRONA14-EBZ is an ideal self-contained device to use in evaluation and prototyping of applications that need a highly accurate frequency and phase-controlled source clock. It is designed around the Analog Devices AD9545 and HMC7044 and greatly simplifies clock distribution and multi-channel synchronization in complex systems. It is intended to be used by trained professionals in a laboratory environment, and not intended as an end product for commercial use. It can be taken as a complete reference design and customised as required for any end customer applications. Full design details are made available free of charge.

The AD-SYNCHRONA14-EBZ comes in a 1U mechanical form factor. Using popular industry connector SMA and TwinAX interfaces most labs will already have the needed cables.

With its internal OCXO it can operate in standalone mode or be fed from a choice of external sources, such as 3 separate high speed differential clock inputs, a 10MHz reference and 1PPS. This flexibility combined with the capability to select either of the internal VCXO options of 100MHz or 122.88MHz, gives almost unlimited choice for the frequency of interest and accuracy needed for a wide variety of application areas. 

APPLICATIONS

• High accuracy reference clock distribution
• Systems clocked from a single source
• Clocks derived from 100MHz or 122.88MHz
• Phased Array Systems, RADAR, EW, SATCOMS, SDR
• Bench Equipment
• Remote controlled operation