PMC/XMC Transceiver is suited for MIL/COTS applications.

Press Release Summary:




Able to accommodate deployed and lab environments, Model 7158 dual-channel, 12-bit, 500 MHz data converter is based on dual Virtex-5 reconfigurable FPGA architecture that promotes processing power as well as FPGA resource flexibility. There is 512 MB DDR2 SDRAM arranged in 2 banks, which enables real-time data capture, and total SDRAM capacity can be doubled to 1 GB. Example high-speed, wideband applications include remote radar countermeasures, tracking, and UAV surveillance.



Original Press Release:



Pentek Introduces New PMC/XMC Transceiver Module Ideal for Wideband Radar Countermeasures and MIL/COTS Applications



  • Dual-Channel Transceiver
  • Very High Bandwidth, 500 MHz Sampling Rate
  • Two High-Performance Virtex-5 Reconfigurable FPGAs

    UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ-September 8, 2009-Pentek's new Model 7158 data converter is the company's highest-frequency PMC/XMC transceiver module. The module is well suited for high-speed, wideband applications including remote radar countermeasures, tracking and UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) surveillance. The Model 7158 is a dual-channel, 12-bit 500 MHz data converter that builds upon the company's proven Model 7156 transceiver technology by extending the A/D sampling rate.

    "As for technology, the Model 7158 offers Pentek's highest combination of A/D sampling rate and resolution, and fulfills a direct need expressed by our customers," noted Rodger Hosking, vice president of Pentek. "Customers are not only interested in this product as a system component, they are also interested in fully-integrated solutions such as recording systems capable of digitizing and recording signals at 500 MHz Msamples/sec in real-time. What's more, the dual, on-board Virtex-5 FPGAs add a wealth of DSP resources and are a perfect match to these higher-rate A/Ds to handle real-time signal processing," he added.

    Applications for Deployed and Lab Environments
    The 7158 high-speed transceiver is well suited for both deployed and lab environments. Some deployed environments include UAVs, ships and aircraft. By coupling the high speed analog I/O data converters through powerful FPGA resources, this module can receive a signal, process it and send it back out in real time. It delivers exceptional performance for radar countermeasure applications that require complex, but extremely low-latency, signal processing.

    In such an application, the signal processing FPGA of the 7158 handles the real-time DSP algorithms while the second FPGA provides a status and control path to the PC or carrier board. Additionally, the FPGA can be a Xilinx FXT family device with a PowerPC processor, forming a complete, self-contained subsystem. Users can install an Ethernet stack so the module can communicate over gigabit Ethernet to external systems in the vehicle or craft.

    Using Pentek's GateFlow FPGA Design Kit, customers can develop and integrate custom IP to support a wide range of real-time applications for communication, signal intelligence, beamforming and radar countermeasures.

    Reconfigurable FPGAs Extend Board Functions
    The dual FPGA architecture of the 7158 delivers tremendous processing power with the necessary flexibility to extend the FPGA resources. Both on-board FPGAs are members of Xilinx's Virtex-5 family so that customers can choose specific FPGA devices for each to fulfill particular requirements. Available FPGAs include LXT devices with generous logic resources and SXT devices with an abundance of DSP resources for signal processing.

    Memory Resources
    A total of 512 MB of DDR2 SDRAM memory arranged in two banks enables users to capture real-time data, storing it in a local memory. This feature will have particular appeal to those engaged in wideband radar where the destination device cannot handle the peak real-time data rates and the SDRAM acts as an elastic buffer.

    The SDRAM can also be used to store an arbitrary waveform for playback through the D/A converters. Optionally, the total SDRAM capacity can be doubled to 1 GB.

    Supporting Software
    The 7158 is supported with the ReadyFlow Board Support Package (BSP) under Windows, Linux and VxWorks operating systems (OS). Each BSP includes an OS driver as well as a full feature ReadyFlow C language library to support all board functions and provide sample applications for quick development startup.

    Variety of Platforms
    This module is also available as a PCI module, Model 7658; as a 3U and 6U cPCI module, Model 7258 and 7358 respectively; and as a PCI Express module full- and half-length versions with the Models 7758 and 7858.

    Price and Availability
    The starting price for the Model 7158 is $11,500 USD. Delivery is 8 weeks ARO.

    About Pentek
    Pentek, Inc. manufactures and markets innovative embedded systems and boards to design engineers and is a certified ISO 9001:2000 quality management company. Pentek offers powerful VME, VXS, PMC, XMC, cPCI, PCI and PCIe boards and systems for data acquisition, software radio and digital signal processing featuring Texas Instruments DSPs, Freescale PowerPCs and Xilinx FPGAs. Pentek's I/O includes A/Ds, D/As, FPGAs, digital transceivers, installed IP cores and more. The company offers strong DSP software support and equips all products with high-performance I/O including gigabit serial interfaces.

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

    For the release, photograph and datasheet, please visit: www.pentek.com/whatsnew/ViewRelease.cfm?Index=121

    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: Elexo in France 0141 22 1023, Sela Electronic Systems in Israel at 36479969, MISH International in Japan at 425387650, Beijing BetaOne Sysjob Ltd. in China at 1082784106 and Acetronix Co. Ltd. in Korea at 24202343, ext. 106, Aries Ingenieria Y Sistemas, S.A. in Spain at 91 570 2737. Please visit www.pentek.com/contact/replist.pdf for a full list of international Pentek representatives and distributors.
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