AD9915 Data Sheet
Rev. D | Page 34 of 48
MULTIPLE CHIP SYNCHRONIZATION
Multiple devices are synchronized when their clock states match
and they transition between states simultaneously. Clock
synchronization allows the user to asynchronously program
multiple devices but synchronously activate the programming
by applying a coincident I/O update to all devices. The function
of the synchronization logic in the AD9915 is to force the internal
clock generator to a predefined state coincident with an external
synchronization signal applied to the SYNC_IN pin. If all devices
are forced to the same clock state in synchronization with the same
external signal, the devices are, by definition, synchronized.
To use the multichip synchronization feature, two requirements
must be met. First, a synchronization signal must be provided
to the device. Second, 0x1B[6] must be set. The actual synchro-
nization process occurs as part of the DAC calibration, as follows.
When the DAC CAL enable bit is set in 0x03, the device undergoes
the first step of the calibration phase and then pauses to allow
the synchronization process to complete. It is important to note
that, if the synchronization signal is not present and 0x1B[6] is
set, the calibration does not successfully complete. After the
synchronization is finished, the DAC clock calibration proceeds
to completion. When employing the multichip synchronization,
the amount of time to complete the DAC clock calibration
increases by an amount of time equal to 16 cycles of the
synchronization signal.
Figure 48 is a block diagram of the synchronization function.
The synchronization logic is divided into two independent
blocks: a SYNC_OUT generator and a SYNC_IN receiver. The
SYNC_OUT generator consists of a free running divider
clocked by the internal system clock, the same clock from which
all other internal clock signals are derived. The SYNC_OUT
generator block is activated via the SYNC_OUT enable bit in
the CFR2 register (0x01[9]). The SYNC out/in mux enable bit
(0x01[8]) is an output enable bit. Both bits must be in a logic
high state for the internal generator to be active at Pin 61. Either
bit turns off the output signal. However, if the SYNC_OUT
enable bit (0x01[9]) is cleared, the device takes the signal that is
present at Pin 62 and buffers it before driving it out on Pin 61.
For one AD9915 in a group to function as a master timing
source with the remaining devices slaved to the master, set
the SYNC_OUT enable and SYNC out/in mux enable bits
(0x01[9:8]) = 0x03. Set the SYNC_OUT enable bit (0x01[9]) =
0x0 for the devices slaved to the master, whereas SYNC out/in
mux enable bit (0x01[8]) can be either set or cleared. The sync
generator produces a clock signal that appears at the SYNC_
OUT pin. This clock is delivered by a CMOS output driver and
exhibits a 67% duty cycle and has a fixed frequency given by
fSYS/384, where fSYS refers to the system clock frequency. The
clock at the SYNC_OUT pins synchronizes with the rising edge
of the internal SYSCLK signal. Because the SYNC_OUT signal
is synchronized with the internal SYSCLK of the master device,
the master device SYSCLK serves as the reference timing source
for all slave devices. The user can adjust the output delay of the
SYNC_OUT signal by programming the 3-bit SYNC_OUT delay
ADJ word in the USR0 register (0x1B[5:3]) via the serial I/O port.
Figure 48. Synchronization Block Diagram
The sync receiver block is a CMOS input that accepts a periodic
clock signal, known as the SYNC_IN signal, at Pin 62 and delivers
it to the appropriate clock generation circuitry requiring
synchronization. If the AD9915 is not enabled as a master
timing device for multiple devices, the sync receiver block can
be used to buffer a signal from Pin 62 to Pin 61. The user can
delay the SYNC_IN signal by programming the 3-bit input
SYNC_IN delay ADJ word in the USR0 register (0x1B[2:0]).
Edge detection logic generates a sync pulse having a duration of
one SYSCLK cycle with a repetition rate equal to the frequency
of the signal applied to the SYNC_IN pin. The sync pulse is
generated as a result of sampling the rising edge of the SYNC_IN
signal with the rising edge of the local SYSCLK. The sync pulse
is routed to the internal clock generator, which behaves as a
presettable counter clocked at the SYSCLK rate. The sync pulse
presets the counter to a predefined state. The predefined state is
active for only a single SYSCLK cycle, after which the clock
generator resumes cycling through its state sequence at the
SYSCLK rate.
Multiple device synchronization is accomplished by providing
each AD9915 with a SYNC_IN signal that is edge aligned across
all the devices. This concept is shown in Figure 49, in which three
AD9915 devices are synchronized, with one device operating as
a master timing unit and the others as slave units. The master
device must have its SYNC_IN pin included as part of the
synchronization distribution and delay equalization mechanism
in order for it to be synchronized with the slave units. The
synchronization mechanism relies on the premise that the
REF_CLK signal appearing at each device is edge aligned with
all others as a result of the external REF_CLK distribution
system (see Figure 49).
REF_CLK
REF_CLK
SYSCLK
10837-047
SYNC_CLK
82
54
55
61
62
REF CLK
INPUT
CIRCUITRY
CFR2 [ 9]
SYNC_OUT
SYNC_IN
INTERNAL
CLOCKS
GENERATOR
SYNC OUT
GENERATOR
INTERNAL
CLOCKS
SYNC IN
RECEIVER