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Home > IO Central > Data Acquisition and I/O Printer Friendly Version

Data Acquisition and I/O Overview

Pentek has a comprehensive line of VME and VME/VXS A/D and D/A Converters. Many I/O products are also available as PMC, XMC, PCI, cPCI or VIM expansion modules. Clock and Sync Generators are available for multiboard synchronization of Pentek I/O products.

Pentek offers a wide range of software radio products containing A/D and D/A converters that are ideal for data acquisition applications and supported by Pentek's ReadyFlow Board Support Packages.

Critical Techniques for High-Speed A/D Converters In Real-Time Systems Handbook
Written by Rodger Hosking, Vice President and Co-founder of Pentek

A/D (analog-to-digital) converters, frequently abbreviated as ADC, accept an analog voltage at the input and produce a digital representation of that voltage at the output that’s called a “sample”.

The two primary characteristics of A/Ds are the rate of conversion, or sampling rate, expressed in samples per second, and the accuracy of each digital sample expressed as the number of binary bits or decimal digits per sample.

Sampling rates vary tremendously between applications. A digital medical thermometer may deliver samples to update the readout once every five seconds while a high speed wideband radar may produce 2 billion samples per second.

Critical Techniques for High-Speed A/D Converters In Real-Time Systems Handbook

High Speed A/D
Converter Handbook


A/D (analog-to-digital)

Pentek employs state-of-the art A/D technology with advances in: sample-and-hold on the front end; sample clock interfaces and drivers; system noise reduction; and flash and multistage flash conversion techniques.

New techniques in digital error code correction and thermal compensation circuitry help eliminate errors in bit accuracy, linearity and gain. Pentek's products range from 14 and 16 bit A/Ds with sampling up to 200 MHz and are available in VME, cPCI, PCI, PMC and XMC form factors.

Pentek A/D Products   -   ( top )

Model Description
Model 7853 4-Ch. Beamformer with four 200 MHz, 16-bit A/Ds - x8 PCIe
Model 7852 Quad 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D, 32 Channel DDC - x8 PCIe
Model 7851 Quad 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D, 256 Channel DDC - x8 PCIe
Model 7850 Quad 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D with Virtex-5 FPGAs, x8 PCIe
Model 7842-428 GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter - PCIe
Model 7842 4-Ch A/D, 1-Ch D/A w/ Virtex-4 FPGAs, x8 PCIe
Model 7841 Dual Digital Up/Downconverter with FPGA, x8 PCIe
Model 7840 Dual Digital Up/Downconverter with FPGA, x8 PCIe
Model 7753D 8-Ch. Beamformer with eight 200 MHz, 16-bit A/Ds - x16 PCIe
Model 7753 4-Ch. Beamformer with four 200 MHz, 16-bit A/Ds - x16 PCIe
Model 7752D Octal 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D, 64 Channel DDC - PCIe
Model 7752 Quad 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D, 32 Channel DDC - PCIe
Model 7751D Octal 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D, 512 Channel DDC - PCIe
Model 7751 Quad 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D, 256 Channel DDC - PCIe
Model 7750D Octal 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D with Virtex-5 FPGAs - PCIe
Model 7750 Quad 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D with Virtex-5 FPGAs - PCIe
Model 7742D-428 GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter - PCIe
Model 7742D 8-Ch A/D, 2-Ch D/A w/ V4 FPGAs - PCIe
Model 7742-428 GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter - PCIe
Model 7742 4-Ch A/D, 1-Ch D/A w/ V4 FPGAs - PCIe
Model 7741D Quad Digital Up/Downconverter with FPGA - PCIe
Model 7741 Dual Digital Up/Downconverter with FPGA - PCIe
Model 7740 Dual Digital Up/Downconverter with FPGA - PCIe
Model 7653 Quad 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D, 2-4 Channel DDC - PCI
Model 7652 Quad 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D, 32 Channel DDC - PCI
Model 7651 Quad 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D, 256 Channel DDC - PCI
Model 7650 Quad 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D w/Virtex-5 FPGAs PCI
Model 7642-428 GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter PMC/XMC
Model 7642 4-Ch A/D, 1-Ch D/A w/ Virtex-4 FPGAs PCI
Model 7641 Dual Digital Up/Downconverter PCI with FPGA
Model 7640 Dual Digital Up/Downconverter PCI with FPGA
Model 7631A 16-Ch. Multiband Receiver w/A/D & FPGA PCI Board
Model 7631 16-Ch. Dig. Receiver w/A/D & FPGA PCI Board
Model 7353 Quad 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D, 2-4 Channel DDC - 3U cPCI
Model 7352 Quad 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D, 32 Channel DDC - 3U cPCI
Model 7351 Quad 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D, 256 Channel DDC - 3U cPCI
Model 7350 Quad 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D w/Virtex-5 FPGAs 3U cPCI
Model 7342-428 GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter PMC/XMC
Model 7342 4-Ch A/D, 1-Ch D/A w/Virtex-4 FPGAs 3U CPCI
Model 7341 Dual Digital Up/Downconverter 3U cPCI with FPGA
Model 7340 Dual Digital Up/Downconverter 3U cPCI with FPGA
Model 7331 16-Ch Multiband Digital Receiver & A/D 3U cPCI Board
Model 7253D Octal 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D, 4-8 Channel DDC - 6U cPCI
Model 7253 Quad 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D, 2-4 Channel DDC - 6U cPCI
Model 7252D Octal 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D, 64 Channel DDC - 6U cPCI
Model 7252 Quad 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D, 32 Channel DDC - 6U cPCI
Model 7251D Octal 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D, 512 Channel DDC 6U cPCI
Model 7251 Quad 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D, 256 Channel DDC - 6U cPCI
Model 7250D Octal 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D w/Virtex-5 FPGAs 6U cPCI
Model 7250 Quad 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D w/Virtex-5 FPGAs 6U cPCI
Model 7242D-428 GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter PMC/XMC
Model 7242-428 GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter PMC/XMC
Model 7242 4-Ch A/D, 1-Ch D/A w/Virtex-4 FPGAs 6U CPCI
Model 7241D Quad Digital Up/Downconverter 6U cPCI with FPGA
Model 7241 Dual Digital Up/Downconverter 6U cPCI with FPGA
Model 7240D Quad Digital Up/Downconverter 6U cPCI with FPGA
Model 7240 Dual Digital Up/Downconverter 6U cPCI with FPGA
Model 7231D 32-Ch Multiband Digital Receiver & A/D 6U cPCI Board
Model 7231 16-Ch Multiband Digital Receiver & A/D 6U cPCI Board
Model 7153 Quad 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D, 2-4 Channel DDC - PMC
Model 7152 Quad 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D, 32 Channel DDC - PMC
Model 7151 Quad 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D, 256 Channel DDC - PMC
Model 7150 Quad 200 MHz, 16-bit A/D with Virtex-5 FPGAs PMC/XMC
Model 7142-428 GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter PMC/XMC
Model 7142 4-Ch A/D, 1-Ch D/A w/ Virtex-4 FPGAs PMC/XMC
Model 7141-703 Dual Digital Up/Downconverter Ruggedized PMC/XMC with FPGA
Model 7141 Dual Digital Up/Downconverter PMC/XMC with FPGA
Model 7140 Dual Digital Up/Downconverter PMC/XMC with FPGA
Model 7131 16-Ch Multiband Digital Receiver & A/D PMC Module
Model 6891 System Synchronizer and Distribution Board - VME
Model 6890 2.2 GHz VME Clock, Sync & Gate Distribution Board
Model 6826 Dual 2 GHz, 10-bit A/D VME Board w/Virtex-II Pro
Model 6822 Dual 215 MHz A/D Converter VME Board w/FPDP Output
Model 6821-422 215 MHz A/D and Digital Receiver Installed Core
Model 6821 215 MHz A/D Converter VME Board w/FPDP Output
Model 6802 32-Channel A/D Converter VME Board w/FPDP Output
Model 6472 2 Channel 10-bit 70 MHz A/D Converter
Model 6470 10-bit 70 MHz A/D Converter
Model 6465 2 Channel 12-bit 65 MHz A/D Converter
Model 6441 2 Channel 12-bit 41 MHz A/D Converter
Model 6425 12-bit 25 MHz A/D Converter
Model 6420 2 Channel 14-bit 20 MHz A/D Converter
Model 6402 2 Channel 16-bit 250 kHz A/D Converter
Model 6256 Dual/Quad 105 MHz A/D w/Virtex-II Pro FPGA VIM-2
Model 6236-421 14-Bit A/D with Wideband Receiver Installed Core
Model 6236 14-Bit A/D & FPGA VIM-2 w/Opt. Digital Receivers
Model 6235-421 12-Bit A/D with Wideband Receiver Installed Core
Model 6235-404 Dual Wideband 4k FFT Receiver VIM-2 Module
Model 6235-401 Dual Wideband 1k FFT Receiver VIM-2 Module
Model 6235 2-Ch. Wideband Dig. Receiver + A/D VIM-2 w/FPGA
Model 6231 16-Channel Narrowband Digital Receiver & A/D VIM-2 w/FPGA
Model 6230 32-Channel Narrowband Digital Receiver & A/D VIM-4 w/FPGA
Model 6216 Wideband Digital Receiver and A/D Converter VIM-2
Model 6215 8 Channel 16-bit 234 kHz A/D Converter VIM-2 Module
Model 6211 2 Channel 12-bit 65 MHz A/D Converter VIM-2 Module
Model 6210 Narrowband Digital Receiver & A/D Converter VIM-2
Model 6109 8 Channel 12-bit 20 MHz A/D Converter
Model 6106 8 Channel 14-bit 2 MHz A/D Converter
Model 4277 32-Channel 16-Bit 200 kHz A/D Converter MIX Module
Model 4275B 32-Channel, 16-Bit 100 kHz A/D Converter
Model 4274 14/12-bit 10/20 MHz A/D Converter


D/A (digital-to-analog)

D/A (digital-to-analog) converters serve as the outputs for many multi-channel systems. Pentek's boards are available in VME, cPCI, PCI, PMC and XMC form factors. Pentek's products cover up to 16 bits accuracy with sample frequencies up to 500 MHz.

Pentek D/A Products   -   ( top )

Model Description
Model 7842-428 GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter - PCIe
Model 7842 4-Ch A/D, 1-Ch D/A w/ Virtex-4 FPGAs, x8 PCIe
Model 7841 Dual Digital Up/Downconverter with FPGA, x8 PCIe
Model 7840 Dual Digital Up/Downconverter with FPGA, x8 PCIe
Model 7742D-428 GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter - PCIe
Model 7742D 8-Ch A/D, 2-Ch D/A w/ V4 FPGAs - PCIe
Model 7742-428 GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter - PCIe
Model 7742 4-Ch A/D, 1-Ch D/A w/ V4 FPGAs - PCIe
Model 7741D Quad Digital Up/Downconverter with FPGA - PCIe
Model 7741 Dual Digital Up/Downconverter with FPGA - PCIe
Model 7740 Dual Digital Up/Downconverter with FPGA - PCIe
Model 7642-428 GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter PMC/XMC
Model 7642 4-Ch A/D, 1-Ch D/A w/ Virtex-4 FPGAs PCI
Model 7641 Dual Digital Up/Downconverter PCI with FPGA
Model 7640 Dual Digital Up/Downconverter PCI with FPGA
Model 7342-428 GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter PMC/XMC
Model 7342 4-Ch A/D, 1-Ch D/A w/Virtex-4 FPGAs 3U CPCI
Model 7341 Dual Digital Up/Downconverter 3U cPCI with FPGA
Model 7340 Dual Digital Up/Downconverter 3U cPCI with FPGA
Model 7242D-428 GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter PMC/XMC
Model 7242-428 GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter PMC/XMC
Model 7242 4-Ch A/D, 1-Ch D/A w/Virtex-4 FPGAs 6U CPCI
Model 7241D Quad Digital Up/Downconverter 6U cPCI with FPGA
Model 7241 Dual Digital Up/Downconverter 6U cPCI with FPGA
Model 7240D Quad Digital Up/Downconverter 6U cPCI with FPGA
Model 7240 Dual Digital Up/Downconverter 6U cPCI with FPGA
Model 7142-428 GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter PMC/XMC
Model 7142 4-Ch A/D, 1-Ch D/A w/ Virtex-4 FPGAs PMC/XMC
Model 7141-703 Dual Digital Up/Downconverter Ruggedized PMC/XMC with FPGA
Model 7141 Dual Digital Up/Downconverter PMC/XMC with FPGA
Model 7140 Dual Digital Up/Downconverter PMC/XMC with FPGA
Model 6229 Dual Digital Upconverter and D/A VIM-2 Module
Model 6228 4-Ch. D/A, Digital Upconverter & FPGA VIM-2 Module
Model 4253 32 Channel 12-bit 100 kHz D/A Converter


A/D and D/A

These A/D and D/A products benefit from having both functions on one module increasing the board density and features and taking up less space in a system chassis. Many of Pentek's A/D and D/A modules include digital down converters by means of ASICs and FPGA Installed Cores. Pentek's boards are available in VME, cPCI, PCI, PMC and XMC form factors.

Pentek A/D and D/A Products   -   ( top )

Model Description
Model 7858 Dual 500 MHz A/D & 800 MHz Virtex-5 FPGAs - PCIe
Model 7856 Dual 400 MHz A/D & 800 MHz Virtex-5 FPGAs - PCIe
Model 7842-428 GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter - PCIe
Model 7842 4-Ch A/D, 1-Ch D/A w/ Virtex-4 FPGAs, x8 PCIe
Model 7841-430 GateFlow Transceiver with 256-Ch NB DDC - PCIe
Model 7841-420 GateFlow Transceiver with WB DDC & Intpolation Filter - PCIe
Model 7758D Quad 500 MHz A/Ds, 800 MHz D/As, and Virtex-5 FPGAs - PCIe
Model 7758 Dual 500 MHz A/Ds, 800 MHz D/As, and Virtex-5 FPGAs - PCIe
Model 7756D Quad 400 MHz A/Ds, 800 MHz D/As, and Virtex-5 FPGAs - PCIe
Model 7756 Dual 400 MHz A/Ds, 800 MHz D/As, and Virtex-5 FPGAs - PCIe
Model 7742D-428 GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter - PCIe
Model 7742D 8-Ch A/D, 2-Ch D/A w/ V4 FPGAs - PCIe
Model 7742-428 GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter - PCIe
Model 7742 4-Ch A/D, 1-Ch D/A w/ V4 FPGAs - PCIe
Model 7741D-430 GateFlow Transceiver with 256-Ch NB DDC - PCIe
Model 7741D-420 GateFlow Transceiver with WB DDC & Intpolation Filter - PCIe
Model 7741-430 GateFlow Transceiver with 256-Ch NB DDC - PCIe
Model 7741-420 GateFlow Transceiver with WB DDC & Intpolation Filter - PCIe
Model 7658 Dual 500 MHz A/Ds, 800 MHz D/As, and Virtex-5 FPGAs - PCI
Model 7656 Dual 400 MHz A/Ds, 800 MHz D/As, and Virtex-5 FPGAs - PCI
Model 7642-428 GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter PMC/XMC
Model 7641-430 GateFlow Transceiver with 256-Ch NB DDC - PCI
Model 7640-430 GateFlow Transceiver w/256-Ch NB DDC - PCI
Model 7640-421 GateFlow Transceiver w/Wideband DDC - PCI
Model 7640-420 GateFlow Transceiver WB DDC & Interpolation - PCI
Model 7358 Dual 500 MHz A/Ds, 800 MHz D/As, and Virtex-5 FPGAs - 3U cPCI
Model 7356 Dual 400 MHz A/Ds, 800 MHz D/As, and Virtex-5 FPGAs - 3U cPCI
Model 7342-428 GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter PMC/XMC
Model 7341-430 GateFlow Transceiver with 256-Ch NB DDC - cPCI
Model 7341-420 GateFlow Transceiver w/WB DDC & Interpolation - 3U cPCI
Model 7340-430 GateFlow Transceiver w/256-Ch NB DDC - 3U cPCI
Model 7340-421 GateFlow Transceiver w/Wideband DDC - 3U cPCI
Model 7340-420 GateFlow Transceiver w/WB DDC & Interpolation - 3U cPCI
Model 7258D Quad 500 MHz A/Ds, 800 MHz D/As, and Virtex-5 FPGAs - 6U cPCI
Model 7258 Dual 500 MHz A/Ds, 800 MHz D/As, and Virtex-5 FPGAs - 6U cPCI
Model 7256D Quad 400 MHz A/Ds, 800 MHz D/As, and Virtex-5 FPGAs - 6U cPCI
Model 7256 Dual 400 MHz A/Ds, 800 MHz D/As, and Virtex-5 FPGAs - 6U cPCI
Model 7242D-428 GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter PMC/XMC
Model 7242-428 GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter PMC/XMC
Model 7242 4-Ch A/D, 1-Ch D/A w/Virtex-4 FPGAs 6U CPCI
Model 7241D-430 GateFlow Transceiver with 256-Ch NB DDC - cPCI
Model 7241D-420 GateFlow Transceiver w/WB DDC & Interpolation - 6U cPCI
Model 7241-430 GateFlow Transceiver with 256-Ch NB DDC - cPCI
Model 7241-420 GateFlow Transceiver w/WB DDC & Interpolation - 6U cPCI
Model 7240D-430 GateFlow Transceiver w/256-Ch NB DDC - 6U cPCI
Model 7240D-420 GateFlow Transceiver w/WB DDC & Interpolation - 6U cPCI
Model 7240-430 GateFlow Transceiver w/256-Ch NB DDC - 6U cPCI
Model 7240-421 GateFlow Transceiver w/Wideband DDC - 6U cPCI
Model 7240-420 GateFlow Transceiver w/WB DDC & Interpolation - 6U cPCI
Model 71620 3 Channel 200 MHz A/D & 2 Channel 800 MHz D/A with Virtex-6 FPGA - XMC
Model 7158 Dual 500 MHz A/Ds, 800 MHz D/As, and Virtex-5 FPGAs - PMC/XMC
Model 7156 Dual 400 MHz A/Ds, 800 MHz D/As, and Virtex-5 FPGAs - PMC/XMC
Model 7142-428 GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter PMC/XMC
Model 7142 4-Ch A/D, 1-Ch D/A w/ Virtex-4 FPGAs PMC/XMC
Model 7141-430 GateFlow Transceiver with 256-Ch NB DDC - PMC/XMC
Model 7141-420 GateFlow Transceiver with WB DDC & Intpolation Filter PMC/XMC
Model 7140-430 GateFlow Transceiver with 256-Ch NB DDC - PMC/XMC
Model 7140-421 GateFlow Transceiver with Wideband DDC - PMC/XMC
Model 7140-420 GateFlow Transceiver WB DDC & Interpolation - PMC/XMC
Model 6102 8 Channel 16-bit 250 kHz A/D and D/A Converter
Model 4265 16-Channel 16-bit 50 kHz A/D and D/A Converter
Model 4252 16 Channel 16-bit 50 kHz A/D and D/A Converter
Model 4242 Single Channel 18-bit 200 kHz A/D and D/A Converter


Other Analog & Digital I/O

Pentek's additional analog and digital I/O products include parallel digital I/O, FPDP adapters and more.

Pentek Other Analog & Digital I/O Products   -   ( top )

Model Description
Model 7890 Multifrequency Clock Synthesizer - PCIe
Model 7190 Multifrequency Clock Synthesizer - PMC
Model 6227 Parallel Digital I/O VIM-2 Module
Model 6226 Front Panel Data Port (FPDP) Adapter VIM-2 Module
Model 4404 HP Local Bus-to-FPDP Adapter
Model 4280 Dual TMS320C31 Processor
Model 4256 RS-232C Serial I/O & XDS Adapter
Model 4241 Parallel Digital I/O Module



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