Description
AA Opto-Electronic offers radio frequency (RF) drivers – voltage controlled oscillators and direct digital synthesizers – for acousto-optic (AO) deflectors and variable frequency shifters.
VCO: Voltage Controlled Oscillators
These drivers are suitable for general purpose applications (raster scan, or random access…). The amplitude of the VCO’s output RF signal can be modulated from an external analogue signal; the input signal of the driver linearly and continuously controls the output RF amplitude of the signal from 0 to the maximum level. Similarly, the frequency of the VCO’s output RF signal can be also linearly and continuously modulated using an external analogue signal; the output RF frequency of the signal from the minimum frequency to the maximum frequency. To generate the RF power levels required by the AO device in OEM versions of the driver, an external power amplifier will be required. However, the laboratory version of the VCO includes amplifiers. In addition, there is an option to have the laboratory version of the VCO driver with two outputs; this is ideal for beam deflection in the x and y direction.
| Property | Details |
|---|---|
| Frequency Range | Adapted at factory to AO device Max 50 - 110, 60 - 150, 90 - 210, 150 - 300, 200 - 300, 200 - 350 MHz (Others on Request) |
| Frequency Control | 0 - 10V/10 kOhms |
| Modulation Input | 0 - 5V |
| Sweeping time | ≤1 μs |
| Power Supply | 24V DC (OEM) or 110-230 V AC (LAB) |
DDS: Direct Digital Synthesizers
DDS models offer high frequency accuracy and stability and extremely fast switching times of less than 100 ns. These models will be preferred to VCOs when high stability and accuracy is necessary. The amplitude of the output RF signal can be modulated from an analogue or digital external signal. The frequency of the output RF signal is externally controlled by a digital signal; 15, 23 or 31 bits options are available, depending on your frequency accuracy requirements. To generate the RF power levels required by the AO device in OEM versions of the driver, an external power amplifier will be required. However, the laboratory version of the DDS includes amplifiers. In addition, there is an option to have the laboratory version of the DDS driver with two outputs; this is ideal for beam deflection in the x and y direction.
| Property | Details |
|---|---|
| Frequency Range | Max 10 - 350 MHz (400 MHz on Request) |
| Frequency Control | 15, 23 or 31 bits (1 bit E/D) |
| Frequency Step | 15 kHz, 60 Hz, 0.25 Hz |
| Modulation Input | 0-5 V / 50 Ohms, TTL (8 bits on request) |
| Access Time | 40, 64, 80 ns |
| Power supply | 24V DC (OEM) or 110-230 V AC (Lab) |
For a copy of AA catalogue, click CATALOG-AA-OPTO-2019
Additionally, please find the datasheets for the VCO and DDS drivers (labelled as DRFAxx and DDSPAxx respectively) here.
