ADI's MS-DPD (mixed-signal, digital pre-distortion) development platform simplifies the wireless infrastructure design process by allowing OEMs to quickly assess and reprogram the radio to remove non-linearities from the transmit paths and enhance radio power efficiency.
 
ADI's MS-DPD platform incorporates a high-performance RF and mixed-signal transmit and observation receiver chain supporting 2G, 3G and emerging 4G wireless protocols.

Xilinx's Virtex-6 FPGA ML605  evaluation kit connects to the MS-DPD board through a VITA-57 FMC connector. Using this system, the FPGA can be used to implement required radio algorithms leveraging the ADI signal chain available on the MS-DPD.
 
The multi-carrier MS-DPD development platform simplifies component selection and board layout to make it easier for designers of multi-carrier GSM and multi-standard SDR (software-defined radio) base stations to develop FPGA-based DPD algorithms.

FPGAs also provide the flexibility to optimize the solution that competing fixed-function ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits) cannot, while providing a highly integrated, low-cost, low-power and high-reliability solution to present day base station needs.
 
Manuel Uhm Director, Wireless Communications Business, Xilinx, said, "Customers are able to rapidly evaluate Xilinx's crest factor reduction (CFR) and DPD algorithms in conjunction with ADI's high-performance transmitter solutions, saving considerable engineering time. Furthermore, customers can leverage the Virtex-6 ML605 FPGA Evaluation Kit and MS-DPD to develop and evaluate their own IP."
 
The MS-DPD development board includes more than 12 Analog Devices RF and mixed-signal components, including the recently announced AD9122 1.2-GSPS DAC (digital-to-analogue converter) and ADL5375 quadrature modulator, in addition to amplifiers, mixers, clock ICs, and PLL (phase-locked-loop) circuits. The observation path includes the AD9230 12-bit, 250-MSPS ADC (analogue-to-digital converter) to maximize the bandwidth available for DPD.
 
MS-DPD development boards are available today to qualified customers from ADI for $3,995 each. The Virtex-6 FPGA ML605 Evaluation Kit is available today from Xilinx and is priced at $1,995.