IDT expands timing leadership with ultra-flexible frequency translation devices featuring industry-leading phase noise performance

SAN JOSE, USA: Integrated Device Technology Inc. (IDT) announced the industry’s most flexible Universal Frequency Translators (UFTs) with industry-leading phase noise performance. The devices are easy to configure and allow for output frequencies that are not limited by the traditional integer or fractional multiples of the input frequency, for use in a myriad of high-performance applications, including communications line cards, networking interfaces, embedded systems, and 4G wireless base-stations.

The IDT 840N202I, 849N202I, 849N212I UFT devices accept a wide range of input frequencies from 8kHz to 710MHz and translate them into output frequencies from 1MHz – 1.3GHz, without the limitation of an integer relationship between input and output.

Unlike other universal frequency translation products on the market, IDT’s devices offer industry-leading jitter and phase noise performance, making them ideal for use in high-performance applications where multiple frequency translations are needed, such as in communications and networking equipment that carry multi-service traffic. In addition, the devices feature the capability to adjust the degree of jitter attenuation performed, allowing the same device to be used in multiple applications or scenarios without the need to change components on the circuit board.

“Our newest UFT family offers both flexibility and performance at an attractive price point,” said Fred Zust, vice president and general manager of the Communications Division at IDT. “The ability to choose an output frequency that isn’t a multiple of the input simplifies our customers’ designs, reducing cost and improving time-to-market. With RMS jitter of less than 0.5 picoseconds (ps) for many translation scenarios, and some less than 0.3ps, these devices can be used in high performance applications requiring very precise clocks. IDT is the leader in silicon timing solutions and this new family of devices reinforces that leadership position.”

IDT’s frequency translation devices are highly flexible and easily configurable. With a simple and intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) programming tool, users can quickly configure output frequencies and mode of operation and generate the configurations that can then be permanently stored in the device. Furthermore, the IDT UFT family supports two redundant inputs that can be switched automatically in the event of a failure on the primary input. The user is also able to control the rate of phase change on the output as the device switches between the inputs to optimize the handoff.

IDT’s new UFT devices complement an extensive portfolio of clock and timing devices to satisfy both simple and complex clock tree designs. The devices can be used in a stand-alone mode or in conjunction with other devices feeding the input, such as an IDT WAN-PLL or real-time clock. IDT’s portfolio of clock distribution devices such as fanout buffers and multiplexers can be used to distribute the output clocks within the customer’s card or system.

The IDT 840N202I, 849N202I, 849N212I UFT devices are currently sampling to qualified customers and are available in a 6x6mm 40-ld QFN package.