Results from a prototype 6GSps digital to analogue converter with greater than 7 GHz analogue bandwidth

Designers of Microwave systems are constantly looking for DACs which provide not only Nyquist zones larger than 2.5 GHz but which also offer flat frequency response in these large instantaneous bandwidths, and in addition which also generate these signals with a centre frequency that is in the frequency band of interest. The component's performance can have strong implications in how microwave systems such as radar, communication systems and instrumentation systems are designed. This paper presents a prototype of a high speed, high bandwidth Digital to Analogue Converter with high sample rate and high output bandwidth which enables the direct conversion of signals to frequencies up to 10GHz with instantaneous bandwidths of up to 3GHz. It describes the component structure, applications for the component and prototype results are given.