Atropos is an XMC I/O module with precision, low-noise clock generation and distribution for data acquisition and communications timing applications. The module has four output clocks and four output triggers as well as a clock/reference input and a trigger input. The Atropos can also act as a system timing card in multi-board XMC, FMC or PCIe -based systems, providing the reference clock, sample clocks and triggering.
In the sample clock generation mode, the Atropos can generate clocks from 70.06 to 3080 MHz. All clock outputs may be referenced to an on-card 280 ppb temperature-compensated oscillator, or an external clock input.
The PLL circuit is fully programmable, providing extremely low noise clocks with 91 fs RMS jitter, -162.5 dBc/Hz noise floor (fc=245.76 MHz). The output clocks are phase aligned to within 100 ps. Each output clock is a 1 to 32 subdivision of the external clock or second- stage PLL, which may programmatically operate in either the 2370- 2630 or 2920-3080 MHz range.
Windows and Linux applications are provided that are used to configure and control all Atropos features.
Software tools for host development include C++ libraries and drivers for Windows and Linux.
