Recent advancements in data converter technologies have led to a substantial increase in sampling rates, opening up the potential to achieve a bandwidth of several tens of gigahertz using the most recent ADCs and DACs. Many applications involving RF
digitization use a method known as intermediate frequency (IF) sampling, where the analog signal is first converted to a lower intermediate frequency before being sampled by a converter. Increasing sampling rates now allows for direct sampling of the
RF signal without the need for additional RF conversion stages, even for signals in the tens of gigahertz range. This approach, known as direct sampling, is now applicable to a wide range of radar and EW frequency bands, including the Ku, K, and Ka bands.
This RF direct sampling method can greatly simplify architectures and enhance the flexibility, scalability, and SWAP-C of equipment.