A common application of the TRF0206-SP is to drive a high-speed ADC, such as the ADC12DJ3200QML-SP or AFE7950 that have differential inputs. Conventionally, passive baluns are used to drive GSPS ADCs because of nonavailability of high-bandwidth linear amplifiers. The TRF0206-SP is an active balun that has excellent bandwidth flatness, gain, and phase imbalance comparable to or exceeding costly passive baluns.

The following figure shows a typical interface circuit for the ADC12DJ3200QML-SP. Depending on the ADC and system requirement, this circuit can be simplified or can be more complex.

Figure 8-1 Interfacing with High-Speed ADC

Figure 8-1 shows two sections of the circuit between the driver amp and the ADC: namely, the matching pad (or attenuator pad) and the antialiasing filter. Use small form-factor, RF-quality, passive components for these circuits. The output swing of the TRF0206-SP is designed to drive these ADCs full-scale, while at the same time not overdrive the device. This functionality avoids the need for any voltage limiting device at the ADC.