In the past, designing high-performance radio and signal processing systems required integrating multiple discrete components such as ADCs, DACs, FPGAs, processors, and RF front ends onto large and complex circuit boards. These multi-chip solutions posed significant challenges in terms of system size, latency, power consumption, and synchronization. Moreover, managing high-speed data transfers between these components added cost and design complexity, especially in applications demanding real-time performance.
To address these limitations, AMD introduced the Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC, a revolutionary System-on-Chip architecture that integrates multi-gigasample ADCs and DACs, powerful processing units, programmable logic, and high-speed transceivers into a single chip. This unprecedented level of integration eliminates the need for external analog interfaces and significantly reduces size, weight, and power (SWaP). The Radio Frequency System-on-Chip (RFSoC) was designed to meet the growing needs of advanced applications like 5G, radar, electronic warfare, satellite communications, and test and measurement, where high data throughput, low latency, and real-time adaptability are mission-critical.
RFSoC Architecture Overview
At the heart of RFSoC is a highly integrated architecture that brings together essential analog and digital components on a single chip — enabling compact, power-efficient radio solutions. This monolithic integration streamlines design complexity and enhances performance, making it ideal for applications where size, power, and throughput are critical.
Key architectural highlights include:
- High-speed ADCs and DACs with built-in front-end signal conditioning and optimized hardened DSP blocks.
- A powerful processing system featuring quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 application processors and dual-core Cortex-R5 real-time processors.
- Programmable logic (FPGA fabric) for custom signal processing and hardware acceleration.
- Dedicated hardened IP blocks for Forward Error Correction (FEC) — essential for reliable high-speed data transmission.
- Integrated high-speed transceivers supporting multi-gigabit serial communication over standard interfaces.
This cohesive architecture enables RFSoC to deliver complete, high-performance radio solutions in a compact footprint, ideally suited for next-generation wireless, aerospace, and embedded networking systems.
Why Consider an RFSoC System on Module?
As RFSoCs integrate high-speed analog and digital processing into a single device, choosing a System on Module (SoM) significantly accelerates development and simplifies complex designs. These SoMs manage challenges such as power sequencing, signal integrity, and high-speed layout, allowing developers to focus on application-level development. This enables rapid prototyping and faster time-to-market, especially for advanced RF and signal processing applications.
In addition, RFSoC SoMs offer a compact, production-ready solution with pre-validated interfaces such as JESD204B, multi-Gsps ADCs/DACs, and high-speed memory. They are ideal for applications that demand SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) optimization making them suitable for industries like aerospace, defense, wireless communication, and medical imaging.
With flexible carrier card designs and extensive software and hardware support, RFSoC SoMs empower developers to scale across product families while reusing core IP, reducing both risk and development cost.
iWave Portfolio of Boards and Solutions: Powered by Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC
We are excited to introduce our portfolio of RFSoC System on Modules and our expertise in RF System Design and FPGA Expertise. The RFSoC provides for direct RF-sampling, highly flexible, reconfigurable logic, and software programmability.
As a leader in embedded technology and FPGA innovation, iWave offers a robust range of RFSoC System on Modules, evaluation kits, and custom carrier card design services. Jump-start your design cycle and achieve fast time-to-market with the proven RFSoC Solutions from iWave.
- iG-RainboW-G42M (Powered by AMD ZU49/ZU39/ZU29DR):
- 16 x ADC channels @ 2.5Gsps and 16 x DAC channels @ 10Gsps
- Supports 16 high-speed GTY transceivers @ 28.21Gbps
- Up to 930K Logic cells & 425K LUTs
- Form factor: 100mm x 90mm
- iG-RainboW-G60M (Powered by AMD ZU48/ZU47/ZU43/ZU28/ZU27/ZU25DR):
- 8 x ADC channels @ 5Gsps and 8 x DAC channels @ 9.85Gsps
- Supports 16 high-speed GTY transceivers @ 28.21Gbps
- Up to 930K Logic cells & 425K LUTs
- Form factor: 82mm x 100mm
- ADC & DAC PCIe Card (Powered by ZU49/39/29DR):
- 16 x RF-DAC channel @ 10Gsps and 16 x RF-ADC channel @ 2.5Gsps
- PCIe Gen1/2/3 compliant, M.2 NVMe slot, FMC+ HSPC connector
- Integrated ultra-low-noise programmable RF PL
- Integrated SyncE & PTP Network Synchronization
- NVMe PCIe Gen2 x2/x4 M.2 Connector
- 3/4 Length PCIe Gen3 x8 Host Interface
- 3U VPX Board (Powered by ZU48/ZU47/ZU43/ZU28/ZU27/ZU25DR):
- Integrated programmable RF PLL and SyncE & PTP support
- Integrated ultra-low-noise programmable RF PL
- Based on ANSI/VITA 46.30 with dual 3U VPX connectors
- 4 Optical Transceivers and RF (8ADC & 4 DAC) through 12Pos
- Form factor: 160mm x 100mm
iWave has also successfully tested the Multi-Board Synchronization feature on the RFSoC, which is crucial for applications that require precise timing and coordination.
Multi-board synchronization ensures that each board operates in precise timing alignment with others, maintaining data consistency and coherence across the entire systems in applications like phased-array radars, distributed antenna systems, and MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) networks.
By consolidating analog and digital signal processing into one tightly coupled device, RFSoC has transformed the landscape of RF system design, enabling a new generation of compact, efficient, and reconfigurable platforms for high-speed communication and sensing.
iWave is a global leader in the design and manufacturing of FPGA System on Modules and ODM Design Services. With over 25 years of diverse experience in the FPGA domain and a strong design-to-deployment competence, iWave strives to transform your ideas into time-to-market products with reliability, cost, and performance balance.
Looking for more insights? Contact us at mktg@iwave-global.com to explore how our RFSoC portfolio empowers customers with flexible, high-performance platforms for next-generation radio and signal processing solutions.
For more information visit www.iwave-global.com.
