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NCO IC Manufacturers: Numerically Controlled Oscillators

rf transceiver signal generator dsp frequency synthesizer nco

A Numerically Controlled Oscillator (NCO) is a digital circuit or algorithm that generates periodic waveforms with controllable frequencies. This makes it a versatile component in digital signal processing and communication systems.

NCOs are used in a wide variety of applications, including:

  • Software Defined Radios (SDRs)
  • Frequency synthesizers used in RF transceivers
  • Digital Signal Processing (DSP)
  • Test and Measurement Equipments
  • Radar systems
  • SONAR systems

The following table lists some NCO IC manufacturers:

NCO IC Manufacturers

ManufacturersDescription
Analog DevicesAD9850 CMOS, 125 MHz Complete DDS Synthesizer; AD9951 DDS with 14-bit DAC operating up to 400 MSPS; AD9954, AD9958. Refer analog.com
Texas InstrumentsAFE79xx is a wide-bandwidth multi-channel transceiver housing NCOs for RF sampling transmitter chains and RF sampling receiver chains. TI also offers NCO-based frequency hopping capability in its RF-sampling AFE74xx device. Refer ti.com
Maxim IntegratedMAX5868, MAX5855. Refer maximintegrated.com
Microchip TechnologyTB3131, NCO on PIC microcontrollers. Refer microchip.com for more information.
Linear Technology (Now part of Analog Devices)LTC6903/LTC6904. Refer analog.com for more information.
Lattice SemiconductorThe company offers Numerically Controlled Oscillators (NCOs) with various features. Refer latticesemi.com for more information.
Silicon LabsRefer silabs.com for more information.

NCOs and DDS Synthesizers

Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS) synthesizers use a Numerically Controlled Oscillator (NCO) to generate a waveform with a frequency determined by a tuning word. Hence, the NCO is often available as a built-in component of DDS ICs.