Digital Serial I/O Module for APx B Series Audio Analyzers
Multi-channel, multi-format Digital Serial I/O for IC testing

The Digital Serial I/O option adds a multichannel digital serial interface to APx B Series modular audio analyzers. This provides a direct connection to chip level interfaces such as I2S and supports all popular serial interface formats including left justified, right justified, and DSP. In addition the option supports TDM or multiple data line configurations for up to 16 channels of audio data.

The digital serial capability is essential in R&D for evaluating designs at the circuit board level. It allows direct connectivity to CODECs, DSPs, analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters, sample rate converters, and all types of audio processing and interface chips. Users can access and test board-side inputs and outputs to HDMI (when used in conjunction with the APx HDMI option), SPDIF, and other digital interface transmitters and receivers.

Pulse voltage, sample rate, word length, data length and the time relationship between clock and data are variable to accommodate a wide range of devices and applications.

Hardware Connectivity
The transmitter and receiver are interfaced via HD-15 connectors. Each connector breaks out to a master, frame, channel, and bit clock in addition to four data lines. Eight channels of audio data can be carried across the four data lines or the system can be configured for TDM (time division multiplexing), allowing up to 16 channels to be carried on a single data line.

In addition both the transmitter and receiver signals can be monitored via dedicated, buffered monitor ports. These duplicate the signals at the transmitter or receiver and allow direct monitoring via an external oscilloscope.

The APx Digital Serial I/O option includes independent, programmable master clocks for both the transmitter and receiver. This allows the use of two different clocks simultaneously, an important advantage in SRC testing when compared to single-clock serial interface.

Useful Presets & Simplified Setup
The Digital Serial option meets the high standard set by APx for ease-of-use. Setup panels include automatic rate calculators and active timing diagrams, and there is built-in support for left justified, right justified, I2S and DSP formats. Presets for testing popular audio devices are also included. Digital Serial configurations can be saved within a project file or saved independently for reuse in multiple projects.

All APx500 measurements are available when using the Digital Serial interface. New features have been added for diagnostics, including digital-only generator functions such as Walking Ones, Walking Zeros and Constant Value, and analyzer functions such as Bit Test, which allows APx to verify that the digital output of any device is bit-for-bit accurate.

No digital serial interface is easier to use.

Digital Serial and HDMI
The Digital Serial option by itself has many applications, but when used in conjunction with the APx HDMI option, truly unique audio test solutions become available. The connectivity between the two options creates a fast and simple solution for HDMI chip developers who need the ability to debug at the circuit board level.

It is also the only analyzer in the world that can interface directly to HDMI receiver and transmitter chips, and the only analyzer that can stream high bit rate audio signals such as dts-HD over a multichannel serial interface.

DSIO MODULE PERFORMANCE
Pulse Voltage
1.8 V, 2.5 V, 3.3 V

Formats
I2S, DSP, custom (left/right justified, one bit/one subframe/50% duty cycle frame, inverted or normal frame, 1-bit left-shifted frame)

Master Clock Rates
4 kHz to 55.296 MHz (1, 2 or 4 channels)
4 kHz to 49.152 MHz (8 or 16 channels)

Sample Rates
4 kS/s to 216 kS/s (1, 2 or 4 channels)
4 kS/s to 192 kS/s (8 or 16 channels)

Master Clock Inversion
Yes

Bit Clock Edge Synchronization
Rising or Falling

Word Width
8 to 128 bits (cannot be less than bit depth)

Bit Depth
8 to 32 bits

Dither
Selectable ON or OFF

Master Clock Direction
Selectable IN, OUT or OFF

Bit/Frame Clock Direction
Selectable IN or OUT

Multichannel Configurations
TDM: 2, 4, 8 or 16 channels

Multiple Datalines
2, 4, 8 or 16 channels

Compatible Instruments
APx555, 525, 526, 585 and 586

Full Specifications: For full specifications on the APx Digital Serial I/O module, please see the Installation and Specifications Guides for any of the modular APx audio analyzers:

APx555 Installation Instructions & Full Specifications
APx52x Series and APx58x Series Installation Instructions and Full Specifications