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TelCom TC1029 Double Op. Amps
TelCom Semiconductor Announces First Member of Linear Building Block Family

The manufacturer says . . .

Chipcenter's Paul McGoldrick says . . .

TelCom Semiconductor, Inc. announced the TC1029, the first device in TelCom's Linear Building Block Family. The TC1029 eliminates the need for multiple discrete parts by combining various analog and mixed-signal functions in single space-saving packages.

The TC1029 combines two rail-to-rail input/output op amps in a small 8-pin MSOP package. These amplifiers are specifically designed for single-supply applications and operate down to a minimum supply voltage of 1.8V. Operation from dual supplies is also possible, and supply current drain is independent of supply voltage. The device is optimized for very low power operation (8 槡, max, per op amp).

Due to its extended gain-bandwidth product (GBW = 90 KHz typical), the TC1029 is especially well-suited for signal conditioning analog baseband and audio applications in battery-operated wireless systems. The product's low input offset voltage (op amp VOS = 1 mV, max) makes it useful in a wide range of low power precision data acquisition applications. Typical applications include gas detectors, electronic scales, battery operated instruments, and PDAs/notebook PCs.

TelCom's family of Linear Building Block replace several different device types in one low power, low voltage space saving package. These high performance products have the flexibility of discrete packages with the benefit of higher integration. Other upcoming devices in the Linear Building Blocks family include various combinations of op amps, comparators (with and without programmable hysteresis), and voltage references - all products are available with and without shutdown.

The notion behind this set of parts is following a trend I have seen from two other vendors. None of the companies seems to be directly imitating the others and the solutions they are coming to market with are all interesting. As TelCom is basically a vendor that is competing more on price than thrilling technological performance leaps this approach will be interesting to watch and may turn out to be the smartest approach I have seen yet. The performance of this double op amp is not staggering but it is good; I like the MSOP-8 package and I like the low current they need for each amplifier.

The key to getting this sort of building block approach accepted is by showing the product designers that the combinations offered will really save them devices, space, time and power for their particular uses; the knowledge, support and power of the applications team at TelCom will probably be the determining factor as to whether this series will be hot. I think they should be. An evaluation kit -- the TC1043EV evaluation kit -- is available. The TC1029 is priced at $0.94 for 10 k-piece lots. The complete family is being offered in the various packages of 8-pin MSOP, SOIC, or DIP; SOT23-5; SOT23-6; QSOP-16.

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