Burr-Brown Corporation announces the ADS7811, a complete 16-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) featuring unmatched performance and precision with a 250kHz sampling rate 25% faster than the closest competition.

According to Frost and Sullivan Market Intelligence, the total market for data converters is estimated to reach $1.3 billion in 1997 and increase over 13% in 1998. Burr-Brown estimates that over 20% of this market will fall into the high performance ADC segment.

The ADS7811 converts (digitizes) an analog input signal 250,000 times per second with high (16-bit) resolution. 16 bits of resolution allows a greater precision level to be obtained in the conversion of an input signal.

The ADS7811's combination of high speed and high precision makes it ideal for CCD (charge-coupled device) imaging applications such as automated manufacturing inspection cameras and telescope image acquisition. In addition, the ADS7811 is used in DSP (digital signal processor) interfacing and industrial test systems.

"Burr-Brown's ability to offer a 250kHz sampling rate with 16 bits of resolution allowed us to leap ahead of the competition which is offering sampling rates 20% lower than the ADS7811," said Wayne Talley, strategic marketing engineer at Burr-Brown. "This extends Burr-Brown's position as the industry leader in high speed, high resolution monolithic A/D converters."

ADS7811's design features state-of-the-art CMOS structures and contains a complete 16-bit capacitor based SAR ADC with sample/hold, reference, internal clock, interface for microprocessor use, and three-state output drivers. In addition, the ADS7811 offers typical specifications of 98dB for Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) and 100dB for Spurious Free Dynamic Range (SFDR) giving it unparalleled AC performance. The ý2.5V input range allows development of precision systems using only ý5V supplies.

This is a great product and is absolutely the best (i.e. fastest) 16-bit ADC I have seen announced to date in a monolithic form. It has great specs and performance and will find some important niche sales for a couple of years. It is also a bumpy road for Burr-Brown if they want to keep being this significantly ahead in a market which even they will agree is a smaller part than the 20% market share for high-performance ADCs in total. I am sure they have their roadmap already written in this area.

The part will find its way into high-end imagers where a CCD acquisition system is still a necessary evil, and into high-end inspection systems which may or not be visually driven. I would be surprised not to see the part used as the building block in a monolithic correction IC for CCDs either by Burr-Brown or in somebody else's part.

The ADS7811 is in a 28-lead SOIC package and is priced at $34.00 for 1000 piece lots with delivery from stock.