Analog Devices, Inc., announced an expansion of its micropower consumption family of digital-to-analog converters (DACs) by introducing the dual, 12-bit AD7396 and dual, 10-bit AD7397. Designed for portable and communication equipment, industrial control and automotive systems, these converters draw only 100 ıA (maximum) per DAC, and require just 0.1 ıA (typical) consumption while in the power down mode.

These parts complete a remarkable family of low-power DACs. The quiescent 200 ıA of current for both channels would have been unbelievable a couple of years ago. The 12-bit parts will find most use in portable wireless and GPS products while the 10-bit parts will get more into automobile and industrial uses; an automobile temperature range version of the AD7397 (to +125ıC) is available and, of course, the single supply rail is essential for that industry. Parallel-input parts are surprisingly still outselling serial parts in DAC applications although that does not seem true in the opposite direction for the digital outputs from ADCs.