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Analog Devices Delivers Breakthrough Power Savings in New High Performance Data Converter
Industry's first 14-bit ADC with sub-600 mW power consumption reduces costs of wireless and imaging signal processing systems
| The manufacturer says . . . | ChipCenter's Paul O'Shea says . . . |
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Analog Devices, a provider of high-performance semiconductors for signal processing applications and the market share leader in data converters, today announced a new advanced CMOS data converter that provides the excellent performance typical of bipolar-process converters while achieving 55 percent lower power consumption than comparable, available converters. The AD9244 analog-to-digital converter (ADC) provides 14-bits of accuracy at a speed of 65 million samples per second (MSPS) while consuming only 590 milliwatts (mW) of power. The AD9244 permits cost-effective IF sampling system architectures in wireless base stations by supporting frequencies as high as 200 MHz, eliminating a down-conversion stage, reducing parts count, and ultimately lowering the cost and improving the overall reliability of the base station. The 590 mW power consumption makes the AD9244 well-suited to pico-cell and micro-cell designs with multiple base stations on one tower or location--helping to improve cellular coverage in highly-populated regions--and high-end imaging and ultrasound applications that require top performance and low power dissipation. The AD9244 is also available in a 40 MSPS version, further lowering power dissipation to 345 mW. "Wireless infrastructure manufacturers and carriers are looking to reduce cost in every design, as they drive adoption of next generation wireless standards," said Kevin Kattmann, product line director for High-Speed Converters, Analog Devices. "The AD9244 delivers a breakthrough in power and performance that goes straight to the bottom line--a lower bill of materials cost for manufacturers and lower power costs for carriers--and improves system reliability. Its market leading power dissipation and cost-efficiency makes the AD9244 attractive to businesses looking to develop new solutions in wireless communication and high-end imaging applications." The AD9244 uses a multi-stage differential pipelined architecture with output error correction logic to provide 75 dB SNR, 90 dB SFDR and 14-bit accuracy at 65 MSPS. It guarantees no missing codes over the full operating temperature range. It is pin-compatible with the AD9226 12-bit 65 MSPS ADC, providing a simple migration path to 14-bits of resolution. An evaluation board that facilitates quick bench trials and simplifies final circuit design is available. The ADC Analyzer software allows designers to capture and display multiple waveforms in graphical form, perform FFT calculations, and measure SNR, THD, and SFDR. Analog Devices, Inc., Ray Stata Technology Center, 804 Woburn Street, Wilmington, MA 01887. Tel: +800-ANALOGD (+800-262-5643).
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ADI continues their product release pattern with this introduction. Typically, ADI introduces a bipolar type analog-to-digital converter and follows it later with a CMOS version for broader market appeal. For example, some years ago they introduced a bipolar 12-bit 65MSPS and followed it with a CMOS 12-bit 65MSPS converter. A couple years after that they introduced a bipolar 14-bit 65MSPS converter, and today they introduced the new 9244 CMOS 14-bit converter. The company also follows a breakthrough converter with similar ADCs that may be in a smaller package, use a different process technology, or have lower power with similar performance specs to blend into a portfolio strategy. And thatęs where the 9244 fits, itęs the next generation 14-bit 65MSPS. By migrating to CMOS the company opens up the potential for application specific or integrated solutions for customers who are looking for ways to reduce cost. Most of the cost cutting applications seem to be for the wireless communications market, which includes broadband wireless such as base stations, and especially at the customer premise side including STBs. What that means is that ADI has some core technology that they are able to integrate circuitry such as decimating filters and digital processing to make the right kind of product for their customers. To be sure there are other players in this high-end converter market. However, the AD9244 offers some impressive specs. It uses only 590mW compared to similar products that use 1.2W. So, if power consumption is just as important in you r design as are the samples-per-second and resolution, then this part should be on the top of your short list. Oh, and did I mention that the packaging is smaller than other offerings? Thereęs more information to be gleaned from a closer look at the data sheet. For example, the ADI production test process can test at higher input frequencies than many competitors. The test limits for the 9244 are set at 70 MHz inputs while other companies test with a 10 MHz input. That means the parts tested at 10MHz canęt provide you with any characteristics beyond the 10MHz input frequency. ADI says they are testing as high as Nyquist and in some cases higher for their ADCs. The company says the 9244 is suited for picocell and microcell design. A picocell could be defined as little base stations inside a campus setting. It may be in an office or building where your cell phone needs to work. In this scenario you donęt want to transmit to a base station that is far away such as on the highway, but you want to transmit to a local base station, or picocell, which has less transmitter power. At the same time these pico cells need to conserve power. So a lower power consumption component used in the signal chain is needed to conserve power. Another interesting point about the AD9244 is its capability to eliminate the intermediate frequency (IF) sampling, or down conversion stage, up to 200MHz. Previously, designs used a super heterodyne down conversion, which might for example, use a 1.2 GHz frequency and mix down to some intermediate signal at 200 or 300 MHz, and then mix down again to 40 MHz. You would then digitize that 40 MHz frequency. What many companies are trying to do now is get rid of the 40MHz down conversion and digitize an image of the IF. With the latest mixers they can come down in one step to about 200 MHz. That enables you take an image of the signal that resides down in the base band. Essentially you use an ADC as a mixer and it digitizes an image of the IF. Analog Devices has a similar product that can do the same thing, called the 9433, a 12-bit 120MSPS. There is some competition for the ADI converters but it could be seen as a level of degree. Some competitors say they have IF sampling capability and show it in their data sheets, but once you dig to the next level of detail, you may find that for 12- and 14-bit resolution it is only for a maximum input of about 70 MHz, compared to ADIęs 200 MHz. The competitors offer the higher IF sampling for lower resolution components. So, if you need 12- to 14-bits resolution, the 9244 is the one to choose. ADI says that they can get to the higher IF because of their intellectual property for the front-end sampling network design. Finally, ADI also offers a lower power 40MSPS version of the 9244, for designs that donęt need the 65MSPS. It has an impressive power consumption of only 345mW at the 40MSPS. The company says itęs appropriate for high-end imaging and ultrasound. For example, wafer inspection equipment, manufacturing inspection equipment have bandwidth requirements about 5 to 10 MHz and they also like to over sample by at least 2X, which makes the 9244 a good fit. The AD9244 is available in a 48-pin LFQP package. The 40-/65-MSPS versions are priced at $20.00/$29.00 per unit in 1,000-piece quantities. Samples and evaluation boards are available now. Production quantities will be available in August.
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