Front End Receiver Quiets Portable Ultrasound Apps

The MD3872 integrated, eight channel, front end ultrasound receiver from Supertex boasts an excellent low power dynamic performance, ideally suiting it for portable medical ultrasound applications. Each channel of the receiver features an SPI-programmable LNA, a VCA, PGA, an AAF and a 12 bit, 50 MHz ADC. The LNA gain can be set to either 14 dB or 18 dB and its input range can be up to 480 mV peak-to-peak. The PGA gain can be set to one of four discrete values: 23.5 dB, 29 dB, 34.5 dB or 40 dB. The VCA can be continuously varied by a control voltage from -47 dB to a maximum of 0 dB. The IC features low input voltage noise of 1.1 nV per square root Hertz at 5.0 MHz, and low input current noise at 1.0 pA per square root Hertz at 5.0 MHz. Samples of the MD3872HF-G are available from stock in a RoHS compliant 128-lead TQFP package with a heat slug. Lead-time for production quantities is 4-6 weeks ARO and pricing is $23.78 each/1,000.