Leveraging its expertise and experience in the design of analog front-end ICs for data storage and communications, DataPath Systems has crafted a high-performance pipeline analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for data-acquisition applications. The DPS9245 is a 16-bit ADC that includes a low-noise programmable-gain amplifier (PGA), as well as a sample-and-hold (S/H) circuit and voltage reference (see the figure).
This ADC can sample at speeds up to 5 Msamples/s, with typical power dissipation of only 400 mW. The noise contribution by the amplifier is only 8 nV/√Hz, while it can deliver up to 20 dB of gain in seven settings. Other features include ±1.0 LSB integral non-linearity (INL) and ±0.5 LSB differential nonlinearity (DNL) at low input frequencies, an 80-dB signal-to-noise ratio, and greater than 95 dB of a spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) at a 900-kHz sinusoidal input.
According to DataPath, the amplifier's high resistive input impedance eliminates an external buffer amplifier and complex filtering to handle transients. Also, the power dissipation depends on the sampling rate. Consequently, it requires only one external resistor and decoupling capacitors to complete the design. "The combination of a low-noise PGA, high linearity, a wideband S/H, an on-chip voltage reference, and simple digital interfaces makes this ADC extremely easy to use in a variety of systems," notes Phil Welsh, director of marketing at DataPath Systems. Applications include data acquisition, automatic test equipment, and digital communication receivers.
Based on 0.5-µm CMOS, the ADC requires a 5-V supply. Its specs are guaranteed over the industrial temperature range. Housed in plastic 44-pin LQFPs, it costs $42.86 each in 100s.
DataPath Systems Inc., 90 Albright Way, Los Gatos, CA 95032; (408) 365-6000; www.datapathsystems.com.