High-Performance 14-Bit DAC Zips Along At 1.2 Gsamples/s

May 10, 2004
The AD9736 14-bit, 0.18-µm CMOS current-output digital-to-analog converter (DAC) breaks the 1-Gsample/s barrier with a 1.2-Gsample/s rate at a 316-MHz output. And, it does so without compromising performance and at a low power dissipation of 380...

The AD9736 14-bit, 0.18-µm CMOS current-output digital-to-analog converter (DAC) breaks the 1-Gsample/s barrier with a 1.2-Gsample/s rate at a 316-MHz output. And, it does so without compromising performance and at a low power dissipation of 380 mW in the bypass mode.

A low-voltage differential-signaling (LVDS) input interface enables high conversion rates over a wide bandwidth and a 2× digital interpolation filter. This suits it for test and measurement, automatic-test-equipment (ATE), military, and communications applications.

Made by Analog Devices, the AD9736 initiates data conversions on the rising edge of each input clock and supports a double-data-rate (DDR) mode. Key specifications include a spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) of 63 dBc, intermodulation distortion (IMD) of −74 dBc, and noise-spectral density (NSD) of −158 dBm/Hz.

Based on an earlier test chip core, the AD9736 still dissipates low power of 550 mW at the maximum sampling rate when the internal interpolation filter is enabled. The filter accommodates existing FPGA/ASIC technologies.

Other features include a novel clock-to-data synchronization scheme that simplifies interface timing and increases the sampling rate, an on-chip 1.2-V reference, a serial peripheral interface, and adjustable analog outputs from 10 to 30 mA. Differential and integral nonlinearities are ±1.0 and ±2.0 LSB, respectively.

Two versions are available: the AD9736-1200 (1.2 Gsamples/s) and the AD9736-800 (800 Msamples/s) in a 160-pin BGA package. They cost $59.50 and $44.95 each, respectively, in 1000-unit lots. Samples are available now.

Analog Devices Inc. www.analog.com (800) 262-5643
About the Author

Roger Allan

Roger Allan is an electronics journalism veteran, and served as Electronic Design's Executive Editor for 15 of those years. He has covered just about every technology beat from semiconductors, components, packaging and power devices, to communications, test and measurement, automotive electronics, robotics, medical electronics, military electronics, robotics, and industrial electronics. His specialties include MEMS and nanoelectronics technologies. He is a contributor to the McGraw Hill Annual Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. He is also a Life Senior Member of the IEEE and holds a BSEE from New York University's School of Engineering and Science. Roger has worked for major electronics magazines besides Electronic Design, including the IEEE Spectrum, Electronics, EDN, Electronic Products, and the British New Scientist. He also has working experience in the electronics industry as a design engineer in filters, power supplies and control systems.

After his retirement from Electronic Design Magazine, He has been extensively contributing articles for Penton’s Electronic Design, Power Electronics Technology, Energy Efficiency and Technology (EE&T) and Microwaves RF Magazine, covering all of the aforementioned electronics segments as well as energy efficiency, harvesting and related technologies. He has also contributed articles to other electronics technology magazines worldwide.

He is a “jack of all trades and a master in leading-edge technologies” like MEMS, nanolectronics, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, military electronics, biometrics, implantable medical devices, and energy harvesting and related technologies.

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