ADC : Analog-to-Digital Converter - Yenra

High performance for advanced signal processing applications

ADC : Analog-to-Digital Converter

Utilizing its leading-edge high-performance analog design expertise, Texas Instruments (TI) today announced a technology advancement with a 14-bit, 125-MSPS (mega samples per second) analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The unmatched performance at 125 MSPS allows increased system capabilities in advanced communications, test and measurement, medical, video and imaging applications, while the low total power dissipation (750 mW) improves system reliability and allows higher channel density.

The ADS5500, operating at 125 MSPS, features 70-dB SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) and 82-dB SFDR (spurious-free dynamic range) at 100-MHz input frequency. Equipment manufacturers can capitalize on the performance of the ADS5500 to achieve a wide range of benefits, such as improved receiver performance in wireless communications, higher quality imaging in video systems, extended signal analysis capabilities for test equipment, and more precise scans and lower magnetic field energy in medical Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) equipment.

The low power dissipation reduces power supply requirements and the need for thermal management (cooling), resulting in smaller footprint and equipment size, and higher circuit density. The power savings also enables next- generation, high-performance portable wireless, test and measurement and video imaging systems.

"The ADS5500 combines speed, performance and power attributes unmatched in the data converter market and extends TI's technology leadership in the high- performance analog industry," said Gregg Lowe, senior vice president of TI's high-performance analog business. "The device builds upon many recent data converter breakthroughs and is further evidence of the collaborative technology advancements TI has achieved through the Burr-Brown acquisition. The ADS5500 is one of several significant high-performance data converter announcements that TI will make over the next year."

The performance of the ADS5500 allows wireless communications systems, such as base stations, to achieve higher receiver performance and handle more voice channels, thus allowing accurate reception of weaker, distant signals and reducing the number of analog signal chain components needed per base station. When combined with TI's GC5016 digital up/down converter, the ADS5500 allows oversampling and undersampling of the input IF signal to improve signal quality and reduce circuit complexity. The ADS5500 excels at processing high input frequencies, such as 190 MHz, for undersampling applications.

Test and measurement applications benefit from high SNR and high sampling rate to deliver more accurate signal analysis over a broader signal range. Examples of precision test and measurement applications are integrated circuit test equipment, production test equipment and laboratory instruments.

The high SNR and sample rate of the ADS5500 can enable medical equipment manufacturers to increase image quality of their MRI scans with lower magnetic fields, thus reducing shielding requirements. The higher sampling rate can also simplify the filter requirements of MRI systems.

Video and imaging applications, such as broadcast cameras, high-end professional scanners and video inspection, leverage high SNR for more precise images, while 125 MSPS simplifies analog filter design, reduces scan time and lowers system complexity.

The ADS5500 is sampling now, with volume production scheduled for first quarter 2004.

Texas Instruments provides innovative DSP and analog technologies.