Product category:
Analogue and Mixed Signal ICs
News Release from: Analog Devices | Subject: AD8334 quad VGA and AD9228 and AD9219 quad ADCs
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 22 September 2005
ADCs improve image quality in ultrasound
equipment
Analog Devices is introducing a quad variable gain amplifier (VGA) and two quad analogue-to-digital convertors (ADCs) that dramatically improve image quality in advanced medical ultrasound equipment.
Analog Devices is introducing a quad variable gain amplifier (VGA) and two quad analogue-to-digital convertors (ADCs) that dramatically improve image quality in advanced medical ultrasound equipment Leveraging the company's system-level signal chain and medical applications expertise, the new components, while available separately, together provide a complete, optimised analogue front-end (AFE) that not only increases dynamic range and image resolution in ultrasound equipment, but reduces package size, per-channel power consumption and bill of materials costs
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 2 Jul 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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The quad VGA and 10-bit and 12-bit quad ADCs also feature serial, low-voltage differential signalling (LVDS) data outputs that simplify board layout and further enhance image quality by enabling more data conversion paths to be routed within a given printed circuit board area.
Advanced ultrasound equipment must process signals with very high dynamic range to account for the variability in tissue and bone density, fluid viscosity, and the rate of fluid movement in the body.
Furthermore, medical equipment designers need ever-higher channel densities, which require hundreds of data convertors and amplifiers per system to enable the ultrasound AFE to render an accurate, high-quality image.
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'Medical equipment designers in the ultrasound field are addressing two major challenges: the need to drive data convertors with higher resolution and the need to increase the channel density of their systems while shrinking power and package size', said Bill Riedel, Product Line Manager, Precision Signal Processing group, Analog Devices.
'By combining our data conversion and amplifier expertise, ADI's new VGA and ADCs create an AFE that results in ultrasound systems with enhanced image quality and accuracy'.
The AD8334 quad VGA sets a new standard of performance for high-end ultrasound equipment designers by achieving a 101dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at 5MHz, which is twice the SNR of the nearest competing VGA.
In addition to superior image quality, the AD8334 uses 20% less area per channel, reduces per-channel power consumption by 20% and cuts per-channel costs by 10% that of other devices.
The AD8334 also features an input-noise voltage level of only 0.74 nV/rtHz, while overload protection shields the device from ultrasound near-field signals, and a selectable output clamping feature allows the VGA to protect the ADCs from signal saturation.
The 12-bit AD9228 and 10-bit AD9219 quad ADCs provide an ideal match for Analog Devices' new AD8334 VGA.
The AD9219 and the AD9228 are available in both 40-Ms/s and 65-Ms/s speed grades and achieve a 70dB SNR and 82dB spurious free dynamic range (SFDR).
The new quad ADCs consume half the board space and achieve a more than 20% reduction in per-channel power consumption relative to other ADCs.
The devices also feature a programmable clock and data alignment, and allow for digital test pattern generation using a serial port interface (SPI) that improves the ability of designers to control and synchronise output data.
The AD8334 quad VGA is sampling and available in a 64-lead lead-frame chip-scale package.
The AD9219 and AD9228 quad ADCs are sampling and available in a 48-lead LFCSP.
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