Multichannel DACs address design concerns

Analog Devices is introducing eight multichannel monolithic digital-to-analogue convertors (DACs).

Analog Devices is introducing eight multichannel monolithic digital-to-analogue convertors (DACs) that pack the highest concentration of analogue signal processing performance in a single device to resolve design challenges in industrial and instrumentation applications, which demand high precision in small spaces.

Developed using Analog Devices' patented iCMOS process technology, the new DACs extend the company's DenseDAC family of high-density convertors, combining up to 40 channels, high accuracy, and +/-10V output range, in a compact (9 x 9mm) footprint.

New programmable on-chip features, such as calibration registers (to compensate for signal errors) and automatic shutdown, ensure system reliability in harsh, high voltage industrial environments, while simplifying board layout.

These devices satisfy the needs of today's systems designers trying to squeeze more and more functionality into smaller board space, particularly in ATE (pin-electronics), optical networking (switches, VOAs) and precision instrumentation applications (oscilloscopes, data generators, industrial I/O cards).

"Analog Devices' AD536x and AD537x DAC families address industrial customers' design concerns along multiple performance dimensions - integration, resolution and channel density", said Mike Britchfield, Product Line Director, Precision Signal Processing, Analog Devices.

"This is achieved by using our patented iCMOS technology, which enables us to pack multiple high voltage DACs and a large amount of digital functionality into tiny CSP packages".

The AD5362 DenseDAC is the industry's first 8-channel DAC with bipolar voltage outputs, 16bit differential non-linearity (DNL) and 14bit integral non-linearity (INL).

In addition, the new DAC incorporates individual user-programmable offset and gain registers per channel, enabling board designers to calibrate their systems and compensate for signal errors that may occur elsewhere in the signal chain.

A 50MHz SPI-compatible serial interface offers group addressing, facilitating fast updating of multiple DAC channels.

It also offers flexible diagnostic features, including readback and packet error checking (PEC).

Additionally, the programmable output span of the AD5362 allows users to assign different voltage ranges to different output pins within a 20V span (the nominal output range is +/-10V).

This gives designers greater freedom to customise industrial products, such as PLC I/O cards, where the ability to provide selectable voltage output ranges previously required the added expense and design complexity of external analogue circuitry.

The AD5362 also includes a temperature sensor, a thermal monitor mode, a voltage monitor multiplexer, and a power-down mode - all of which are useful in system monitoring.

The AD5362 is available in an 8 x 8mm 56-lead LFCSP package.

Other members of the pin-compatible AD536x family offer higher channel (16-channel) or lower resolution (14bit) alternatives.

The AD5370 is a 40-channel DAC offering 16bit DNL and 14bit INL, thereby providing the channel density and performance required by manufacturers of high-precision automated test equipment, optical networking, and industrial and instrumentation applications.

Its small (9 x 9mm) package offers a reduced footprint for cost- and space-constrained applications without compromising throughput.

In addition to a 50MHz SPI-compatible serial interface, the new DAC offers user-programmable offset and gain registers for easier and more precise system calibration, as well as a programmable 20V output span to provide flexibility in customising voltage output levels.

For even greater addressing flexibility, the device is divided into five groups of eight DACs.

A separate input pin is also provided for each group to enable remote ground sensing.

Furthermore, the AD5370 has two Vref pins and two offset DACs, enabling users to set different output voltage ranges.

The AD536x and AD537x DACs are sampling now, with full production quantities available beginning June 2006.

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