Developer claims ‘most capable’ 16bit d/a converter yet
1 min read
Said to boost performance in a range of applications, the AD9467 from Analog Devices is capable of 250Msample/s. Its performance level is said to suit it to communications, test and measurement and defence electronics applications.
The AD9467 – claimed to be the industry's fastest 16bit a/d converter – has a spurious free dynamic range (sfdr) of up to 100dBFs and a signal to noise ratio (snr) of 76.4dBFS. According to the company, the sfdr performance and a 60fs root mean square jitter allow engineers to increase system performance while reducing product size.
Describing the device as a 'breakthrough', Jon Hall, strategic marketing and applications manager for high speed converters, said the part's noise performance, high dynamic range and sample rate put it in 'a category of its own'. "It's 25% faster and consumes 40% less power than other parts," he claimed. "It will allow higher intermediate frequencies while maintaining a good snr."
One of the lead customers is Mercury Computer Systems (MCS). Engineering manager Lorne Graves said: "This is something we've been looking for years. It's easy to use and, because it's similar to existing devices, it's easy to layout." The device is featured in a new MCS data acquisition board, which can digitise any IF signal in a 160MHz range. "It took only a couple of months to get the product from concept to prototype," said Graves.
The part is available in two speed grades – 200 and 250Msample/s – and is accompanied by a range of design and evaluation tools. Samples are available now and full production is planned for November.
