ICs reduce power and pcb space in wireless communications equipment

According to ADI, the 12bit AD9963 and 10bit AD9961 MxFEs use 40% less power and 25% less pcb area than competing devices but without sacrificing performance. The MxFEs are designed for cost sensitive wireless equipment, such as femtocell and picocell base stations that require integrated dual transmit-and-receive functions. Chris Jacobs, product line director, ADI, said: "The low power, highly integrated transmit-and-receive paths of our new front end ics help customers simplify their designs to meet aggressive cost targets while still providing industry leading data converter dynamic range." Both devices are pin compatible and integrate two analogue to digital converter (ADC) channels with sample rates to 100MS/s and two digital to analogue converter (DAC) channels with sample rates to 170MS/s. ADI says the new MxFEs enable up to 10dB better adjacent channel leakage ratio performance than competing devices. Digital interfaces with flexible clocking options are also integrated onto the devices, which have five auxiliary analogue channels consisting of two 12bit DACs, two 10bit DACs and a 12bit ADC. The ADC may be used to measure and monitor multiple points, both internal and external. The transmit path is configurable for 1x, 2x, 4x and 8x interpolation and the receive path includes a bypassable 2x decimating low-pass filter. The AD9963 also integrates auxiliary low dropout voltage regulators that allow the device to be powered from a single supply.