Analog Devices Inc. introduced what is said to be the industry’s first 18-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) able to deliver 400 kSa/S (kilosample-per-second) data rates. The device, the AD7690, will be supplied in a 3 mm x 5 mm MSOP (mini-small-outline package) and a 3 mm x 3 mm LFCSP (lead-frame, chip-scale package). This ADC is well suited for applications such as battery-operated medical equipment and remote data-acquisition systems. It exhibits an unusually high SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) of 102 dB.

Article Tools

• 

In addition, the AD7690 consumes 80% less power than competing devices. At its highest throughput rate of 400 kSa/S, the AD7690 dissipates 20 mW compared to 110 mW for the closest competing ADC. The power consumption scales linearly with the sampling rate, making the device ideal for low battery-powered applications; the AD7690 powers down automatically at the end of each conversion.

The AD7690 is sampling with production quantities available in February 2006; it is priced at $19.50 in 1000-unit quantities.