Inphi’s GigaTrack family of 2 Gsps track-and-hold amplifiers (THA) deliver 18 GHz analog bandwidth. The combined bandwidth, sample rate and linearity of these track-and-holds make possible direct conversion and software-defined receivers, and will also advance the state of the art in high sample rate test and measurement equipment. The GigaTrack track-and-holds operate from a single, -5.2 V power supply and dissipate only 1.3 W.  They are available in a 49-pin ceramic ball-grid array and in 24 pin QFN packages.

The new GigaTrack family consists of four track-and-hold amplifiers with 2 Gsps. The ball-grid-array versions offer 18 GHz (small signal) and 15 GHz (0.5 Vpp) input analog bandwidths with very fast settling times (>60 ps) and low power consumption (1.3 W). Plastic QFN versions provide 13 GHz analog bandwidth (100 mVpp).

The 1820TH-S01BGA and 1821TH-S01BGA are 18 GHz analog bandwidth devices. The 1320TH-S01QFN and 1321TH-S01QFN are 13 GHz analog bandwidth devices. Only the latter devices in each pair feature a clock selection mode.

In order to deliver a wider hold time window for the downstream ADC, a master/slave (dual) track-and-hold architecture was developed. This provides higher accuracy in the digitization process by increasing the hold time window to almost one full cycle of the THA. For users who want to sub-sample the output of the master track-and-hold with the slave track-and-hold, the clock mode select pin which, in one mode, allows the user to provide different clocks to the master and slave track and holds.

The GigaTrack family's best-in-class settling time (<60 ps) maximizes timing margin to improve accuracy and performance, while the best-in-class total harmonic distortion (-70 dB typical at 1 GHz and 500 mVpp input) and aperture jitter (<50 fs) support improved ADC signal-to-noise-and-distortion ratios leading to more sensitive and accurate acquisition systems.

The GigaTrack family supports all popular, broadband analog-to-digital ADC devices including National Semiconductor ADC08100/81500, Atmel AT84AS003/008, ADI 9480, Maxim/Dallas MAX104/108, and others.

The 1820TH and 1821TH are both supported in a 49-pin 6 mm BGA package with evaluation kits now available for performance testing. The 1821TH is also offered in die form. The 1820TH and 1821TH with clock mode select are priced at $489 and $549, respectively in 1000-unit quantities.  The lower bandwidth 1320TH and 1321TH are supported in a 24-pin 4 mm QFN package priced at $329 and $379, respectively in 1000-unit quantities.  Radiation hardened versions of the GigaTrack products will be available later this year.