» It's said that the analog business is not technology dependent,
but as our selection shows, manufacturers of analog ICs do wring
better performance out of their products and tools by leveraging
process technology advances. "State of the art" and "innovative"
are common adjectives used by our readers.
(1) TEXAS INSTRUMENTS Texas Instruments ups sample rate on industrial measurement ADCs eeProductCenter's Stephan Ohr says: "Texas Instruments' ADS1271 is a data converter with extremely high resolution and a record-breaking sample rate. Typically, a 24-bit, dc-accurate converter is capable of resolving only one-or-two samples per second. A dc-accurate device capable of sampling at a 50 kHz rate represents something of a breakthrough." Readers say: » "Excellent ptoducts, state of the art. Engineers love them."
» "I would like to test this.The price/performance is great,"
» "Really nice, but I'd consider it a high-price component not because of the unit cost, but, because it needs the DSP chip to really work well"
» "VERY GOOD"
» "The ADS1271 is a remarkable achievement that will change the thinking in industrial sensing and analysis. It may even end up in some audio applications and it will certainly be widely adopted by T&M manufacturers. I do think that TI may be leaving some money on the table with their pricing."
» "group delay too high,difficult to sychronize"
» "At least 8 of the LS bits would be noise in anything I've ever worked on."
» "Increased resolution is significant"
» "I am in the higher frequency, higher bandwidth market. This info is nice to know. I had to read this carefully to make sure I understood it."
USABILITY RANK: 1
(2) NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR Design today, build tomorrow -- National Semiconductor adds precision amps and filter tools to simple online design environment eeProductCenter's Bettyann Liotta says: "Designed for broad-based industrial, commercial and automotive applications, new three high common-mode difference amplifiers, the LMP8270 and LMP8272 high common-mode amplifiers and LMP8271 high common-mode bidirectional amplifier join National's LMP (linear monolithic precision) product family targeting the precision market. " Readers say: » "The amplifiers would be better if the gain was not fixed."
» "Excelent online tools. I recommended them."
» "These types of circuits may be very useful with the new VITA 46 implementations of power control."
» "Not many hi common mode parts out there.. "
» "Excellent, keep expanding the tools!"
» "What a time saver!"
USABILITY RANK: 2
(3) GOAL SEMICONDUCTOR Goal Semi's quad D/A converter drives over 200-volt output eeProductCenter's Bettyann Liotta says: "Goal Semiconductor's highly integrated digital-to-analog converter (D/A converter) means compact system designs for high-voltage control applications. The HVDAC200, a high voltage, 4-channel, 9-bit, serially configurable voltage/current D/A converter uses an advanced high voltage silicon process that also enables output in excess of 200 V.
" Readers say: » "May be the controller we need for a corn stove combustion fuel/air mixture controller."
» "Very innovative, solid product for cutting edge applications."
» "Would rather design the high voltage driver for the application. too many issues for one part to cover"
USABILITY RANK: 3
(4) CIRRUS LOGIC Cirrus Logic Drops Royalty Fees for CobraNet Silicon Series Audio ICs eeProductCenter's Bettyann Liotta says: "Cirrus Logic expects to propel the installation of audio networks by slashing costs associated with its new CobraNet Silicon Series ICs, and offering the technology in the form of ICs, instead of modules. " Readers say: » "Would see a huge need for emerging VOIP applications."
» "This may be of use to us. It was fortuitous to have this available at this time."
USABILITY RANK: 5
(5) MAXIM Abracadabra -- Maxim Admits to Using a Little Black Magic to Create Highly Integrated Video Filters and Buffers eeProductCenter's Bettyann Liotta says: "Think of the MAX7454 and MAX7455 triple switchable HD/SD video reconstruction filters and buffers as the aspirin designers can avoid by using Maxim's devices, instead of designing their own filters and buffers using some 40 to 50 different discrete components. " Readers say: » "Good integration. If Maxim would only improve their availability I would use it"
» "Maxim products are all useless...you can't buy them anywhere with reasonable lead times. I regularly ignore all announcements from Maxim for this reason."
» "Since it almost impossible to get Maxim parts, and they have a tendency to make parts obsolete, I just don't even look at Maxim parts anymore. I imagine that if you are buying 10,000,000 units, Maxim is probably quite accomodating."
» "You Can Cook an Egg on these parts! They burn a Watt"
» "Major delivery issues. Consider video filters from other as they have better selection and price."
» "Maxim's deliveries are far from acceptable. Although they have an exceptional product their service and support leave little to be desired."
USABILITY RANK: 9
(6) ANALOG DEVICES Manufacturing Process Provides Turbo Charge to 15 New Analog ICs eeProductCenter's Bettyann Liotta says: "Utilizing its patented iCMOS process technology, Analog Devices Inc. (ADI) has rolled out a host of analog ICs boasting outstanding performance and up to 30-V supplies for industrial and instrumentation applications.
" Readers say: » "Can't go wrong with Analog Devices"
» "Significant breakthrough in process technolgy. Allows higher supply voltages for smaller packages.. very useful in high-noise enviorments where signal-to-noise is a problem"
USABILITY RANK: 4
(7) FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR Wide Range of Output Frequencies Differentiates Fully Integrated Clock eeProductCenter's Bettyann Liotta says: "The MPC92432 is Freescale's first programmable clock synthesizer with an I2C system interface, a widely used, industry-standard serial bus interface defined by Philips Semiconductor in the 1980s. " Readers say: » "Informative"
» "Looks great for prototyping too."
» "Cost is in line with product."
» "The only thing I would ask for is for multiple outputs. My application is to drive FPGAs. We often have several different designs in the same FPGA, and they each may run at a different optimal frequency. The internal clock generators have way too much jitter to be very useful, so (ideally) I'd like a programmable clock synthesizer with 3 or more outputs with I2C programmability."
USABILITY RANK: 7
(8) ADVANCED LINEAR DEVICES CMOS Voltage Comparator Touts 50,000:1 Improvement in Sensor Input Signal Detection eeProductCenter's Bettyann Liotta says: "Using ALD's EPAD voltage comparator, an entire benchtop airport security system could be condensed into a portable handheld system It is so sensitive that it can be used with appropriate sensors or detectors to detect trace biological, chemical or environmental molecules. " Readers say: » "star trek tri-corder, here we come..."
USABILITY RANK: 8
(9) STMICROELECTRONICS Can You See Me Now? -- Ten-line EMI Filter Protects LCD Lines eeProductCenter's Bettyann Liotta says: "The EMIF10-LCD01F1, is the company's first EMI filter intended for video applications -- on cell phones. " Readers say: » "Too expensive."
» "It would be nice to see these for other interfaces and also operate starting in 500MHz range"
» "Is there really a need? I guess I just didn't know that interference on LCD lines were an issue."
» "It's addressing a growing category."
USABILITY RANK: 6
(10) DATEL No leap of faith required here -- Datel claims 14-bit A/D converter hybrid approach makes the most sense eeProductCenter's Bettyann Liotta says: "Advances in monolithic processing and design architecture have now evolved to where analog and digital design sections can share the same die to provide higher resolution and conversion speeds. The ADSD-1410, a single multi-chip hybrid module with two internal separate A/D converters and supporting circuitry, is an example of this evolution. " Readers say: » "Its cost precludes its use in anything I would design. Can produce a similar function with chip on board for a lot less money"
» "Datel claims this is cost effective? At $482(500 pcs)?"
» "Price is a little expensive. Otherwise this is good. A/Ds are always being pushed to do more."
USABILITY RANK: 10
