» One tiny A/D converter from
Linear Technology took top honors in terms of overall technical
significance in this category, but the class-D amplifier for flat-panel
TVs from TI tops the list for usability.
(1) LINEAR TECHNOLOGY Replace four A/D converters with one tiny A/D converter eeProductCenter's Bettyann Liotta says:
"Linear Technology Corp. is expanding its low-power, high-speed
analog-to-digital converter offering with six new devices.
The showstopper of the group, which is aimed at cellular basestations,
is a 125 Msamples/s, 14-bit converter (LTC2255) that boasts strong AC
performance and extremely low power.
Outperforming its nearest 14-bit competitor, the A/D converter consumes
49 percent less power at just 395 mW, significantly lowering the power
budget and thermal considerations required for multiple channel
devices, said Todd Nelson, product marketing manager of Linear
Technology's mixed-signal products. "This provides a significant
advantage in applications where efficiency and cooling is critical,
such as satellite receivers, wireless basestations and portable
electronics," he said. " Readers say: » "The low power and small
size combined with their speed make this family of ADC's a good choice
for mobile applications."
» "Good integration."
» "A great application for QFN."
» "Wow, is that LTC pricing? Very competitve!"
» "Too expensive."
» "Looks just a start for a new competition for 14bit, above 100MPS
ADC. I think several other companies will anounce similar ADC soon."
» "The reduced power, 4-in-one package, and fast speed add up to an
ideal combination."
» "A bit too expensive yet..."
» "Would consider during our cost reduction phase."
» "Space and cost saving is always critical. The data doesn't show a
lot of details but it would be good solution."
USABILITY RANK: 2
(2) TEXAS INSTRUMENTS Class-D digital amplifier made for flat-panel TVs eeProductCenter's BettyAnn Liotta says:
"Rarely do I get the opportunity to actually experience the products
I'm writing about. I did, however, get a live demo of TI's latest
Class-D audio power amp (APA). Now, while I'm certainly no audiophile,
I do enjoy listening to music. And, I was amazed with the clarity and
quality of the music I heard generated from this amplifier, which is
TI's first single-chip, digital-input, Class-D amp aimed at this
market. I'm sure my husband, who is the surround sound expert at home,
would be thrilled to have this sound emanating from our TV set. " Readers say: » "This class D amplifier
makes good use of existing power sources to produce an excellent sound
source. This is makes incorporating an amp of intermediate power far
simpler than other options."
» "Nice complete solution from one company TI!"
» "A little improvement from conventional class D."
» "Excellent!"
» "Sounds like an excellent product."
» "This is the most complex and difficult amplifier family to make for
the most demanding of customers. Itýs like putting a locomotive engine
with a $5 radio in the same package and hope for nice noiseless sound.
What a talented team. Eat your heart out everyone else." » "Interesting
device for a growing application. Price might be an issue."
» "Efficiency and performance are both benefits of this device."
» "Good job. May need further development."
» "Surprised no suggestion was made about it in car stereos. Still
needs an analog front end for either TV or FM signals, however."
USABILITY RANK: 1
(3) DALLAS SEMICONDUCTOR Adjust voltage during factory calibration with a sample-and-infinite-hold voltage reference eeProductCenter's BettyAnn Liotta says:
"The voltage reference (DS4303) replaces a standard voltage reference
plus a discrete resistor or potentiometer in embedded systems requiring
voltage adjustment during factory calibration. Because it is
electrically programmable, the DS4303 can be used to automate the
calibration process, which contributes to improved quality, increased
assembly throughput, and lower production costs, the company said. Its
inexpensive price and 5-pin SOT23 package make the voltage reference
suitable for a wide variety of applications.
" Readers say: » "An adjustable voltage
reference will make the calibration of tuned circuits simpler without
the issues of POT's or selecting parts."
» "zzzzzzzzz"
» "A lot of functionality for the price. Neat concept which will find
application in lots of designs. DS4305 will be even better."
» "Just what I need"
» "We have always been impressed by Dallas' products."
» "Thanks, Dallas. I'm looking forward to using these in my next
design."
» "Being able to remove parts from the bill-of-materials, reducing
parts cost and board real estate is always desirable"
» "Is it current limiting?"
» "I could have used this in the past on a product line we used to
manufacture."
» "Replace those mechanical trimpots!"
USABILITY RANK: 3
(4) ATMEL 10-bit A/D converter soars to 2.2-GHz eeProductCenter's Bettyann Liotta says:
"If I had to choose one word to describe Atmel's latest blazing A/D
converterýI would say the word "booya" hits the nail on the head. I
recently heard my nine-year-old son use this word. I wanted to make
sure he wasn't swearing so I looked it up. According to an online urban
dictionary, it's basically slang for, "bam!", "in your face", and "hell
yeah", all at the same timeýa term that self congratulates the user.
The AT84AS008GL A/D converter is a low noise 2.2 Gsamples/s version of
the company's predecessor chip ýTS83102G0B (10-bit, 2 Gsamples/s A/D
converter), which offers significant improvements in performance while
retaining the same functions and I/O interface. The SNR shows a 10 dB
improvement, leading to an ENOB of 8 bits at 1.7 Gsamples/s and 7.7
bits at 2.2 Gsamples/s in Nyquist conditions. " Readers say: » "The increased level of
integration while eeking out another effective bit and reducing power
illustrates a commitment to excellence."
» "Mediocre performance but moving in the right direction."
» "Still at Military level pricing."
» "Need 16-bit."
» "$1100?!?! Ouch!"
» "Looks interesting. Need to see the actual part for comparison."
» "Not enough technical information available."
» "Not a great speed increase of the previous model."
» "Good SMR. This could be a winner."
» "Not a significant jump in sample speed over previous part."
USABILITY RANK: 6
(5) ANALOG DEVICES Have your cake and eat it too with these precision amps eeProductCenter's BettyAnn Liotta says:
" While reviewing these amplifiers, the old adage about having your
cake and eating it too came to mind. In many instances, designers are
often forced to choose between different electronic specs. If you want
fast amplifiers, for example, then be prepared to deal with additional
noise. If you want quiet amps, then you will have to use larger package
sizes ý this is not so with ADI's new amplifiers. These bipolar
amplifier families tout many performance improvements, package and
power advantages over amplifiers utilizing other processes, according
to Steve Sockolov, ADI's product line director for precision amplifiers
in the analog semiconductor components division.
" Readers say: » "These op amps are an
improvement over their predecessors in more space efficient packaging.
Ther lower power and noise make them a "must use" part."
» "Good product."
» "YES! 36v rail-to-rail and low noise. I'm in."
» "This product combines the best of size, performance and cost to be
an ideal combination."
» "Application should be provided."
» "The only thing new here is the packaging. None of these "low-noise"
opamps are worth a hoot at low frequencies -- the noise spec is up
around 1000 Hz."
» "Great price/performance point."
USABILITY RANK: 4
(6) MAXIM Fast 12-bit A/D converter samples up to 250 Msamples/s eeProductCenter's BettyAnn Liotta says:
"Maxim Integrated Products Inc. said it's raising the sampling-speed
rate bar with a 12-bit, 250 Msamples/s A/D converter. At 250
Msamples/s, this new analog-to-digital (A/D converter) offers the
world's fastest sample rate at the 12-bit level, and delivers
outstanding dynamic performance over input frequencies as high as 300
MHz, according to the company.
" Readers say: » "We would like to see
this used in our new force gauges and test stands. Are there any issues
with USB for data acquisition loading?"
» "Still a bit behind the curve but catching up."
» "I use this product."
» "Glad it's not a BGA package... I'll use 'em."
» "I appreciate articles that provide actual power consumption
information (not 34% less than...)."
» "Looks interesting but need to see more data."
» "Falls in crack between applications."
USABILITY RANK: 5
(7) ON SEMICONDUCTOR Filterless Class-D amplifier drives clean audio output eeProductCenter's BettyAnn Liotta says:
"Expanding its audio amplifier portfolio, ON Semiconductor introduced a
cost-effective, 2.65-W filterless Class-D audio amplifier designed for
portable applications.
From a 5-V supply, the NCP2820 is capable of delivering 2.65 W of
continuous average power into a 4Ω bridge-tied load (BTL).
Under the same conditions, the output power stage can provide 1.4 W
into an 8Ω BTL load with less than 1 percent total harmonic
distortion plus noise (THD+N). " Readers say: » "This audio amp is great
for mobile applications. It is easy to design in with power power
dissipation and low power requirements."
» "Neat."
» "Is that really filterless?"
» "Isn't this the TPA2010D1?"
» "Prices and delivery schedules with detail technical data is needed."
» "This is far from ground breaking. Other folks have already done
this. Quite frankly, other folks have done a better job, too."
» "Nice implementation of an existing idea."
» "Class D is the way to go for today's size-limited designs."
USABILITY RANK: 9
(8) INTERSIL Quad-channel feedback amplifier combines high performance and low power eeProductCenter's BettyAnn Liotta says:
"Designed to drive high-quality video, Intersil Corp. proclaimed an
ultra-wideband, low-power, four-channel current feedback amplifier
featuring a slew rate of 5000 V/μs and 500 MHz of gain
bandwidth on all four channels. With a supply current of 1.5 mA and the
ability to operate off a split ýý5 V or single 5 V to 10 V supplies, the
amplifier is the industry's fastest quad amplifier, said Sameer
Vuyyuru, director of marketing for Intersil's high-speed analog
products. " Readers say: » "Excellent high speed amp for signal and video applications."
» "Good power."
» "Multi-channel, low power device...should fit nicely in numerous applications."
» "Don't see a major improvement."
» "High demand. Excessive cost."
» "Cost effective and extreme accuracy are necessary. Great competitors exist.
Technology does not win over PR and salesmanship."
» "No Crosstalk plot, no harmonic distortion information, and mediocre differential phase for such a high speed part."
USABILITY RANK: 7
(9) NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR Highly-integrated 3D-Boomer audio amplifiers tout amazing-sound eeProductCenter's BettyAnn Liotta says:
"National Semiconductor Corp. unveiled two Boomer audio amps for
cellular phones and portable applications that are said to provide
outstanding sound quality and high integration.
National's LM4845 audio subsystem contains a mono amplifier and stereo
headphone amplifier. The mono amp delivers 500 mW of power into a mono
8Ω bridge-tied load with one percent total harmonic distortion
plus noise (THD+N) from a 3.3-V power supply. The stereo headphone
amplifier delivers 25 mW per channel of continuous average power into a
stereo 32-Ω load with one percent THD+N from a 3.3-V power
supply. " Readers say: » "DON'T USE."
» "Good amplifier for low power and portable applications. Simple
circuit configuration will make them easy to incorporate into new
designs."
» "Audio quality definitely needs improvement."
» "Horrible."
» "Marketing will be important."
» "Nice that it is small size. I have been putting enhanced stereo
separation circuits into consumer equipment for 20 years -- and do we
need anything like that in a cell phone?"
USABILITY RANK: 8
(10) OPTICHRON Signal-processing technology cuts nonlinear distortion in A/D converter modules eeProductCenter's BettyAnn Liotta says:
"A new class of linearized data conversion modules from Optichron Inc.
are said to improve system performance in communications and industrial
applications.
The A/D converter modules incorporate Optichron's proprietary
Turbolinear technology that reduces nonlinear distortion by more than
90 percent in high-speed pipelined data converters, said Roy Batruni,
CEO of Optichron." Readers say: » "TOO COSTLY."
» "Good high speed ADC for instrumentation needs. The cost is a bit
prohibitive and will not see very much demand because of that."
» "The spurios-free dynamic range is impressive."
» "Nice way to improve existing ADCs, if you need the extra
performance."
» "Scalable Turbolinear technology is quite attractive."
» "Cool tech with too much power"
» "Rubber stamp."
USABILITY RANK: 10
