Analog Devices Debuts Family of Small, Multichannel DACs

Analog Devices, Inc. introduced what the company claims is the industry’s smallest and most flexible, multichannel digital-to-analog converters (DACs). Well-suited for designers needing flexibility when specifying converters for high-voltage applications, such as factory process control, instrumentation and dc set-point-control applications, the offering includes 12 converters ranging from 12- to 16-bit dual and quad channel devices operating over a wide voltage range on either single or dual power supplies.

The highly configurable DACs feature software-programmable, unipolar and bipolar voltage output ranges that can be independently set per channel. This gives designers the option to eliminate a number of discrete components, such as precision resistors, switches, and external amplifiers. Housed in small, pin-compatible, TSSOP (thin-shrink small-outline) packages, the converters are more than 40% smaller than comparable devices. Eliminating discrete components, plus the small package size, translates into board space savings of as much as 70%, when compared to existing discrete solutions.

ADI’s proprietary iCMOS™ industrial manufacturing process is used to achieve high voltages needed by industrial applications, while leveraging the integration and cost benefits of sub-micron process geometry. When designed into PLC (programmable logic controller) analog output modules or data-acquisition cards, the flexibility of the output range, operation with multiple supplies, and specified TUE combine to eliminate mechanical jumpers and factory calibration sequences. This results in faster design cycles, accelerated time-to-market and reduced cost. The flagship component in the AD57xx DAC family - the 16-bit monotonic AD5754R - achieves an accuracy level of 0.1% (max) TUE, and includes a precision 5-ppm/°C internal reference.

The AD572x, AD573x, and AD575x families are offered in dual and quad configurations in resolutions of 12, 14 and 16 bits and operate from single supply voltages of 4.5 to 16.5V, or dual supply voltages of ±4.5 to ±16.5V. The output range of the devices is software selectable from options of 5 , 10, ±5, and ±10V plus an over-range setting.

The new DACs incorporate a 30MHz SPI (serial peripheral interface), power-on reset and a per-channel power-down mode. Additionally, the devices offer hardware LDAC and CLR functionality, and the on-chip programmable precision output amplifier allows rail-to-rail output swing to be achieved, maximizing dynamic range and enabling the device to deliver the performance needed in a wide variety of industrial and instrumentation applications. Each device comes with the option of an integrated precision 5-ppm/°C reference and is fully specified over the industrial temperature range. The AD57xx expands ADI’s iCMOS precision DAC portfolio of multichannel small package devices, which include the AD5725, AD5744 and AD5764.

All of the devices in the AD57xx family are housed in a 24-lead TSSOP, and sample units are now available.