New Industry Products

Analog Devices Intros AD8556 Digitally Programmable Amplifier

May 10, 2005 by Jeff Shepard

Analog Devices Inc. (ADI, Wilmington, MA) added a new member to its family of digitally programmable amplifiers with the introduction of a amplifier well suited for a variety of automotive and industrial applications. The AD8556 features internal EMI filtering, a very wide temperature range, low offset voltage and drift, and open and shorted wire protection, making it suitable for pressure sensors in anti-lock brake systems, occupant detection systems, fuel level sensors, transmission controls, and precision strain or pressure gauges. In addition, the AD8556 is a zero-drift amplifier with digitally programmable gain and output offset.

The AD8556 allows the automatic removal of variations between sensors. Leveraging ADI's DigiTrim™ in-package trim technology, the device offers high dc accuracy at a low price. The patented DigiTrim trimming process enables the production of precision CMOS amplifiers with higher accuracy at a lower price. A serial data interface allows gain to be digitally programmed over a wide range from 70 to 1,280. The device offers low input offset voltage of 10 µV maximum, low input offset voltage drift of 65 nV/°C maximum, and high dc and ac common-mode rejection ratio of 94 dB minimum. Output clamping can be set by an external reference, allowing the AD8556 to drive lower-voltage analog-to-digital converters.

The AD8556 is specified over an extended temperature range of -40 °C to +140 °C to accommodate the higher temperature requirements of automotive and industrial applications. The AD8556 is available now, operates from single-supply voltages of 2.7 V to 5.5 V, and is packaged in either a space-saving 4 mm x 4 mm LFCSP or eight-lead SOIC. The LFCSP version is priced at $2.89 per unit in 1,000-piece quantities, and the SOIC version is priced at $2.85 per unit in 1,000-piece quantities.