National Semiconductor Delivers Industry's Best Linearity Performance with New High-Speed, 16-Bit ADC and DVGA
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PowerWise Signal Path Products Deliver Unparalleled 90.6 dBFS SFDR for Multi-Carrier GSM Base Stations
November 11, 2008 - Two new high-speed signal path products, a 16-bit, 130 mega-samples per second (MSPS) analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a digital-controlled variable gain amplifier (DVGA), were announced today by National Semiconductor Corp. They deliver the industry's best linearity performance and lowest power to enable a new class of multi-carrier GSM and multi-carrier, multi-standard wireless base station receivers. This new performance level makes it possible for base stations to offer higher capacity, as well as improved coverage and RF performance.
The 16-bit ADC16V130 exhibits the industry's best spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) performance with 90.6 decibels full scale (dBFS) for a 160 MHz input frequency, and 87 dBFS guaranteed. The ADC also provides unmatched high-order harmonic distortion performance at any input frequency. In addition, the ADC16V130 consumes 755 mW, which is half the total power of competitive ADCs.
The LMH6517 dual DVGA provides a 1.2 GHz bandwidth, along with a third-order output intercept point of 45 dBm and a low noise figure of 6 dB. At 400 mW per channel, the LMH6517 consumes 33 percent less power than the nearest competitive DVGA, giving it the industry's best power-to-performance ratio. This set of devices feature power-to-performance metrics that position them among National's PowerWise® family of energy-efficient products. They enable systems with lower operating temperatures, improved efficiency, smaller form factors and enhanced reliability. The ADC16V130 yields 0.84 picojoules (pJ) per conversion, while the LMH6517 consumes 67 uA per MHz.
Highest Performance, Lowest Power Mega-Sample ADC
The ADC16V130 is a high-speed ADC capable of converting analog input signals into 16-bit digital words at conversion rates up to 130 MSPS. The ADC uses a differential pipelined architecture with digital error correction and an on-chip sample-and-hold circuit to minimize power consumption. The ADC16V130 also provides industry-leading full-power bandwidth of 1.4 GHz and a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 78.5 dBFS at 10 MHz input frequency.
The device includes power-down and fast recovery, and features industry-standard low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) outputs for interfacing to field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). The ADC16V130 operates over the -40°C to 85°C temperature range and is supplied in a 9 mm by 9 mm, 64-pin LLP® package.
High-Performance Gigahertz Digital-Controlled Variable Gain Amplifier
The LMH6517 is a dual-channel DVGA designed for use in narrowband and broadband IF sampling applications. The LMH6517 offers a gain range of -9.5 dB to 22 dB in 0.5 dB steps to optimally scale the received signal and maximize the available signal path dynamic range for the ADC. The amplifier's differential input supports differential-to-differential or single-ended-to-differential operation. Additionally, the LMH6517's low input offset voltage allows for DC- or AC-coupled operation, and its low impedance differential output provides flexibility and gain accuracy driving the wide range of load impedances found in sampling, ADC-based systems.
The LMH6517 is manufactured on National's new CBC8 silicon germanium (SiGe) complementary bipolar-CMOS process technology. Among the most advanced analog processes in the industry today, the CBC8 process features a unique, monolithic, combination of SiGe NPN and PNP transistors, as well as low power CMOS transistors that enable exceptional speed, linearity, circuit density, low power and low noise for demanding high speed analog applications. The LMH6517 operates over the -40°C to 85°C temperature range and is supplied in a 5 mm by 5 mm, 32-pin LLP package.
Reference Board and Tools Accelerate Signal Path Development
A reference board that includes the ADC16V130 and LMK04031B clock jitter cleaner interfaces directly with National's new WaveVision 5 software and data capture board to simplify the evaluation process. The WaveVision 5 system is an easy-to-use data acquisition and analysis tool, designed to help users evaluate National's signal path products. For example, the ADC16V130 can be teamed with the LMH6517 DVGA or the recently released LMH6554 fully differential amplifier, along with the LMX2531 single-chip phase-locked loop (PLL) and voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) or one of National's LMK04000 family of clock jitter cleaners to form a complete signal path solution.
Pricing and Availability
Available now, the ADC16V130 is priced at $69 in 1,000-unit quantities.
For more information and easy-to-order samples, visit www.national.com/pf/DC/ADC16V130.html. The LMH6517 will begin sampling in first quarter 2009 with production quantities scheduled for second quarter 2009. The LMH6517 is priced at $6.90 in 1,000-unit quantities.
For more information, or to order samples, visit www.national.com/pf/LM/LMH6517.html.
National is demonstrating the ADC16V130 product at Electronica 2008 in Munich, Germany, from Nov. 11-14 at Hall A4, Stand 506.
About National's Communications Infrastructure Solutions
National Semiconductor's communications infrastructure solutions optimize system efficiency, increase power density and deliver robust system performance. Its PowerWise subsystem reference designs solve energy-efficiency problems at an architectural level in a small footprint, thereby reducing cooling requirements while delivering superior performance. National's reference designs and solutions address the specific needs of wired data centers, wireless base stations and merchant power supply applications.
About National Semiconductor
National Semiconductor creates energy-efficient analog and mixed-signal semiconductors. Its PowerWise products enable systems that consume less power, extend battery life and generate less heat. Headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., National reported sales of $1.89 billion for fiscal 2008 which ended May 25, 2008.
Additional company and product information is available at www.national.com.
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Mark Alden
National Semiconductor
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