National Semiconductor Introduces New High-Performance CMOS Analog-to-Digital Converter

The ADC12C170 from National Semiconductor Corporation is a high-performance CMOS analog-to-digital converter capable of converting analog input signals into 12-Bit digital words at rates up to 170 Mega Samples Per Second (MSPS). This converter uses a differential, pipelined architecture with digital error correction and an on-chip sample-and-hold circuit to minimize power consumption and the external component count, while providing excellent dynamic performance. A unique sample-and-hold stage yields a full-power bandwidth of 1.1 GHz. The ADC12C170 operates from dual +3.3V and +1.8V power supplies and consumes 715 mW of power at 170 MSPS.

The separate +1.8V supply for the digital output interface allows lower power operation with reduced noise. A power-down feature reduces the power consumption to 5 mW while still allowing fast wake-up time to full operation. In addition there is a sleep feature which consumes 50 mW of power and has a faster wake-up time.

The differential inputs provide a full scale differential input swing equal to 2 times the reference voltage. A stable 1.0V internal voltage reference is provided, or the ADC12C170 can be operated with an external reference.

Clock mode (differential versus single-ended) and output data format (offset binary versus 2's complement) are pin-selectable. A duty cycle stabilizer maintains performance over a wide range of input clock duty cycles.

The ADC12C170 is pin compatible with the ADC14155.

It is available in a 48-lead LLP package and operates over the industrial temperature range of −40°C to +85°C.