Dual 8-bit ADC hits 500Msample/s

Atmel has announced a low-power dual 8-bit analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) for multi-channel and low-power applications such as digital sampling oscilloscopes, automated test equipment and direct I/Q down-conversion.

The AT84AD004 provides 500Msample/s sampling per channel and 1Gsample/s from one channel in interleaving mode. It integrates dual on-chip track/holds that operate over a 1GHz input frequency bandwidth.

The effective number of bits (ENOB) is typically 7.3-bits at 500Msample/s and 250MHz (Nyquist). There are on-chip dual 1:2 or 1:1 selectable data output demultiplexers and power consumption is 700mW per channel.

The device has pin-to-pin compatibility with the AT84AD001 (dual 8-bit 1Gsample/s ADC) and a 3-wire serial interface bus for auto-calibration of channel offset and gain, BIST (Built-in Self Test) and a sampling delay adjust for interleaving two analogue channels.

Devices are packaged in a 20x20mm, 144-pin LQFP package, featuring differential (500mVpp) inputs and LVDS (low voltage differential signalling), 100Ohm compliant outputs.

The AT84AD004 is now in production in both commercial and industrial grades at a unit price of $100 for 1,000-piece quantities.

Further information on the AT84AD004 can be found here.