Analog Devices Introduces High-Performance ADC for Data Acquisition Applications - AD73360 - Product Announcement

Cambridge Telcom Report, Nov 22, 1999

Analog Devices, Inc. Monday introduced the industry's most feature-rich analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for general-purpose data acquisition applications, including industrial power metering, instrumentation and motor control. The six-input channel, programmable, AD73360 analog front end (AFE) features an on-chip programmable input gain amplifier (PGA) that allows low-level transducer amplitude signals to be connected to analog inputs. Offering six 16-bit analog-to-digital (A/D) channels, the AD73360 AFE features a serial port (SPORT), which allows direct, easy interface to digital signal processors (DSPs) or microcontrollers.

"The AD73360 multi-channel AFE offers design engineers efficient, programmable, low-power operation in a small, integrated footprint," said John Reidy, product marketing manager, Analog Devices. "By enabling designers to easily integrate high-performance analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) with DSPs and microcontrollers, this new product heralds another addition to ADI's leadership portfolio of industrial instrumentation and power-metering products."

Operating at 2.7 V to 5.5 V, the AD73360 AFE's six ADC channels provide 77 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) over a voiceband signal bandwidth. Each channel features a PGA with gain settings in eight stages ranging from 0 dB to 38 dB. An on-chip reference voltage is programmable to accommodate either 3-V or 5-V operation. Idle channels can be powered down when not required, thereby reducing power consumption.

Internally, the six channels are separate with channel-to-channel crosstalk of only -83 dB, inherently allowing for simultaneous sampling - important for fast control loops and noise cancellation, and for applications such as power metering, where phase delay between conversions is undesirable. Each channel's low group delay (i.e., just 25 microseconds) can be critical in closed-loop applications, such as vector motor control, where the drive circuitry's currents and voltages are fed back to control the motor's torque and flux. The AD73360 AFE's sample rates are programmable, ranging from the standard voiceband of 8 kSPS and extending up to 64 kSPS. The SPORT data rates are also programmable for glueless interface with fast DSPs, including ADI's ADSP-21xx family and other popular DSPs, as well as for slower microcontrollers.

Pricing and Availability Housed in a 28-pin Small Outline Integrated Circuit (SOIC) and 44-lead Thin Quad Flat Package (TQFP), the AD73360 multi-channel ADC is available now and priced at $7.00 in 1,000-piece quantities. Evaluation boards and technical support are also available. Additional information may be found at http://www.analog.com.

With sales of $1.23 billion for fiscal 1998, Analog Devices (NYSE: ADI) is a leading manufacturer of precision high-performance integrated circuits used in analog and digital signal processing applications. Headquartered in Norwood, Massachusetts, the company employs approximately 7,000 people worldwide and has manufacturing facilities in Massachusetts, California, North Carolina, Ireland, the Philippines and Taiwan. FMI: http://www.analog.com