Analog Devices Drives High-Speed ADC Performance with Ultra Low Distortion Differential Amplifier.

NORWOOD, Mass. -- Designed on ADI's XFCB-3(TM) SiGe process technology, new AD8352 diff amp drives 12- to 16-bit ADCs used in advanced wireless infrastructure applications.

Analog Devices Inc. (NYSE: ADI), a global leader in high-performance semiconductors for signal processing applications, is announcing the industry's first differential amplifier (diff amp) to achieve the ultra low distortion levels needed to efficiently drive the high-speed analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) required by today's advanced wireless infrastructure systems. The latest addition to ADI's extensive portfolio of radio frequency (RF) components, the AD8352 is designed to drive 12- to 16-bit ADCs at the highest practical intermediate frequencies (IF) used within next generation 3G and 4G cellular and broadband WiMAX wireless infrastructure equipment. The AD8352 is capable of maintaining exceptional performance when driving high-speed ADCs up to 380 MHz, far exceeding the 100 MHz achieved by competing diff amps.

In today's demanding wireless applications, lowering the distortion level of the ADC driver is critical to improving system performance at higher frequencies, as this helps maintain the quality of the spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) and signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) of the ADC. This, in turn, minimizes the number of intermediate frequencies within the radio design, thus reducing power consumption, cost, component count, and board area, and advances system-level performance in applications such as wireless base stations.

"ADI believes it is important to design complementary solutions that match our world-class data converters, ensuring the best system performance for the customer," said Peter Real, product line director, RF and Networking Components, Analog Devices. "For example, many third-generation base station receiver designs lower the system cost and improve performance by using a high-speed ADC and a single-stage high-IF down-conversion. Pairing the ultra low distortion AD8352 with 12- and 14-bit ADCs such as ADI's AD9445, AD9246 and AD9233, which all feature outstanding SFDR and SNR performance, means that base station designers suffer no degradation in signal processing performance."

Exceptional Performance and Low Power in a Small Package

The ultra low distortion of the AD8352 at higher operating frequencies (82-dBc HD3 at 180 MHz) is achieved by a proprietary internal cancellation scheme, and the use of XFCB-3(TM), ADI's specialized silicon germanium (SiGe) silicon-on-insulator (SOI) process technology. Along with ultra low distortion, the AD8352 delivers high linearity (41-dBm OIP3), draws only 37 mA of quiescent current, and is packaged in space saving 3 mm x 3 mm LFCSP.

Ease of Use, Flexibility

Unlike conventional differential amplifiers, the AD8352 saves considerable design time and adds flexibility by isolating the gain, allowing the user to select the desired gain with one external resistor. The gain isolation permits the user to change the gain independent of noise and input matching requirements. The AD8352 is ideally suited for use in single-ended to differential conversion, as a differential RF/IF gain block, and as an interface to differential devices such as SAW filters.

Pricing and Availability

The AD8352 diff amp is sampling now with production quantities available in January 2006. It is priced at $3.49 per unit in 1,000-piece quantities. For more information, please visit www.analog.com/AD8352.

Analog Devices' RF Expertise

Analog Devices' RF ICs have the high-performance specifications--such as temperature stability and high accuracy--that reduce component count, decrease cost, and ease design challenges, thus enabling new, highly desirable architectural changes to radio designs. Using a unique combination of design skills, process technologies, and system understanding, Analog Devices has a broad portfolio of RF ICs, including complete chipsets and a full range of high-performance RF function blocks. Among its extensive offerings are direct digital synthesizers (DDS); phase-locked loop synthesizers (PLLs); detectors and logarithmic operational amplifiers; fixed and variable-gain amplifiers (VGAs); TruPwr(TM) RF power detectors; mixers, modulators, and demodulators; integrated IF amplifiers; and the Othello(R) family of single-chip transceivers for cellular terminals.

About Analog Devices

Innovation, performance, and excellence are the cultural pillars on which Analog Devices has built one of the most long-standing, high-growth companies within the technology sector. Acknowledged industry-wide as the world leader in data conversion and signal conditioning technology, Analog Devices serves over 60,000 customers around the world, representing virtually all types of electronics equipment. Celebrating 40 years as a leading global manufacturer of high-performance integrated circuits used in analog and digital signal processing applications, Analog Devices, Inc. is headquartered in Norwood, Massachusetts, and employs approximately 8,900 people worldwide. It has manufacturing facilities in Massachusetts, California, North Carolina, Ireland, and the Philippines. Analog Devices' common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and ADI is included in the S&P 500 Index.

TruPwr(TM) and XFCB-3(TM) are trademarks, and Othello(R) is a registered trademark of Analog Devices, Inc. All other trademarks included herein are the property of their respective owners.