Analog Devices Eases Synchronization Design Challenges with Industry's First Multichannel DDS Devices.

NORWOOD, Mass. -- ADI's new AD9959 and AD9958 DDS devices contain multiple independently programmable DDS channels on a single-chip to substantially reduce board space.

Analog Devices Inc. (NYSE: ADI), the world leader in data converter technology, today announced the industry's only multichannel DDS (direct digital synthesis) devices, providing a solution to two common design challenges faced by system engineers in a range of applications. Allowing independent programming of up to four inherently synchronized outputs, ADI's new four-channel AD9959 and two-channel AD9958 deliver greater control to correct imbalances between multiple signals, enabling engineers to spend considerably less time and effort on this usually complex portion of the system design. For space-constrained systems, the AD9958 and AD9959 simplify the design process by integrating multiple DDS channels on a single chip, eliminating the need for several single-channel DDS chips and external circuitry and offering dramatic board space reduction of up to 75 percent over traditional solutions. Direct digital synthesis is a digital technique used for generating an analog output waveform or clocking signal from a fixed-frequency clock source. The AD9959 and AD9958 are optimized for applications that require complex high speed synthesis up to 200 MHz, including phased-array radar/sonar systems, automatic test equipment, medical imaging and optical communications systems.

"Analog Devices is meeting the synthesizer synchronization challenge by leveraging its world-class converter technologies to develop highly-integrated DDS devices that lower the cost and complexity of system design," said Kevin Kattmann, product line director, high speed converter group, Analog Devices. "The ability to easily achieve precision phase offset control between multiple synchronized output channels, while consuming minimal board space, enables the AD9959 and AD9958 to offer system designers significant advantages over traditional frequency synthesizer solutions and single-channel DDS products."

DDS Technology

Used in a wide range of applications from test and measurement equipment to wireless and satellite communications, ADI's complete DDS solutions employ an on-chip high-performance DAC (digital-to-analog converter) to convert a reference frequency to a sampled sine wave with extremely fine frequency control. DDS devices are increasingly becoming an attractive alternative to traditional frequency-agile analog synthesizer solutions as they offer considerable performance benefits, such as unparalleled matching of outputs, easier synchronization for obtaining quadrature and other signal phase relationships, and extremely fast frequency transition. Digital control eliminates the need for manual system tweaking and allows output frequencies to be conveniently derived.

Precise Synchronization, Low Power

In order to alleviate the design complexities typically involved in the synchronization of multiple DDS devices, the independent channels of the AD9959 and AD9958 are internally synchronized by a common reference clock. Programmable channel control allows for correction of imbalances in external signal paths due to analog processing, such as filtering, amplification, or PCB layout mismatches. If additional channels are required, the AD9959 and AD9958 allow daisy chaining of additional DDS chips. The devices also offer extremely low power consumption of less than 165 mW per channel.

Independent Channel Phase, Frequency, and Amplitude Control

Each channel of the four-channel AD9959 and the two-channel AD9958 incorporates a high speed 10-bit DAC with excellent wideband and narrowband SFDR (spurious free dynamic range). Each fully independent programmable channel provides 14-bits of phase offset tuning, 32-bit frequency resolution and 10-bit amplitude control. The device also supports direct or linear sweep modulation, while achieving channel isolation of greater than 60 dB. The integrated 32-bit frequency tuning word enables each channel to be programmed to resolutions of 116 mHz or less with a sampling clock of up to 500 MSPS.

Pricing and Availability

The AD9959 is available in production quantities now; the AD9958 is sampling now with product quantities available in September, 2005. Both devices are specified over the extended industrial temperature range of -40 degrees C to +85 degrees C. The four-channel AD9959 and the two-channel AD9958 are respectively priced at $37.14 and $20.24 per unit in 1,000-piece quantities and are each packaged in an 8 mm x 8 mm LFCSP (lead frame chip scale package). For more information, visit www.analog.com/AD9959 or www.analog.com/AD9958.

ADI's Data Conversion Technology: Critical Bridge Between Analog and Digital

Analog Devices is the world leader in data conversion technology. ADI's longstanding leadership in data conversion technology stems from an engineering culture that emphasizes deep understanding of the customer's system challenge, aggressive research and development investing and unmatched mixed-signal design expertise. From application-specific solutions designed to lower system cost to the broadest selection of speed, accuracy, size and power consumption in DACs and ADCs, Analog Devices provides the products, technology and support customers need to successfully bridge between real-world analog signals and the digital world of electronic equipment. ADI's data converters are used widely in consumer electronics, broadband and wireless communications, automotive systems, industrial equipment and medical electronics, as well as a host of other emerging market applications.

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.