Analog Devices Introduces Clock ICs Delivering Ultra-Low Jitter Performance.

NORWOOD, Mass. -- World leader in data conversion adds clock ICs with sub-picosecond jitter to portfolio of industry-leading analog circuits to provide customers with highest levels of system performance

Analog Devices, Inc. (NYSE: ADI), a global leader in high-performance semiconductors for signal-processing applications, today unveiled a series of clock ICs that meet the most rigorous signal-processing requirements in today's high-performance electronics applications, such as wireless infrastructure transceivers, instrumentation and broadband infrastructure. Within these applications, signal processing schemes are reaching astounding speeds, and jitter, or the uncertainty of the clock edge, can cause transmission errors and have an adverse effect on a system's overall performance. ADI's new clock ICs feature ultra-low jitter performance (sub picosecond), which enables the devices to deliver an extremely clean system clock for significant noise reduction in system-critical signal chains.

In addition to low jitter, ADI's clock ICs improve system performance through the integration of several key functions that eliminate the need for multiple discrete components, reduce board space, and ultimately reduce BOM (bill of materials) costs. These features include a low-phase-noise PLL (phase locked loop) frequency synthesizer core, programmable dividers, and adjustable delay blocks. Combined with sub-picosecond jitter performance, these features make ADI's clock ICs the industry's best at maximizing the performance of critical-signal-path components, such as analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), digital-to-analog converters (DACs), direct digital synthesizers (DDSs) and mixed-signal front end (MxFE(R)) devices.

"As the industry leader in data conversion, ADI continually seeks to provide customers with the highest levels of system performance, and ADI's clock ICs are key to improved system performance," said Kevin Kattmann, product line director, High-Speed Converters, Analog Devices. "As frequencies and data rates move higher and higher, the accuracy of a system and the performance of its converters is increasingly limited by the quality of the clock signal. ADI's new series of clock ICs combines best-in-class signal integrity with innovative functionality, allowing customers to achieve optimum system performance, while greatly simplifying the clock tree design task."

ADI's clock IC offerings include both clock distribution and clock generation devices.

ADI's Clock Distribution ICs - AD9510, AD9511, and AD9512

ADI's clock distribution IC series includes the AD9510, AD9511, and AD9512. These devices feature sub-picosecond performance over a broad frequency range, higher levels of integration and more programmability than other solutions.

--Low-phase-noise Clock Outputs with Sub-Picosecond Jitter

Low phase noise and low jitter are key to reducing overall noise in a signal path. ADI's clock distribution ICs feature LVPECL outputs, as well as user-selectable LVDS and CMOS options:

--LVPECL outputs operate to 800 MHz with additive jitter less than 250 fs (femtoseconds) rms.

--LVDS and CMOS outputs operate up to 800 MHz and 250 MHz, respectively.

--In both LVDS and CMOS modes, the additive jitter is less than 300 fs rms.

The voltage levels for both LVPECL and LVDS clock outputs are programmable, allowing the system designer to determine the best voltage swing for a given application. The AD9510 offers the most flexibility, mixing LVPECL, LVDS and CMOS logic for a total of eight independent clock outputs. For designs requiring fewer outputs, the AD9511 and AD9512 pack five independent outputs into a smaller package at reduced power consumption.

--Programmable Dividers

ADI's clock distribution ICs eliminate the extra components required to generate gate delays and phase shifts, by using dividers with dramatically increased functionality. Each clock divider is programmable to any integer ratio from 1 to 32, offering flexibility when handling multiple frequencies on one PCB (printed circuit board). The divide function also includes a user-selectable offset word that enables channel-to-channel phase control. Because the devices perform phase control inside the divider block, they maintain much lower jitter than equivalent discrete implementations.

--Programmable Delay

ADI's clock distribution ICs feature on-chip programmable delay allowing users to adjust for set-up and hold-time requirements between data converters and digital ASICs, FPGAs (field-programmable gate arrays), and digital up/down-converters, without adding extra clock hardware. All three AD951x products include at least one fine-delay-adjust channel with a programmable full-scale range from 1 ns to 10 ns. A 6-bit delay word offers 64 unique delay settings with step sizes as low as 16 ps.

--Integrated PLL Frequency Synthesizer Core

Both the AD9510 and the AD9511 integrate a low-phase-noise, 1.5 GHz PLL frequency synthesizer core on chip. The PLL is optimized for clock applications and consists of a programmable reference divider, a low-noise phase frequency detector, a precision charge pump, and a programmable feedback divider. For applications that do not require an on-chip PLL, the AD9512 offers two 1.5 GHz clock inputs and five independent clock outputs.

Availability and Pricing

The AD9510 is sampling now with production quantities available in February 2005. The AD9511 and AD9512 begin sampling in December 2004 with production quantities available in March 2005. The AD9510 is offered in 64-lead LFCSP (lead frame chip scale package) and is priced at $11.95 per unit in 1,000-piece quantities. All three AD951x products are specified to operate over the extended industrial range of -40C to +85C. For more information, please visit http://www.analog.com/AD9510.

Features at a Glance

                                       AD9510    AD9511    AD9512
------------------------------------- --------- --------- ---------
     Low Noise, 1.5 GHz PLL core           Yes       Yes        No
        1.5 GHz Clock Inputs                 2         2         2
        Programmable Dividers                8         5         5
      Programmable Delay Blocks              2         1         1
           LVPECL Outputs                    4         3         3
          LVDS/CMOS Outputs                  4         2         2
               Package                64 LFCSP  48 LFCSP  48 LFCSP
    Price per unit (1,000-piece
             quantities)                $11.95     $9.95     $8.95

ADI's Clock Generator IC - AD9540

In addition to clock distribution, ADI also supports clock generation with the AD9540, released earlier this year. Specifically designed to support the stringent clocking requirements of high performance data converters, the AD9540 clock generator helps reduce system cost and provides valuable flexibility. The AD9540 features high-performance PLL circuitry, including a flexible 200 MHz phase frequency detector and a digitally programmable charge pump current. The device also provides a low-jitter (less than 700 fs rms), 655 MHz CML mode (PECL compliant) output driver with programmable slew rates. External VCO (voltage-controlled oscillator) rates up to 2.7 GHz are supported. Extremely fine frequency tuning resolution (48-bit tuning word) and 14-bit phase adjustment enable ultra precise control of the output's phase and frequency. The AD9540 is specified to operate over the extended industrial range of -40C to +85C.

Availability and Pricing

The AD9540 is available in full production and is offered in a 48-lead LFCSP. It is priced at $9.95 per unit in 1,000-piece quantities. For more information, please visit: http://www.analog.com/AD9540.

About Analog Devices, Inc.

Analog Devices, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of high-performance integrated circuits used in analog and digital signal processing applications. ADI 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.

Note: MxFE is a registered trademark of Analog Devices, Inc.