Summit Adds World's First NVM DAC.

CAMPBELL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 16, 1999--Summit Microelectronics has developed and is in volume production of the industry's first digital-to-analog converter with on-chip nonvolatile memory.

The circuit, the S9408, is an 8-bit, DAC that operates from a single 2.7-volt to 5.5-volt power supply. This is the fifth unique digital-to-analog converter now available from Summit.

In addition to standard digital-to-analog converters, the company offers a five-device set of circuits that are designed as low-cost replacements for precision potentiometers. These DACPOTs(TM) use on-chip, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) for precision tuning.

The S9408 contains four individual DACs each of, which has a standard 8-bit data register to hold the binary value of the output voltage. In parallel with the 8-bit data register is an 8-bit EEPROM register that can load its contents into the data register or itself be loaded with the contents of the data register. Each of the four DACs also contains a resistor network, and each has outputs that are buffered by a unity gain amplifier.

The S9408 employs a serial interface that is compatible with the Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) for both read and write functions. The circuit offers differential non-linearity of +/-0.5 LSB and integral non-linearity of +/-1. Each of the S9408's four DACs can be programmed independently, and each has its own electrically isolated voltage reference input.

"This circuit is unique in the semiconductor industry," explained Richard Palm, Summit's Vice President of Marketing. "No other DAC circuit currently available implements nonvolatile memory on the chip. This memory eliminates the need for an external memory to hold the DAC values, and, more importantly, it allows the DAC to power-on with a reset value.

The output states of the new S9408 DAC, which the user can save in EEPROM memory, may be recalled and loaded into the four DACs at power-up. Alternatively, the S9408 can load `00' at power-up. These power-up options are controlled by the 00/REG\ input.

The DACs' output values on this circuit may be changed at any time after power-up without affecting the data in EEPROM.

The S9408 available in the 20-pin SOIC package priced at $2.80 in 1,000-piece quantities.

Summit Microelectronics, Inc. focuses on the integration of analog and EEPROM technologies to provide cost-effective solutions to a variety of applications in the telecommunications, consumer and automotive markets. Its website is www.summitmicro.com.