Texas Instruments Incorporated today introduced a pair of 16-bit analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) featuring two-times better linearity than competing devices (+/-1.5 LSB maximum INL). Combined with low-power operation, best-in-class temperature drift and either an industry-standard MSOP-8 or a 3x3mm SON-8 package, the ADS8317 and ADS8326 provide an easy performance upgrade for portable, battery-powered applications, including industrial data acquisition and portable medical instrumentation.

When operating at the full data rate of 250kSPS, the ADCs require very little power (10mW at 5V). At 200kSPS, power dissipation is less than 4mW at 2.7V. When operating at lower data rates, the high-speed operation enables the devices to spend most of the time in a power-down mode. For example, the average power dissipation is less than 0.2mW at a 10kSPS data rate (2.7V).

Both devices offer best-in-class temperature drift specifications for reliable measurements across the operating temperature range. The ADS8317 (true differential input) features 0.1ppm/C gain error drift and 0.2ppm/C offset error drift. The ADS8326 (single-ended input) delivers 0.3ppm/C gain error drift and 0.2ppm/C offset error drift.

The ADS8317 and ADS8326 are based on a successive approximation (SAR) capacitive charge redistribution architecture that inherently includes a sample/hold function. Each offers a high-speed, wide-voltage SPI™/SSI serial interface that can be used in a multi-device, daisy-chain configuration. Both devices operate over a wide supply voltage range of 2.7V to 5.5V.

The devices are the latest additions to TI’s leading portfolio of pin-compatible MSOP-8 SAR converters, which provide designers with resolution, speed and performance upgrades for their existing systems without requiring costly and time-consuming redesigns.
Along with the leading ADS83xx ADCs, TI delivers complete signal chain system solutions including the industrial-targeted TMS320C6000™ and C5000™ digital signal processors and C2000™ controllers, as well as MSP430 and TMS470 MCUs. TI also offers a range of operational amplifiers (such as the OPA365) and voltage references (such as the REF50xx) which are well suited to work with these ADCs to achieve highest performance.

AVAILABILITY AND PACKAGING

The ADS8317 and ADS8326 are available now in an MSOP-8 package from TI and its authorized distributors. Pricing for both devices starts at US$5.00 in 1,000-piece quantities (suggested resale pricing). Evaluation modules (EVMs) are also available. The 3x3mm SON-8 package will be available in 1Q 2008.

TI offers analog engineers a wide-ranging support infrastructure that includes training and seminars, design tools and utilities, technical documentation, evaluation modules, an online KnowledgeBase, a product information hotline and a comprehensive offering of samples that ship within 24 hours of request.

ABOUT TEXAS INSTRUMENTS

Texas Instruments Incorporated provides innovative DSP and analog technologies to meet our customers’ real-world signal processing requirements. In addition to semiconductor, the company includes the education technology business. TI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has manufacturing, design or sales operations in more than 25 countries.