February 27, 2006 -- Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI)  is addressing the growing requirement for smaller industrial and communications designs by introducing the industry's first 16-bit quad DAC (digital-to-analog converter) in a compact 3x3-mm, 10-lead LFCSP (lead frame chip scale package), freeing up to 70% more board space. The new 16-bit quad DAC is one of eight new dual and quad devices announced today that extend ADI's line of nanoDAC converters in small packages. Unlike existing solutions in other packaging that require an external reference, the new nanoDAC devices lower system cost by integrating an on-chip reference and providing the industry's smallest footprint.

The flagship AD5664R 16-bit quad DAC offers very low power consumption (5mW at 5V including reference), making it an ideal choice for designers of industrial and communications products such as PLC cards, analog I/O boards and base stations which require high resolution in the minimum board space. It integrates four buffered 16-bit DACs in addition to an on-chip 1.25-V, 5-ppm/degrC reference.

"With the introduction of the AD5664R, Analog Devices has introduced a 16-bit, fully integrated quad converter that lowers system cost and further extends our nanoDAC product family to provide a wide range of offerings that are optimized for space- and cost sensitive industrial and communications applications," said Mike Britchfield, Product Line Director, Precision Signal Processing Group, Analog Devices.

In addition to the AD5664R, Analog Devices also introduced seven nanoDAC converters that offer pin compatible 12-bit to 16-bit resolution in dual and quad configurations with and without on-chip references: the quad AD5624, AD5624R, AD5644R and AD5664, and the dual AD5643R, AD5663 and AD5663R. These new devices add to ADI's nanoDAC portfolio of smallest package devices, which also features the smallest DAC in SC70 package.

All devices incorporate a power-on reset and a per-channel power-down mode that, in the quad-channel devices, reduces the current consumption of the device to 480nA at 5 V. In addition, the dual-channel devices offer hardware LDAC and CLR functionality and the on-chip precision output amplifier allows rail-to-rail output swing to be achieved, maximizing dynamic range and enabling the device to deliver the performance needed in control and level-setting applications.

Pricing and Availability

The AD5664R, along with the other quad and dual nanoDAC devices announced, are currently sampling and will be available in full production volumes in April 2006. In addition to the 10-lead LFCSP, all devices are available in 10-lead MSOP (mini-small-outline package). Per-unit pricing ranges from $5.49 to $11.40 for the quad devices and from $5.05 to $6.90 for the dual devices (based on resolution and the inclusion of the on-chip reference) in 1,000-piece quantities.