Analog Devices Inc. (ADI) reports that its AD7641 18-bit PulSAR ADC is one of its two analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) that deliver industry-best speeds, high accuracy at high-bit resolutions, and reduce costs by simplifying circuit design and eliminating the need for complex, front-end signal conditioning. ADI adds that typical applications for its AD7641 PulSAR (successive approximation register) converter include high-speed data acquisition, such as those in PC-based systems, SCADA, and DSP interfaces, as well as medical imaging.

"The two converter architectures represent breakthroughs in their own right," says James Caffrey, ADI's product marketing manager for precision converters. "They allow users to maintain signal integrity with less processing and promote a design with fewer components."

AD7641 PulSAR converter operates at a sampling rate of 2 MSPS, which ADI reports is four times faster than its closest competitor, while improving accuracy three times. Typical nonlinearity is 2 LSB (least-significant bit) with 93 dB SNR (signal-to-noise ratio). Its wider dynamic range eliminates the need for a programmable gain amplifier in many applications. AD7641's low power consumption (100 mW at 2 MSPS) also reduces system costs.

Users can further reduce power dissipation by operating the ADC in "impulse mode," in which power dissipation decreases with throughput. Users can select from fastest throughput to lowest power consumption. www.analog.com/AD7641

• 2 MSPS, fully differential, 18-bit, SAR, ADC (no missing codes)
• High precision: INL = 2 LSB, typical
• 93 dB SNR