DESIGN FEATURES Tiny 12-Bit ADC Delivers 2.2Msps
Through 3-Wire Serial Interface
by Joe Sousa
Introduction
Serial interfaces occupy little routing
space, but usually limit the speed of
an ADC. The LTC1402 has a full
conversion speed of 2.2Msps and a
very compact 3-wire interface for connecting to DSPs and microprocessors
without glue logic. It comes in a 16-pin
narrow SSOP package. This minuscule package (200mil Г— 230mil
footprint) and compact serial interface are easy to fit close to sensors to
best preserve analog signal integrity.
Other serial 12-bit ADCs have
sample rates limited to hundreds of
kilosamples-per-second, which limits
their utility in high speed data acquisition systems. This slow sample rate,
combined with poor distortion characteristics, makes them unsuitable
for tracking high frequency signals.
The LTC1402 will capture, in less
than 60ns, the fast steps from an
external analog input multiplexer for
high speed data acquisition and it will …