Austriamicrosystems – Low-power 8-channel 8-bit DACs with shutdown and midscale reset

A new family of low-power, 8-channel 8-bit DACs with shutdown and midscale reset has been unveiled by Austriamicrosystems. The AS1504/05 devices deliver ‘outstanding’ integral nonlinearity (INL) – of typically ±0.15LSB and a maximum of ±0.75LSB – as well as ‘outstanding’ differential nonlinearity (DNL) – of typically ±0.1LSB and a maximum of ±0.5LSB, says the company.

With a mid-scale reset, the AS1504 is seen as ideal for potentiometer replacements where electronic adjustments start at a nominal value. The low-power AS1504 DAC is also ideally suited to bandwidth and frequency control such as in audio or video applications and for gain adjustments such as in audio or video amplifiers. The AS1504 is also well suited to automatic adjustments and geometric correction in CRT displays and for many other applications where low power and highly accurate DACs are needed.

The AS1505 provides independent control of the maximum and the minimum values of the output voltage range and allows separate zero-scale voltage settings. The device can thus bring significant benefits to applications that have a limited voltage control range since the resolution is maximized, says the company.

“The AS1504 and AS1505 offer several advantages over analog potentiometers,” said Walter Moshammer, standard linear marketing director, Aaustriamicrosystems. “The advantages include better resolution, since the AS1504/05 DACs have 256 programmable steps and a small form factor. The devices are available in a 9.9mm x 6mm SOIC package which replaces eight analog potentiometers. In addition the functions of the devices are not affected by mechanical disturbances such as vibration or shock. They are also immune to mechanical abrasion, while offering low noise, low temperature drift and high-speed adjustment, which means that fast trimming is possible.”

Both the AS1504 and AS1505 operate from a +2.7 to 5.5V supply, and are available in 16-pin SOIC-150 packaging.