D/A converter delivers 74dB spurious free dynamic range

Linear Technology has introduced a 16bit 2.5Gs/s D/A converter with spectral purity of 74dBc SFDR at 200MHz output, and 68dBc SFDR for output frequencies from DC to 1GHz.

The LTC2000 features low phase noise and a wide 2.1GHz -3dB output bandwidth, enabling broadband or high frequency RF synthesis in applications such as high end instrumentation, broadband communications, test equipment, cable TV DOCSIS CMTS and radar. The ±1V compliant outputs feature a 40mA full scale current which can be adjusted as low as10mA or as high as 60mA to suit the application. Data is transferred to the LTC2000 over a parallel LVDS interface port with transfer rates of up to 1.25Gs/s using a 625MHz double data rate (DDR) data clock. Dual DDR ports are required to achieve the 2.5Gs/s update rate, while a single port can be used to operate at a lower 1.25Gs/s update rate. At 2.5Gs/s, the LTC2000 consumes 2.2W from dual 1.8 and 3.3V supplies, while at 1.25Gs/s the device consumes just 1.3W. Designed for ease of use, the LTC2000 offers an internal pattern generator, LVDS loop out mux and junction temperature sensing to simplify system development and debug. The device is offered in 16, 14 and 11bit versions in an RoHS compliant 9 x 15mm BGA package.