March 1 news, Texas Instruments (TI) announced the industry's fastest speed 16-bit digital-to-analog converter (DAC), further breakthrough data converter performance limits. The 4-channel DAC34SH84 offers up to 50% faster speed, 50% lower power consumption, up to 1.5GSPS clock speed, and 362mW power per channel compared to the nearest 16-bit DAC. The DAC34SH84 supports 1.25GSPSDAC34H84 pin-compatible upgrades to help customers achieve 3G, LTE, GSM, and WiMAX wireless base stations and repeaters, and maximize the speed of microwave point-to-point radios, software-defined radios, and waveform generation systems.

DAC34SH84 Main Features and Benefits

• Higher bandwidth: The input rate of each DAC 750MSPS supports up to 600MHz of bandwidth, which fully satisfies the fifth-order linearization requirement of 120MHz. The bandwidth at the highest sampling rate is 3 times higher than that of competing products.

• Frequency Agility: 2x to 16x interpolation and 2 independent 32-bit numerically controlled oscillators can reduce interface speed and FPGA costs while supporting high flexibility in frequency planning;

• RF sideband image rejection: On-chip calibration of the complete RF transmission path not only suppresses sideband and local oscillator pass-through, but also drives the latest TRF3705 and other IQ modulators.

• Fastest speed 16-bit DAC: The DAC34SH84 is part of the DAC3484 family. This family includes the industry’s second fastest 16-bit DACs: the 1.25GSPS 4-channel DACs 3484 and DAC34H84, and the 1.25GSPS dual DAC3482. In addition to high speed, the series also helps designers maximize the power efficiency of their design solutions.

Tools and Support

The DAC34SH84EVM evaluation board is available now. It contains transformer-coupled IF outputs that directly evaluate the DAC34SH84.

For a complete bit-to-RF transmitter prototype design, the TSW30SH84EVM includes not only the DAC34SH84, but also the TRF3705IQ modulator, the LMK04800 ultra-low jitter clock cleaner, TI power management devices such as DC/DC converters and low-noise LDOs, and power amplifiers. The TSW30SH84EVM has started accepting orders today.

The synchronously-developed TSW1400EVM mode generation module today features a high-speed dual data rate low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) output bus that supports 16-bit data at a 1.5 GSPS rate, thereby meeting the need for high speed generation of various modes in the DAC34SH84EVM. When combined with the DAC34SH84EVM or TSW30SH84EVM, the TSW1400EVM also provides modulated mode generation with a large onboard memory while providing a highly flexible evaluation environment. The TSW1400EVM is now available.

The new TSW1406EVM pattern generation module provides a lower cost alternative for simple pattern generation up to 1 GSPS per bit, which will be available in March this year.

In addition, an IBIS model for verifying board signal integrity requirements has also been provided.

Availability and packaging

The DAC34SH84 in a small 12mm x 12mm BGA package is sampling now. It is expected to be put into mass production in the second quarter of this year.