7-GHz ADC drivers bring AC performance to DC-coupled applications

TI's fully differential amplifiers improve performance in radar and test and measurement equipment, and wireless base stations

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Texas Instruments

Nov 18, 2014, 08:00 ET

DALLAS, Nov. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Instruments (TI) (NASDAQ: TXN) today announced two new fully differential amplifiers (FDAs) that provide DC-coupled applications with best-in-class AC performance to improve system capabilities and performance. The LMH3401 and LMH5401 FDAs provide higher bandwidth and slew rate, and lower distortion than existing ADC drivers. The performance of the LMH3401 and LMH5401 can enable radar systems that help keep populations safer and wireless base stations that drop fewer calls, while providing faster upload speeds. For more information about the LMH3401 and LMH5401, visit www.ti.com/lmh3401-pr.

Texas Instruments today announced two new fully differential amplifiers (FDAs) that provide DC-coupled applications with best-in-class AC performance to improve system capabilities and performance. The LMH3401 and LMH5401 FDAs provide higher bandwidth and slew rate, and lower distortion than existing ADC drivers. The performance of the LMH3401 and LMH5401 can enable radar systems that help keep populations safer and wireless base stations that drop fewer calls, while providing faster upload speeds. For more information about the LMH3401 and LMH5401, visit www.ti.com/lmh3401-pr.

The LMH3401 provides 16 dB of gain with higher performance than similar FDAs, while providing a 30 percent reduction in both size and power consumption. It delivers 7 GHz of -3-dB bandwidth at 16-dB gain, a high slew rate of 18,000 V/us, and low harmonic distortion of -77 dBc at 500 MHz.

The LMH5401 can be configured for 6 dB of gain or more, delivering 6.2 GHz of -3 dB bandwidth at 12-dB gain. It provides industry-leading performance with a slew rate of 17,500 V/us, harmonic distortion of -90 dBc at 200 MHz, and IMD3 of -90 dBc at 200 MHz.

Key benefits of the LMH3401 and LMH5401:

Deliver best-in-class bandwidth and slew rate at low power: Enable system designers to track fast edge rates in pulse-based systems like radar and amplify high frequencies in a continuous RF waveform environment like a wireless base station, while maintaining low power consumption.
High signal quality: Enable the system to receive small signals in the presence of large blockers.
Eliminate the need for baluns: Can convert the signal from single-ended to differential, which can eliminate the need for baluns. This reduces the overall bill of materials, enables wider bandwidth, reduces the system footprint and simplifies design. Learn more about the advantages the LMH3401 and LMH5401 offer over baluns in this blog post.

Complementary devices to maximize system performance

The LMH3401 and LMH5401 minimize data converter distortion from true DC to more than 1 GHz in receive and transmit applications. This enables system designers to optimize the performance of TI's highest-speed data converters, such as the 12-bit, 4-GSPS ADC12J4000; 16-bit, 370-MSPS ADC16DX370; and 16-bit, 2.5-GSPS DAC38J84.

TI low-dropout regulators (LDOs) can help maximize the performance of the LMH3401 and LMH5401 by offering noise-free positive and negative power rails. The LP5907 enables the LMH3401 to meet today's RF and analog circuit requirements by providing low noise, high power supply rejection ratio, low quiescent current, and fast-line and load transient response. The TPS7A3001 LDO generates the clean negative rail required for a dual power supply by attenuating upstream ripple.

Tools and support to speed design

Evaluation modules are available for both the LMH3401 and LMH5401 at a price of US$149. TINA-TI SPICE models and reference designs are also available to quickly simulate system performance.

Support is available on the High Speed Amplifiers Forum in the TI E2E^TM Community, where engineers can search for solutions, get help, share knowledge and solve problems with fellow engineers and TI experts.

Package, availability and pricing

The LMH3401 and LMH5401 are available in a 14-pin, 2.5-mm by 2.5-mm QFN package. Suggested retail pricing is US$8.95 for the LMH3401 and US$7.95 for the LMH5401 in 1,000-unit quantities.

Learn more about TI's high-speed amplifier portfolio by visiting the links below:

View datasheets for the LMH3401 or LMH5401.
Learn how to reduce the impact of common-mode noise on differential signal paths.
Read about how to use an LDO to reduce high-speed power supply issues.
Get tips on how to manage filter loss in communications systems.

About Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) is a global semiconductor design and manufacturing company that develops analog ICs and embedded processors. By employing the world's brightest minds, TI creates innovations that shape the future of technology. TI is helping more than 100,000 customers transform the future, today. Learn more at www.ti.com.

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