News & Events
Intersil Introduces New CommLink Dual Digital-to-Analog Converters for Cellular Communications and Other High Performance Applications
-- New DACs provide high performance, reduced cost alternatives for 2.5G and 3G cellular standards~-- Intersil will showcase new converters and pre-distortion linearizer this month at CTIA in Orlando
IRVINE, CA, March 14, 2002 Intersil Corporation (NASDAQ: ISIL), a leading developer of silicon technology for wireless infrastructure, announced today that its CommLink series of dual, 3.3-V digital-to-analog-converters (DACs) is in full production. Intersil will demonstrate the new ISL5x29 DAC and showcase their new quad digital down converters and pre-distortion linearizer at this years CTIA convention (booth #4681) from March 18-20 in Orlando.
The CommLink family of dual DACs consists of pin-compatible 14, 12, 10 and 8-bit options with either 130 or 210 mega samples per second (Msps) speeds to support baseband or high IF (Intermediate Frequency) applications. The ISL5X29 family is designed to deliver a high performance, cost effective alternative to communications systems designers. Its high update rate, coupled with superior levels of spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) performance allow hardware designers to meet aggressive spectral emission targets without having to resort to more complex and expensive Interpolating DAC circuitry. Additionally, its dual channel structure allows for maximum flexibility of integration into a multitude of architectures including single and multi-carrier digital IF, direct up-conversion and analog baseband.
The ISL5X29 product family supports all current and next generation cellular protocols. The CommLink devices can be integrated into a wide range of products including cellular basestations, high-end test equipment, medical imaging, satellite terminal equipment and point-to-point and point-to-multi-point wireless access terminals. The ISL5X61A single-DAC series is also available from Intersil.
Intersil is recognized as a leader in software defined radio ICs for cellular basestations, and now our dual DACs are being implemented in multiple applications where high performance data conversion is critical. The broad appeal of our versatile ISL5X29 DACs enhances Intersils ability to address wireless communications in multiple, rapidly expanding markets, said Juan Garcia, Marketing Director for CommLink products at Intersil. Our new 5x29 DACs deliver the high performance required by designers of multi-carrier base-stations for 3G cellular applications, while reducing power consumption and overall transmitter complexity.
Traditionally, wideband wireless communications applications require the adjustment of setup and hold timing in order to optimize the level of SFDR performance in the overall signal chain. The ISL5X29 series delivers increased levels of SFDR stability across setup and hold timing on the input, imposing less stringent requirements on input timing and simplifying overall transmitter design.
As digital chips become more advanced, lower voltages and higher speeds are required. The ISL5X29 DACs are 3.3-V only parts, eliminating the need to route 5 V to the device. Excellent gain matching exists between the two channels of the dual DAC series, typically 0.05 dB and guaranteed less than 0.14 dB. Superior gain matching increases the performance in quadrature output architectures without the need to manually compensate for imbalances. The device family also features low power consumption and sleep mode capability, further reducing power consumption in idle channel conditions.
Technical Specifications
The ISL5929, a 14-bit dual DAC, achieves greater than 70 dBc SFDR when operating at sampling frequencies up to 210 Msps and an output frequency centered at 15 MHz. For the cellular base station market, the device achieves 3G-Universal Mobile Telephone Service (UMTS) Adjacent Channel Power Ratio (ACPR) performance of greater than 71 dB at an output frequency of 19.2 MHz, while updating the device at a rate of 76.8 MSPS. For 2.5G-Enhanced Data Rate for GSM Evolution (EDGE) systems, the device yields SFDR performance of 94 dBc at 6 MHz offset from a carrier frequency of 11 MHz. The family is also comprised of the ISL5829 12-bit DAC, the ISL5729 10-bit DAC and the ISL5629 8-bit DAC.
Additionally, to assist designers in evaluating DACs in a given application, Intersil offers a free online measurement service, known as the CommLink Test Drive. Our DAC evaluation tool is available by visiting www.intersil.com/testdrive. Simply specify a single-tone, multi-tone or pattern test file and Intersil will perform the measurement and e-mail screenshots of the spectrum analyzer.
Packaging, Pricing and Availability
The ISL5X29 dual DAC series is in full production and consists of pin-compatible 8-, 10-, 12 and 14-bit converters in 48 lead LQFP packaging. Pricing is as follows for 130 MHz products in quantities up to 1000 pieces:
| ISL5929 | $12.00 |
| ISL5829 | $10.50 |
| ISL5729 | $9.00 |
| ISL5629 | $7.50 |
Intersil is a global leader in designing innovative wireless networking and high performance analog solutions that enable wireless access to video, data and voice in homes, offices and public places. Creating advanced power management products, Intersil provides reliable solutions for file servers, portable information appliances and over half of all computer microprocessors manufactured today. With a rich high performance analog and mixed signal portfolio, Intersil brings added value in providing complete silicon, software and reference design solutions to new products that bring portable connectivity to people wherever they live, work or travel. Headquartered in Irvine, California, Intersil has offices in cities throughout the US, Europe and Asia. For more information about Intersil or to find out how to become a member of our winning team, visit the company's Web site and career page at: www.intersil.com
CommLink is a trademark of Intersil Americas Inc.
