News & Events
Xicor Announces Industry's First Programmable Op Amp
-- New Technology is First to Combine Analog, Digital and Nonvolatile Functions~-- Op Amp is First Device Built with Smart Analog Technology~-- Chip has Programmable Gain, Offset and Power Level
MILPITAS, Calif., Sept 28, 1998 -- XICOR, Inc. (NASDAQ: XICO) today announced the X9430, the industry's first programmable operational amplifier (op amp). The programmable parameters include gain, offset and power level.
This mixed signal device represents a new category of device in the electronics industry, and is the first device to use Xicor's smart analog technology which combines analog, digital and nonvolatile memory circuits in a single chip.
The X9430 will be used in many general purpose applications. Potential applications include personal and laptop computers, networking devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), pagers, cellular telephones, DVD players, printers, copiers, radios, stereo equipment, televisions, bar-code readers, power supplies and others.
The programmable nonvolatile features of this new device make it easier for engineers to design in features such as self-calibration and self-testing. The programmable power level gives engineers the ability to extend battery life in portable products, and the high-level of integration will reduce the number of chips required in a design.
The X9430 contains two general purpose op amps that are programmed via a digital value loaded over either a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) or I2C serial interface. The programmable op amps have specifications comparable to the industry standard 741, 301A and OP07. The programmable op amp parameters (i.e., gain, offset and power level) are stored in nonvolatile memory which means they are maintained when power is turned off. The chip also has 16 bytes of EEPROM memory of which 4 bytes each are allocated for op amp or DCP parameters or for general use.
The functions in the X9430 can also be used independently which include the two op amps, two digital potentiometers and 16 bytes of EEPROM memory.
"We developed our smart analog technology and product line based on feedback from our customers throughout the electronics industry who are calling for a single chip that integrates many of the traditional building blocks of analog, digital and nonvolatile memory," said Bob Anderson, product line manager.
"We are one of the only companies capable of developing this new product line because we pioneered and perfected the nonvolatile EEPROM technology which is the hardest part of the solution. The analog and digital portions of the smart analog solution are available to us because their basic building blocks are an intrinsic part of our EEPROM design and manufacturing process," he concluded.
Programmable Features
The gain in the X9430 can be programmed via a serial interface. The offset in the op amps can be programmed in real time to zero which enables a product to self-calibrate for offset drifts that occur with temperature or age. The X9430 allows both its digital power supply and analog op amp supplies to be programmed to a sleep mode when those functions are not in use. The standby current for the digital supply is 1uA, and the current for the analog supply is 100nA.
Availability and Price
The 24-pin Small Outline Integrated Circuit (SOIC) versions of the X9430 and X9438 are sampling now and will be in production in November. These two devices also come in a 24-pin Thin Small Surface Outline Package (TSSOP).
| Prices in 10,000 quantities for the SOIC package are: | |
| X9430 (SPI interface) | $3.95 |
| X9438 (2-wire interface) | $3.75 |
Reader Contact
Bob Anderson, product line manager, Xicor, Inc., 1511 Buckeye Drive, Milpitas, CA 95035. Telephone: (408) 546-3534. E-mail: banderson@xicor.com Web site: http://www.xicor.com
Company Background
Xicor designs, develops, manufactures and sells nonvolatile in-the-system programmable products which retain information even when the system is turned off or power is lost inadvertently. Xicor's product line includes advanced and standard EEPROMs, Digitally Controlled Potentiometers (DCPs), Secure IC's and System Controller IC's.
In-the-system programmability benefits communications, consumer, computer, office automation, industrial, automotive and military products by adding advanced capabilities. Such capabilities include a much reduced design verification cycle, faster introduction to the market, easy adaptability to changing software and operating environments at the point of use, data security, remote maintainability, and personalization by the user. Many of Xicor's products operate at low power levels and come in small packages making them ideal for battery-powered applications and portable applications.
Xicor products are sold worldwide and are supported by technically staffed offices located in Asia, Europe, Japan and North America. Headquartered in Milpitas, California, Xicor holds the Underwriters Laboratories Certification of Compliance with the ISO 9001 quality standard and the joint automotive QS 9000 quality standard certification.
Xicor's product, corporate and financial information is readily accessible on the World Wide Web at http://www.xicor.com.
XDCP, X9430 and X9438 are trademarks of Xicor Corporation.
