CMOS
VOLTAGE COMPARATOR TOUTS 50,000:1 IMPROVEMENT IN SENSOR INPUT SIGNAL
DETECTION
Unrivaled design breakthrough
enables application of next generation sensor technology
SUNNYVALE,
CA October 20, 2004 - Advanced Linear Devices, Inc. (ALD), the design
innovation leader in analog semiconductors, announces today an ultra-sensitive,
high-performance EPAD® analog voltage comparator. Designated the ALD2321,
the first in this family of products is destined to revolutionize the
field of small signal detection for practical sensor applications in
defense, security, process control and a wide range of other industries.
Designed
to reduce input loading effects that cause linearity errors and typically
limit the resolution and sensitivity of many critical sensors, ALD's
Voltage Comparator features a unique front-end stage with an input-signal
power specification of only 0.004 pW (0.2 mV x 20 pA). Compared to current
technology, which ranges from 200 - 1000 pW, circuit designers can realize
a 50,000:1 improvement in small signal threshold detection, thereby
expanding the useful range of many existing and new analog sensors that
generate very low, sub-millivolt output signals.
The low
input power design is achieved through the use of EPAD® Technology for
electronically minimizing the input offset voltage and high impedance,
insulated gate MOSFET transistors, which subsequently drive the input
amplifier stage by controlling the input gate voltage. Other pertinent
features include low power supply current - 110µA, 3 to 11 Vdc power
supply, dual complementary (push-pull) outputs, 50mA output sink current,
and 30 TTL load fanout.
For mission-critical
applications that depend on highly advanced sensors with signals that
are difficult to detect, ALD delivers the only voltage comparator capable
of providing the signal detection to complete the mission. This makes
them ideal for sensitive instrumentation in mobile platforms and the
increasing need to detect trace molecular amounts of chemical, biological
and radioactive elements. Other applications include power supply voltage
monitors, photodiode sensors, and relay or LED drivers.
As sensors
have become more sophisticated, signal amplification is usually required
to take advantage of their full output range. Historically, sensor advancements
have exceeded the capacity of supporting analog circuitry to render
the full range of their sensitivity unattainable - until now. ALD has
reinvented the analog voltage comparator to capture and process the
faintest signals for high performance applications. Signals that previously
required preprocessing and amplification can now be directly processed
by ALD voltage comparators.
"ALD has
taken a standard component and turbo-charged it to make it a state-of-the-art
analog device," said Robert L. Chao, President and CEO of Advanced Linear
Devices. "By doing so, ALD has taken a fresh look at the basic functions
that these devices perform and breathed new life into them, enabling
voltage comparators to meet the wide range of signal detection demands
from a new generation of sensors."
Although
voltage comparators aren't new technology, ALD has taken a creative
approach to improving these important analog components. ALD has embedded
several discrete functions into a single CMOS chip - the resulting circuit
is unmatched in its precision. The ALD dual voltage comparator simultaneously
delivers the lowest input bias current and lowest input/offset voltage
available in a single chip. The chip supports applications demanding
low level signal detection with high source impedance. The ALD2321 EPAD
Voltage Comparator is available now in sample quantities from Mouser
Electronics. Pricing is $3.06 - $4.57 depending on the grade required.
About
EPAD®
EPAD®
is an acronym for Electrically Programmable Analog Device - a patented
and trademarked technology developed by ALD to precisely trim a variety
of CMOS analog integrated circuit elements at the die or packaged level.
EPAD® is a proven design and manufacturing technology first conceived
by ALD almost twenty years ago. This technology has been steadily improved
over the years. Once trimmed, the device voltage and current characteristics
are stored indefinitely in the chip even when the power to the chip
is removed. Programming or trimming is achieved through a series of
software controlled voltage bursts to a floating gate structure.
About
E-TRIM™
E-trim
is an automated ALD developed process for fine tuning MOSFET circuit
elements using EPAD technology. These MOSFET elements are integrated
on ALD2321 dual voltage comparators for trimming the input offset voltage
(Vos). At near completion of the manufacturing cycle, this MOSFET device(s)
is called upon to perform a computer-automated calibration, or "e-trim".
At that point, any accrued residue device errors are measured and corrected
to specification.
About
Advanced Linear Devices, Inc.
Advanced
Linear Devices, Inc. (ALD)
is a design innovation leader in analog semiconductors specializing
in the development and manufacture of precision CMOS linear integrated
circuits, including analog switches, A/D converters and chipsets, voltage
comparators, operational amplifiers, analog timers, and conventional
and EPAD MOSFET transistors. Most standard functions are also available
as ASIC cells for the development of customized integrated circuits.
ALD was founded in 1985 with a commitment to bridge the technology gaps
by providing analog semiconductor solutions to the challenges facing
OEM design engineers in the industrial controls, military, automotive,
security, and medical instrumentation markets. ALD is headquartered
in Sunnyvale, CA. with distributors throughout the U.S. and Europe.
Media
Contact: Michele Kinman 408.218.8815 mkinman@aldinc.com
Download Data Sheet ALD2321A/ALD2321B/ALD2321
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Copyright Advanced Linear Devices, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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