Hittite Microwave Corporation, the world class supplier of complete MMIC based solutions for communication & military markets, has introduced the HMCAD1512, a  2/1 channel 8-bit ADC sampling at 450/900 MSPS. The HMCAD1512 is ideal for point-to-point microwave links and digital oscilloscopes.

The HMCAD1512 is a versatile, high performance, low power analog-to-digital converter (ADC), utilizing time-interleaving to achieve higher sampling rate. The device contains two ADCs that can be interleaved by the user to act as a single channel or two channels. In dual channel mode, either of the two inputs can be selected for each ADC channel for maximum sample rate at 450 MSPS. In single channel mode, either of the two inputs can be selected as a valid input to the single ADC channel for maximum sample rate at 900 MSPS.

At full speed operation, the HMCAD1512 delivers an SNR of 49 dBFS when applied with an input signal of 170 MHz. Total power dissipation at full speed operation is only 650 mW, including I/O. This performance to power ratio makes the part a perfect choice for low power high performance devices, including handheld and portable test equipment.

The internal resolution in the HMCAD1512 core is 13-bit providing a digital gain of 1X to 50X. Subsequently, the full scale range of operation can be varied from 2 Vp-p down to 63 mVp-p. This variation saves system cost in many types of communication applications, such as point-to-point microwave links.

An internal, low jitter and programmable clock divider makes it possible to use a single clock source for all operational modes.

The HMCAD1512 is housed in a 7 x 7 mm QFN 48 Pin, LP7D, plastic SMT package. Samples and evaluation PC boards for all SMT packaged products are available from stock and can be ordered via the company’s e-commerce site or via direct purchase order.  Released data sheets are available on-line.