Anadigm Launches Low-Power Analog Signal Processor
The AN231E04 is suited for applications that require analog signal conditioning, filtering, gain control, rectification, summing, subtracting, multiplying, etc. The reduction of power supply from 5 volts to 3.3 volts, with typical power in the 125 mW range, is of particular interest to designers wishing to build battery-powered devices. In addition, the doubling of performance allows the designer using the third-generation AN231E04 double the Analog Signal Bandwidth, from DC to 999 kHz to design with in all applications. And in a number of specific applications, such as UHF RFID "class 0" the increase performance allows for Analog Signal Bandwidth of greater than 2 MHz.
A customer-driven feature is the addition of "off set nulling", reducing typical CMOS OpAmp input offset voltages from 4 millivolts to under 250 microvolts. This feature is user controlled, so offset nulling can be performed automatically after configuration, or at any future time, allowing for adjustments as a result of environmental changes, such as temperature.
The AN231E04 consists of a 2 X 2 matrix of fully configurable analog blocks, surrounded by programmable interconnect resources and analog input/output cells with active elements. The on-chip clock generator block controls multiple non-overlapping clock domains generated from an external stable clock source, providing the designer optimization and fine tuning of CAM (configurable analog module) parameters for a given signal frequency. Two of the internal clocks have user defined phase control which enables better performance of Synchronous Demodulation Circuits. An internal band-gap reference generator is used to create temperature-compensated reference voltage levels, and the inclusion of an 8 x 256 bit look-up table enables waveform synthesis and several non-linear functions.
Configuration data is stored in an on-chip SRAM configuration memory. Additionally, an SPI-like interface is provided for simple serial load of configuration data from a microprocessor or DSP. This memory is "shadowed", allowing a different circuit configuration to be loaded as a background task without disrupting the current circuit functionality. "The AN231E04 was inspired by the feedback we received from our customers who needed more performance in applications such as in UHF Electronic Product Code fixed and portable RFID readers," said Richard Riker, President of Anadigm. "A key feature of the AN231E04 is that it can be reconfigured during operation - dynamically - by a microprocessor or DSP. This allows the AN231E04 to be programmed to implement multiple analog functions or adapt 'on the fly' to maintain precision operation under varying and changing environments. The AN231E04 is the base dpASP used in the RangeMaster2 product," Riker said.
Designers are able to utilize the power of the AN231E04 by programming the chip using AnadigmDesigner2 EDA software. This software allows designers to construct complex analog functions using configurable analog modules (CAMs) as building blocks.
The AN231E04 is packaged in a 44-pin QFN (quad flat pack, no-lead) package- 7x7x0.9 mm ultra thin, and is ROHS (the European reduction of hazardous substances directive) compliant. Samples and production devices are available now.
SOURCE: Anadigm, Inc.