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Campbell,
CA -- Feb. 15, 1999 --
Summit
Microelectronics has developed and is in volume
production of the industry's first
digital-to-analog converter with on-chip
nonvolatile memory.
The
circuit, the S9408,
is an 8-bit, DAC that operates from a single
2.7-volt to 5.5-volt power supply. This is the
fifth unique digital-to-analog converter now
available from Summit.
In
addition to standard digital-to-analog converters,
the company offers a five-device set of circuits
that are designed as low-cost replacements for
precision potentiometers. These DACPOTs™ use
on-chip, electrically erasable programmable
read-only memory (EEPROM) for precision
tuning.
The
S9408
contains four individual DACs each of, which has a
standard 8-bit data register to hold the binary
value of the output voltage. In parallel with the
8-bit data register is an 8-bit EEPROM register
that can load its contents into the data register
or itself be loaded with the contents of the data
register. Each of the four DACs also contains a
resistor network, and each has outputs that are
buffered by a unity gain amplifier.
The
S9408
employs a serial interface that is compatible with
the Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) for both read
and write functions. The circuit offers
differential non-linearity of +/-0.5 LSB and
integral non-linearity of +/-1. Each of the
S9408's
four DACs can be programmed independently, and each
has its own electrically isolated voltage reference
input.
"This
circuit is unique in the semiconductor industry,"
explained Richard Palm, Summit's Vice President of
Marketing. "No other DAC circuit currently
available implements nonvolatile memory on the
chip. This memory eliminates the need for an
external memory to hold the DAC values, and, more
importantly, it allows the DAC to power-on with a
reset value.
The
output states of the new S9408
DAC, which the user can save in EEPROM memory, may
be recalled and loaded into the four DACs at
power-up. Alternatively, the S9408
can load '00' at power-up. These power-up options
are controlled by the 00/REG\ input.
The
DACs' output values on this circuit may be changed
at any time after power-up without affecting the
data in EEPROM.
The
S9408
available in the 20-pin SOIC package priced at
$2.80 in 1,000-piece quantities.
Summit
Microelectronics, Inc. focuses on the integration
of analog and EEPROM technologies to provide
cost-effective solutions to a variety of
applications in the telecommunications, consumer
and automotive markets. Its website is
www.summitmicro.com.
Press Contacts:
Rick Orlando, President & CEO: (408)
378-6461,
Rich
Palm, Vice President of Marketing: (408) 378-6461,
###
Summit
Microelectronics, Inc.
1717 Fox Drive
San Jose, CA 95131-2312
Tel: +1.408-436-9890
Email:
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