Obviously medical applications aren’t the only target for an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with such a high level of performance, but the LTC2379-18 should definitely find a nice home there. Developed by Linear Technology Corp. (LTC), the device is a serial 18-bit, 1.6-Msample/s SAR ADC that achieves 101 dB SNR and -118 dB THD while supporting a fully differential ±5V input range.

The LTC2379-18 features a maximum INL of ±2LSB with no missing codes and guaranteed specifications over the -40ºC to 125ºC temperature range. Operating from a 2.5-V supply, the LTC2379-18 consumes just 18 mW and is available in 3- by 4-mm DFN or MSOP-16 packages.

A second, pin-compatible, device developed by LTC is the 16-bit, 2-Msample/s LTC2380-16. This part achieves a 96-dB SNR and ±0.5 LSB maximum INL. The two new ADCs represent the first devices in a family of 18- and 16-bit high performance SAR ADCs with speeds ranging from 250 ksamples/s to 2 Msamples/s. These devices are designed with a digital gain compression feature that eliminates the need for a negative supply on the ADC driver, dramatically lowering the total power consumption of the signal chain. The devices’ shutdown mode further reduces power dissipation to 1.25 µW when idle. The true no-latency operation enables accurate one-shot measurements even after lengthy idle periods with no minimum sample rate required.

The LTC2379-18 and LTC2380-16 are now available, priced at $29.95 and $24.50, respectively in 1000-piece quantities.