NXP Semiconductors N.V. has announced the DAC1627D – a 16-bit dual-channel LVDS DDR interface digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that supports output update rates of up to 1.25 Gsps. In terms of dynamic performance specifications, this new high-speed DAC is claimed to offer best-in-class single tone SFDR performance and two-tone intermodulation distortion over a broad output bandwidth of 200 MHz.

Developed primarily for wireless infrastructure applications, the DAC1627D1G25 is fully compliant with the multi-carrier GSM spectral mask and the LTE and LTE-Advanced transmit specification. It is suitable for multi-standard radio base stations, as it enables design engineers to employ a single DAC transmit architecture, which minimizes the system bill-of-material costs.

The DAC1627D incorporates elements of NXP's CGV technology feature set, including Multi-Device Synchronization (MDS), which solves tough system synchronization and latency challenges in many digital communications system applications, including MIMO and active antenna array LTE radio base stations.

“The technology advances in cellular infrastructure demand ever higher performance in RF data converters. The introduction of NXP's DAC1627D, its high performance and high-speed digital to analog converter device, provides a compelling solution in this quickly evolving segment,” said Flint Pulskamp, wireless and wired communications semiconductor analyst at IDC.

“The achievement announced today, the highest performance RF DAC, is a culmination of decades of experience and innovation in high performance data converters,” said Maury Wood, General Manager, High Speed Converters product line, NXP Semiconductors. “When combined with CGVxpress™ and CGV™, NXP’s implementation of the industry-leading JESD204A high speed serial interface, NXP has a roadmap that meets the most demanding digital radio transmitter signal fidelity requirements. NXP continues to work closely with our customers to bring new levels of radio frequency digital-to-analog performance to next-generation radio base stations, and other digital communications and signal synthesis applications.”