Milpitas, Calif. — Linear Technology Corp.'s octal 16-bit voltage output digital-to-analog converter (D/A converter) with an I²C serial interface in a 16-pin SSOP package consumes the same board area as an SO-8.

At 16-bits, the LTC2605 achieves the industry's smallest footprint for octal digital-to-analog converters (D/A converters), while improving DC performance over competitive products, the company said.

The device's guaranteed monotonic performance, small size and low power make it practical for digital calibration, trim/adjust and level setting applications in a wide variety of products.

The LTC2605's output buffers deliver strong drive capability over their entire 2.7 V to 5.5 V supply voltage range. The D/A converter outputs directly drive capacitive loads up to 1000 pF or current loads up to 15 mA and maintain good linearity. The low output offset (9 mV max) provides a starting code voltage closer to ground than competing devices, according to Linear Technology.

In addition, low output voltage noise (15 μV peak to peak) reduces the need for output filtering. A full-scale transition on seven of the eight D/A converters causes less than 10 μV change in the eighth D/A converter, effectively eliminating crosstalk as a source of error. The LTC2605's low 250 μA supply current per D/A converter at 3 V and 1μA maximum shutdown current are suited for battery-powered applications.

The two-wire I²C compatible interface allows independent control of each D/A converter by means of a flexible input control word. The LTC2605 provides 27 user-selectable slave addresses, allowing several LTC2605s on the same bus and minimizing address conflicts with other components.

Pricing starts at $14.70 each for the LTC2605 in 1,000-piece quantities.Click here for the LTC2605 data sheet.

Linear Technology , 1-800-454-6327, www.Linear.com.