Abstract :
Using an advanced ion-implanted, high-density metal-gate complementary MOS process, the National Semiconductor Corporation, Santa Clara, Calif., has produced, on a single 28 000-square-mil chip, a true 8-bit analog-to-digital converter with latched outputs, a 16-channel expandable multiplexer with address input latches, provision for handling external signal conditioning, and all the logic control needed for interfacing the chip to all standard microcomputers. The new +5-volt single-supply device, the ADC0816 (MM74C948), is priced at $19.95 in quantities of 100 and is said to replace $100 to $200 worth of hybrid and discrete component analog boards. The 40-pin unit performs a conversion in 50 microseconds. At 25°C, linearity, zero error, and full-scale error are no more than ±½ least significant bit each. The chip is suitable for application in medical instruments, process control, industrial control, and machine control.
