TI Introduces AFE With Power Optimization for Portable Ultrasound Systems
(Product News, 21 Jul 2008 )
By Vinod Kataria
Bangalore: Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) introduced a new integrated analog front end (AFE) for portable ultrasound equipment. The second device in TI’s AFE58xx family for the medical ultrasound market, the AFE5804 is designed for ultrasound systems that require low power and small size. The company claims that the eight-channel AFE consumes more than 30 percent less power than the closest competitive device.
Featuring 102 mW/channel at 1.25 nV/rtHz at 40 MSPS, the integrated AFE5804 offers power performance while maintaining image quality in portable equipment. The eight-channel device contains a low-noise amplifier (LNA), a voltage controlled attenuator (VCA), a programmable gain amplifier (PGA), a low-pass filter (LPF) and a 12-bit, 10 MSPS to 50 MSPS analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with LVDS data outputs.
Apoorva Awasthy, business development manager, high performance analog, Texas Instruments India, said, “TI’s AFE58xx family allows the design of innovative ultrasound systems with superior image quality and reduced power consumption. The first device, the AFE5805, was introduced in March 2008, targeting the portable to mid-range ultrasound market. The new AFE5804 is pin-to-pin compatible to ease migration to an even lower power solution, should a design require it.”
In addition to the AFE58xx family, TI offers a full portfolio of integrated circuits for ultrasound systems and other medical imaging equipment, including high performance digital signal processors (DSPs), DaVinci digital media processors, OMAP application processors, high-speed data converters and amplifiers, power management, clocks and interface devices as well as wireless connectivity solutions.
