TI Introduces New Analog Front End With Best-in-Class Power Optimization for Portable Ultrasound Systems
(Product News, 25 Jul 2008 )
Texas Instruments Incorporated has introduced a new fully 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 specifically designed for ultrasound systems that require low power and small size. The eight-channel AFE consumes more than 30 percent less power than the closest competitive device, which will help proliferate portable systems with longer battery life and better image quality.
Advanced features for portable ultrasound system designs Featuring 102 mW/channel at 1.25 nV/rtHz at 40 MSPS, the fully integrated AFE5804 offers best-in-class power performance while maintaining superior 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.
The gains of the LNA, VCA and PGA fine-tune the image quality being received for processing, thus enhancing the user experience. The LNA is set for 20 dB gain and has excellent noise and signal handling capabilities, including a 280 mVpp input range and fast overload recovery. The gain of the VCA can be varied over a 46 dB range with a 0-V to 1.2-V control voltage common to all channels of the AFE5804. The PGA can be programmed for gains of 20 dB, 25 dB, 27 dB and 30 dB. The LVDS outputs of the ADC reduce the number of interface lines to the ASIC or FPGA, thereby enabling the high systems integration densities desired for portable systems.
Programmable mode control for power/noise optimization The AFE8504 features mode control to give designers the flexibility to program the level of noise and power performance needed to optimize their system.
Full portfolio for easy, high-quality ultrasound system design 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. To download TI’s latest Medical Applications Guide and view a broad range of system block diagrams, please visit www.ti.com/Medical.
