Analog Devices 16-bit precision converter enhances connectivity and system efficiency in remote industrial apps

NORWOOD, USA: Analog Devices Inc. has introduced a precision 16-bit DAC (digital-to-analog converter) with on-board power management circuitry designed for loop-powered, smart transmitter applications used in industrial equipment.

The new DAC drives system efficiency by reducing total component count and internal power consumption to allow greater functionality at the remote site. Smart transmitters are intelligent microprocessor-based field instruments that monitor process control variables, including temperature, mass flow rate, and pressure.

Smart transmitters are typically located in hazardous or remote areas and enable two-way communication via the 4-to-20 mA analog loop by using additional communication protocols. Power consumption is a primary consideration when selecting electronic circuitry for smart transmitter designs because these field instruments must be powered directly from the 4-to-20 mA loop due to their location.

ADI’s AD5421 DAC is a complete, loop powered, digital to 4-to-20 mA transmitter that consumes 50 percent less power and offers a 55 percent footprint saving over competing offerings. Incorporating programmable voltage regulation circuitry, the AD5421 generates the low-voltage supply required to power the peripheral components within the smart transmitter.

By conserving the system power budget, the AD5421 DAC enables system engineers to select more accurate, higher-power sensor electronics or include supplementary functionality, such as extra communication protocols to enhance network connectivity and display screens to improve system interfacing.

The new DAC offers three times more accuracy than competitive products, and provides on-chip diagnostics that increase system uptime of process control systems located in large plants, such as oil refineries. The high linearity and low drift performance offered by the AD5421 DAC eliminate the need for multiple, costly calibration routines required by traditional discrete solutions to obtain high-end system performance specifications. Watch the AD5421 DAC video for more information on its features.

“The low power consumption and intelligent power management circuitry of the AD5421 DAC preserve the system power budget and enable the development of high-performance, feature-rich smart transmitters,” said Donal Geraghty, product line director, Converter Group, Analog Devices. “The new DAC meets the productivity demands of the process control industry by improving the accuracy and repeatability of smart transmitters operating in harsh factory environments.”