Analog Devices announces industry’s first data converter with dynamic power control

NORWOOD, USA: Advances in factory automation, process controls, and industrial instrumentation are contributing to higher manufacturing productivity and increased output. The sustainability of such advances is under threat, however, as the density of factory process control systems reaches levels where rising power consumption and thermal issues are beginning to undermine equipment performance, reliability, and safety.

Analog Devices Inc. has introduced a multichannel DAC (digital-to-analog converter) with innovative dynamic power control circuitry including ADI’s leading dc-to-dc switching converters and diagnostic features. This new DAC can enable increased system productivity, while simultaneously lowering power use without affecting safety and reliability. Watch the AD5755 DAC video for more information on its features.

ADI’s highly integrated AD5755 data converter is a complete, multichannel control IC (integrated circuit) that incorporates four precision 16-bit DACs with programmable voltage or 4–20-mA output drivers, along with dynamic power control.

The dynamic power control feature works by continually sensing the load impedance and delivering the required power to the load while minimizing power loss in the rest of the system. This reduces self-heating and temperature elevation. The unparalleled combination of features and performance supports four times more channels than any other integrated converter, enabling up to four times more terminals at twice the performance in a single analog I/O module.

The new converter also lowers power consumption by 80 percent and net thermal rise (silicon temperature minus ambient temperature) by 75 percent compared to other control driver technologies.

“Increased terminal density puts pressure on module size and can result in extra heat generation in industrial systems,” said Mike Britchfield, vice president for the Industrial and Instrumentation Group, Analog Devices.

“By reducing power consumption and self-heating, the dynamic power control function of the AD5755 meets customer requirements for increased channel density. This allows manufacturers to achieve channel-rich designs without having to increase the form factor of their systems or back–off on other performance parameters.”