Research & Innovation

Dublin-based software and silicon designer S3 has created what it claims is the world’s smallest analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) chip for use in Wi-Fi and LTE-connected devices.

This is a high-speed 160MS/s 12bit ADC targeting highly integrated SoCs, such as those requiring LTE and 802.11ac connectivity. Implemented in 40nm, this converter delivers dynamic linearity performance for all cellular and Wi-Fi connected devices, while consuming as little as 6mW and occupying only 0. square milimetres of silicon. This same ADC core in 28nm will consume less than 3mW, while using less than 0.06 square milimetres of silicon.

“As an industry we have a healthy obsession with high efficiency and small die area and we at S3 Group embrace this obsession by continuously innovating to address the incessant need for faster access to mobile content,” explained Dermot Barry, VP Silicon BU, S3 Group.

“Regardless of the application, data converters must deliver higher bandwidth at higher speed with lower power and attractive cost of ownership.
This exciting launch today marks the first in a series of dynamic ADCs available from S3 Group which set a new standard of performance per milliWatt enabling our customers to bring superior differentiating consumer products to market faster.”