Fairchild Developing a New Family of High-Speed Data Converters

13 April 2000

Fairchild Semiconductor Developing a New Family of Leading Edge High-Speed Data Converters; New Products Targeted at Flat Panel Display Market

    SAN DIEGO--April 12, 2000--Fairchild Semiconductor International announces the release of a new industry-leading graphics digitizer targeted for the Flat Panel Display market. The FMS9884A is a 3-channel high-speed 8-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) optimized for delivering superior picture quality in the high end computer graphics display / monitor market.
    Designed with an innovative new architecture, the FMS9884A optimizes and encodes the analog RGB signal prior to formatting for display on the new-generation Flat Panel Displays. The FMS9884A will convert images up to 1280 x 1024-pixel (SXGA) resolution at 75Hz rates, or up to 1600 x 1200 pixels at 85Hz using alternate-pixel sampling. The device is available in both 100MSPS (million samples per second) and 140MSPS speed grades. The higher MSPS speed achieves formatting at higher monitor resolutions.
    Key design technologies featured in the FMS9884A include an adaptive PLL (phased-lock loop) which generates a very low-jitter pixel clock, critical to achieving sharp, crystal-clear images. The device also features input clamps and programmable variable-gain amplifiers to optimize the input signal range, an onboard voltage reference, and single or dual-port digital outputs. The FMS9884A is totally compatible with existing products, offering equivalent or better performance. In addition to encoding RGB signals for SVGA and SXGA Flat Panel Display systems, the FMS9884A is popular in similar applications including LCD Monitors, Projectors, Digital Video and Medical Imaging systems.
    While the FMS9884A is a fully compatible second source part, it is designed with a completely new architecture that improves upon the original device. Fairchild's Mixed-Signal design team works with customers to design high-speed data converter solutions with ease of use and integration in mind.
    Fairchild offers customers an evaluation board to simplify bench testing and expedites the task of integrating the device into the system while ensuring optimal performance. An easy-to-use software package is included which allows the user to quickly configure the part for the application with a minimum of effort.

    Fairchild Semiconductor International (www.fairchildsemi.com) is a global company solely focused on designing, manufacturing and marketing high performance semiconductors for multiple end market uses. Fairchild's multi-market components are used in computer, telecommunications, automotive, consumer and industrial applications. Supplying logic, interface, analog, mixed signal, non-volatile memory and power products, Fairchild is filling the gap in the global supply of building block semiconductors. The company is headquartered in South Portland, Maine, USA, with 8,400 employees worldwide. Additional manufacturing facilities are located in Utah, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines, with regional sales offices throughout the world.

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