S3 Group Launches the Industry's Smallest, Most Efficient High-Speed ADC

DUBLIN – February 25^th, 2014 – S3 Group, a global supplier of Mixed-Signal IP and silicon solutions to semiconductor vendors, OEMs and service operators, today launched the industry’s smallest, most-efficient high speed SAR-ADC (successive approximation register analog-to-digital converter). The product is the first in a family of SAR ADCs being developed by the company specifically optimized for consumer SoCs.

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 SMIC, this converter delivers excellent dynamic linearity performance for all cellular and WiFi connected devices, while consuming as little as 6mW and occupying only 0.09mm2 of silicon. This same ADC core in 28nm will consume less than 3mW, while using less than 0.06mm2 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. 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. ” said Dermot Barry, VP Silicon BU, S3 Group.

About S3 Group:

S3 Group delivers IP and tailored silicon solutions to semiconductor vendors, OEMs and service operators. The company is the longest serving independent silicon solutions provider in the industry, building a wealth of experience and engineering expertise over the last 28 years. The company provides a comprehensive portfolio of RF and mixed-signal IP, in addition to design services. The IP portfolio includes high performance ADC and DAC converters, PLLs, Analog Front Ends (AFEs), Power Management, RF Transceivers and other miscellaneous circuits which have been silicon proven at a number of foundries (TSMC, Global Foundries, UMC, SMIC, IBM, Tower) at nodes ranging from 180nm to 28nm. Global end markets served by S3 Group clients include Connected Consumer Electronics, Wireless & Wireline Communications Infrastructure, Satellite Communications, Automotive, Industrial and IoT. Founded in 1986, S3 Group, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, has development centers in Ireland, Poland, the Czech Republic and Portugal with sales offices and representatives worldwide. For further information please visit www.s3group.com/silicon