As sensors proliferate every application, demand for analog front-ends that offer more flexibility and improved features is set to increase. By Debbie Brandenburg, Regional Marketing Manager, Exar Corporation

A highly integrated sensor interface AFE that provides calibration of sensor outputs has been introduced by Exar. The XR10910 offers an onboard 16:1 differential multiplexer, offset correction DAC, programmable gain instrumentation amplifier and voltage reference. This AFE provides 14-bit signal path linearity and is designed to connect multiple bridge sensors to an MCU or FPGA with an embedded ADC.

Exar has introduced the XR79120, a 20A single output, synchronous step-down power module with a 12x14x4mm footprint. The XR79120 offers greater than 93% peak efficiency and leverages Exar’s Constant On-Time (COT) control architecture across a 4.5 to 22V VIN range. The XR79120 provides an easy to use, integrated power converter integrating MOSFETs, inductors, and internal input and output capacitors.

 A line of 40V synchronous step-down regulators has been introduced by Exar. The XR76203, the XR76205 and the XR76208, which expand the company’s PowerBlox family, support 3, 5 and 8A POL supplies, respectively.

A flat panel VCOM buffer amplifier has been introduced by Exar. The iML2911 employs sensing circuitry for VCOM output load requirements and automatically switches between multiple supply voltage combinations, resulting in energy savings of 50% for still images and 25% to 30% for dynamic display images.

Exar has announced the certification of AltraHD hardware accelerated compression solution, for Hadoop with the Cloudera Enterprise 5 platform. Cloudera’s data management platform enables enterprises to use Apache’s open source software, to better manage data.

Integrated power modules reduce development time and almost eliminate prototyping and debugging costs. Two modules have been introduced by Exar in single QFN packages.

Generating any frequency from 10 to 800MHz, the XR81411 quad output, high frequency LVCMOS/LVDS/LVPECL configurable clock synthesiser has been unveiled by Exar. Featuring four independent PLLs, utilising a highly flexible delta-sigma modulator and a wide ranging VCO, the device's clock outputs have very low phase noise jitter of less than 0.2ps while consuming extremely low power.

A universal PMIC, which drives up to four independently controlled external DrMOS power stages at currents greater than 40A, has been released by Exar. Suitable for the latest 64-bit ARM processors, FPGAs, DSPs and ASICS, the XR77128 features the company’s programmable power technology, which allows for a low component count, rapid development, easy system integration, dynamic control and telemetry. To meet a wide range of output current re...

Exar Corporation has introduced the XR77129, a quad output programmable Universal PMIC with an input operating voltage range of 6-40V. Its control architecture is suited for 40V inputs using a 17-bit wide PID voltage mode VIN feed forward architecture. This controller offers a single input, quad output, step-down switching regulator controller with integrated gate drivers and dual LDO outputs.

Exar has signed a strategic agreement with Dahua to license HDCVI (High Definition Composite Video Interface) technology. Under the terms of the new agreement, Exar is licensed to design, manufacture and sell analogue HD video solutions utilising HDCVI technology.

Utilising emulated current mode Constant On-Time (COT) control, the 10A XR79110 and 15A XR79115 single output, synchronous step-down power modules have been released by Exar. In a single die, the devices integrate power converters including MOSFETs, inductors and internal input and output capacitors.

Exar has developed an improved alternating current (AC) step driver for light emitting diode (LED) lighting applications. Combined with other iML offerings, the iML8684 provides a complete solution for LED light bulb and LED tube applications. Unlike conventional AC driver solutions which use a single large driver, iML has patented a unique distributed architecture of multiple small, low cost drivers.

Expanding it's compression and security soultions, Exar has introduced the DX2040 compression and security acceleration card. The low profile PCIe 3.0 card, which is designed for data analytics, storage and cloud security markets, accelerates Hadoop applications by a factor of two while reducing storage costs.

Exar has announced a family of USB to serial bridge devices which provides a convenient and straightforward way to interface with RS-232 or RS-485 serial networks through USB. Using a minimum of components and PCB space, the XR21B142x family is compliant to the USB 2.0 (Full-Speed) specification with 12Mb/s USB data transfer rate.

Exar and Integrated Memory Logic (iML) have completed their merger. Completed through a second-step merger to acquire all of the remaining outstanding shares of iML, Exar owns 100% of the outstanding stock of iML and iML stock is no longer publicly trading (as of 15th September 2014).

Exar has announced the release of two operational amplifier families, the XR1008/XR2008 and XR1009/XR2009. Offering 75MHz bandwidth while consuming only 505µA supply current, the XR1008/XR2008 are single/dual amplifiers. The XR1009/XR2009 single/dual amplifiers provide 35MHz at only 208µA supply current.

  Expanding its universal clock portfolio, Exar has announced the XR81112 series suited for demanding communications, audio/video and industrial applications. The clock synthesiser provides 10MHz to 1.5GHz output frequencies with ultra-low phase noise jitter of less than 200fs.

Providing multiple communication standards from a single USB port, the XR2280x family of USB to Ethernet bridge ICs has been unveiled by Exar. By combining a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 hub with controllers for 10/100 Ethernet, I2C, EDGE general purpose I/O and up to four UARTs in a single chip, the bridge ICs enable legacy product designs to be adapted for connection to the IoT.

The latest version of the company's intuitive programmable power design tool, PowerArchitect 5.1 has been released by Exar. This updated version now supports the XRP7720 and XRP7725 programmable power ICs, the XRP9710 and XRP9711 power modules and the latest universal PMICs and development boards. It also adds time saving features to simplify and accelerate power system programming.