12-bit, 65 MSPS pipelined ADC in a 32-QFN
The LTC2228CUH#PBF is a 12-bit pipelined ADC from Analog Devices, sampling at 65 MSPS. It accepts either differential or single-ended inputs through a single S/H-ADC channel, making it a fit for high-speed data acquisition in communications, instrumentation, or imaging front-ends where a 12-bit word at 65 MHz clock rate is needed.
Sampling rate and resolution trade-off
At 65 MSPS with 12-bit resolution, this part sits in the mid-range of high-speed ADCs — fast enough to digitize a 30 MHz bandwidth signal with Nyquist margin, but without the power or pin count of a 14- or 16-bit pipeline. The pipelined architecture delivers one sample per clock cycle after the initial latency, so the parallel bus keeps up without a serializer. The single-ended input option simplifies the front-end when driving from a single-ended source, while differential mode improves common-mode rejection for noisy environments. The internal reference eliminates the need for an external voltage reference in many designs.
The exposed paddle is the primary thermal path — without a solid solder connection to the PCB copper, the junction temperature rises faster than the 70°C ambient limit suggests.