You could call it TI's 12 DACs/ADCs of Xmas but in reality TI and National Semiconductors have been introducing data converters or related components throughout 2011 which has proved to be quite a year for both organizations.

The coming together of Texas Instruments and National Semiconductor  a matter of months ago has created a new dominant pack leader in the analog industry.  In combination, the companies now account for about 17 percent of the analog's $42 billion total available market based on 2010 market figures (Source: Databeans).  That compares favorably with the major rivals of this newly styled business which clock in at STM (10%), Infineon (8%) and ADI (6%).

Although TI has the high ground in the analog market for now the newly strengthened company sees plenty of scope for growth and as Heinz-Peter Beckemeyer, TI's EMEA Director Analog Marketing, pointed out at a recent briefing in London that means there is still 47% of the market available outside the Top Seven players in the sector.

According to Beckemeyer since the addition of National Semiconductor's portfolio TI can now claim a number of impressive products that were all introduced in the past 12 months.  His personal highlights include:

The world's lowest-power 16-bit communications DAC by more than 65% - the DAC3484

Simplified design of sensor systems with configurable Sensor AFE ICs and WEBENCH Sensor AFE Designer - the LMP90xxx family including the LMP91000

Advanced portable patient monitoring with the world's first fully integrated ECG front end, reducing solution size up to 95% - the ADS1298

Revolutionized radio architectures with the world's first family of 12-bit ADCs to directly sample RF signals beyond 2.7 GHz - the ADC12Dxx00RF family

The only standalone headset driver with digital input I2S + integrated clocking for 100-dB SNR at 6.5 mW - the TLV320DAC3202

Simplified smart transmitter design for factory automation systems with single-wire 16-bit DAC for 4-20 mA current loops - the DAC161P997

What is intriguing about these product launches is how evenly they are split between the two former rival development teams. Those in red came out of the TI camp while the blue ones where created in National's labs.

As Paul McCormack, TI's Business Development Manager for High Performance Analog – High Speed Products, who was until a few months ago a former National Semiconductor executive said: “It is almost uncanny how the product portfolios have meshed together with hardly any overlap. Both companies seem to come at their solutions from completely different perspectives.”

So let's take a look at TI's 12 DACs/ADCs for Xmas as they appeared in EE Times Europe Analog's web pages in chronological order:

No. 12 - The LMP900xx Family

In January 2011 National Semiconductor unveiled the first of the dozen of data converter based solutions.

Configurable sensor AFE solution aims to simplify sensor systems designs, speeds time-to-market

In February EE Times Europe Analog we followed up with story that focused on Nationa Semiconductor's LMP900xx Family and its applications.

New sensor AFE solution aims to revolutionize how sensor systems are designed

Then in August we also ran another item relating to the LMP900xx Family

National Semiconductor expands sensor AFE family with seven 24-bit and 16-bit pin-compatible ICs

No. 11 - ADS8363

In March 2011 we reported the launch of TI's ADS8363 ADCs.

First 2-channel, simultaneous-sampling ADCs feature two independently controlled internal references

No. 10 - DAC3484

Also released in March was TI's DAC3484 power-efficient 4-channel, 16-bit DAC.

1.25-GSPS, 16-bit DAC slashes power consumption 65 percent, increases speed 25 percent

No. 9 - LMK04800 family

In another of our stories released in March National Semiconductor unveiled its LMK04800 family of clock jitter cleaners.

Clock jitter cleaner family claims industry's lowest phase noise

No. 8 - The ADS1298R

In April 2011 we featured TI's new medical advance - the ADS1298R.

TI adds on-chip respiration measurement to ECG/EEG AFE family for portable patient monitoring systems

No 7 - ADS5263

Then in May 2011 we reported TI's launch of first quad-channel, 16-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for medical imaging applications, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Texas Instruments unveils first quad-channel 16-bit, 100 MSPS ADC for faster, smaller medical imaging


No. 6 - ADC12D1800

Also featured in May 2011 was a story we carried relating to National Semiconductor's new ADC12D1800.

Industry's fastest 12-bit ADC opens up new applications for wideband SDRs

In June 2011 we ran an in-depth interview with Paul McCormack who at the time was marketing manager for National's High-speed product group which looked in more detail into the benefits of the new 12-bit ADCs.

12-bit ADC paves the way for new generation of software-defined radio solutions

No. 5 - The LMH6522 quad and LMH6521 

In August 2011 we reported news about National's LMH6522 quad and LMH6521 dual DVGAs 

DVGAs enable higher-performance basestation radio architectures    

No. 4 - DAC161P997

Also in August 2011 we focused on a 16-bit digital-to-analog converter (DAC) from National Semiconductor that featured a single-wire interface and 4-to-20 mA current loop drive that simplifies the design of smart transmitters used in industrial two-wire sensor systems

Single-wire 16-bit DAC for 4-to-20-mA loops simplifies smart transmitter design

No. 3  - The ADS5294 

In November 2011 we spotlighted another medical focused device - TI's ADS5294

14-bit, 8-channel ADC offers best noise performance and lowest power at 80 MSPS for medical imaging applications

No. 2 - The DAC316x Family

Also last month we focused on the introduction of TI's DAC316x Family

Lowest power dual 500-MSPS DACs lower the cost of wideband transmit systems

No. 1 - The OPAx836 

And to complete TI's 'Data Converter Dozen'  of 2011 we reported last month that TI expanded its portfolio of general-purpose, low-power, rail-to-rail output operational amplifiers (op amps) with the introduction of new single and dual analog-to-digital converter (ADC) drivers that claim to provide the industry's highest performance-to-power ratio.

ADC drivers claims new standard in power and performance to increase accuracy and battery life