Out in Front: August 1, 1996
The 50-Mbps LTC1520 line receiver from Linear Technology translates differential input levels (VID>=100 mV) into CMOS and TTL levels for data and clock transmission over short to medium distances. This four-channel device is suitable for backplane interfaces in telecomm and network switches, as well as applications with positive-ECL logic and low-voltage differential-signaling levels. Its inputs appear as a high impedance when unpowered, so you can hot-swap the IC without causing glitches on the bus. You can use long circuit-board traces or hundreds of feet of twisted pairs to drive the receiver, due to its rail-to-rail input common-mode range.
Over its 0 to 70°C operating-temperature range, the propagation delay of this part is 18 nsec, ±3 nsec. Channel-to-channel skew is 400 psec; package-to-package skew is 1.5 nsec. At the other operating-speed extreme, the LTC1520 does not oscillate with slow input signals. The short-circuit-protected device requires a single 5V, 12-mA supply and is available in a 16-pin narrow SO package. Price is $5.80 (1000).
—by Bill Schweber
Linear Technology Corp, Milpitas, CA, (800) 454-6327, fax (408) 434-0507.