The Designer2 programming software from Anadigm lets you build dynamically programmable analogue circuitry and configure the silicon's parameters or functions on the fly to adapt to changing signal conditions or to perform an alternative operation on the same hardware. The software outputs C code that can run on a microcontroller to supervise the configuration of the Anadigm chip; you can write code that reconfigures the analogue chip into different functional configurations or write routines that modify circuit values, such as gain, to maintain precision in the face of aging or drift. You can design complex systems spanning several chips with a single user interface, and the software fully supports design with the features of the new Anadigm silicon.

A new generation of silicon accompanies the software; the AN220E04 has a fully differential architecture for better signal-to-noise and linearity performance and uses the switched-capacitor/analogue-switch principles of its predecessor. Each chip contains four configurable analogue blocks, each of which contains two differential op amps, a high-speed comparator, eight capacitor arrays, an 8-bit successive-approximation register, a look-up table, and a programmable counter. This range of features allows you to implement complex analogue functions, such as sensor linearisation, waveform synthesis, and companding. Bandwidth is greater than 2 MHz, broadband SNR is 80 dB, and narrowband SNR is 100 dB. Op-amp bandwidth is greater than 170 MHz, and slew rate is more than 150V/µsec. The device loads its configuration in a maximum time of 120 µsec, and partial reconfiguration takes much less.

The software also features AnadigmAssistants, a series of "wizard"-style design routines; the first—for filter design—comes with the new design software, which costs $499; the chips cost $15 (10,000).

Anadigm, +44 1270 531990, www.anadigm.com.