Omni Design's Swift™ DAC Value Proposition: Technical Differentiators

Omni Design's Swift™ DACs offer a compelling value proposition built upon several key technical differentiators that directly address the fundamental challenges inherent in DAC design.

The DACs exhibit unmatched performance and bandwidth. Swift™ DACs boast impressive update rates ranging from 5Msps up to "100+Gsps". Specific examples include 12-bit DACs operating at 9Gsps (ODT-DAC-12B9G-16) and 7Gsps (ODT-DAC-12B7G-16FFCT). This high-speed capability is crucial for demanding applications such as 5G, broadband wireless, and high-speed interfaces. Omni Design's DACs are also characterized by their "wide output bandwidth" , enabling them to process complex, high-frequency signals required in modern communication systems and advanced imaging applications. They offer multi-gigahertz data converters. Furthermore, these solutions are designed to handle the stringent requirements of advanced modulation schemes, including 5G New Radio (5G NR) and PAM4 SERDES protocols up to 224Gbps for 1.6TbE Ethernet , which necessitate precise signal conversion at extremely high data rates.  

Ultra-low power efficiency is a core tenet of Omni Design's mission, with a commitment to providing ultra low-power solutions. Our Swift™ data converters are specifically highlighted for possessing the lowest power consumption. This directly addresses the critical industry challenge of power efficiency, particularly in battery-powered and high-density applications where energy consumption is a primary concern. At the system level, Omni Design's integrated AFE solutions incorporate Capless low dropout regulators (LDOs) for streamlined power efficiency and OmniTRUST™ PVT (Process, Voltage, and Temperature) monitoring. These PVT monitors enable dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) , which can lead to substantial power savings; for instance, saving even 1% power in the data center... can save over $3M a year in operating costs.

Superior linearity and noise performance

Omni Design's high-performance current steering DACs utilize a proprietary architecture that reduces harmonic and intermodulation distortions at high output frequency and amplitudes. Swift™ DACs achieve impressive noise spectral density (NSD) of up to -153dBm/Hz with excellent SFDR. This directly addresses the persistent challenge of noise and linearity in DAC design. A unique output structure in the DACs isolates between the output signal and internal circuit elements drastically reducing these effects and allowing generation of broad bandwidth signals with improved SFDR & PSRR. This innovation is crucial for generating clean high-frequency signals, minimizing spectral contamination and preventing internal circuit operations from degrading signal quality.  

Advanced process node optimization

Omni Design's solutions are architected from the ground up to take advantage of deep sub-micron CMOS processes. Our IP cores are available across a wide range of advanced process nodes, from 28nm to advanced FinFET, including leading-edge 3nm CMOS. The Swift™ data converter solutions are designed with small footprints, which is critical for highly integrated SoCs and compact devices.  

Built-in calibration and correction

Omni Design's DACs include built-in internal calibration that runs in the background to compensate for both static and dynamic conditions. This directly addresses the challenge of maintaining DAC performance over time, temperature variations, and manufacturing inconsistencies. Omni Design employs proprietary, patented techniques, such as analog and digital correction, foreground and background correction, randomization and redundancy, resulting in minimizing notches in the output spectrum. This sophisticated approach ensures high linearity and reliability even in challenging operating environments.