Recently, Chengdu Sino Microelectronics Technology Co., Ltd. (CSMT) announced China’s first domestically developed quad-channel, 12-bit, 40-GSPS analog-to-digital converter (ADC) chip that supports high-speed and high-precision direct RF sampling—HWD12B40GA4. This breakthrough not only sets a new performance record for domestically developed ADC chips, but also marks China’s achievements of world-leading capabilities in high-end direct RF sampling.

 

 

In the domain of high-speed signal processing, direct radio frequency (RF) sampling is hailed as the “jewel in the crown” for its ability to directly sample high-frequency RF signals, which significantly streamlines system design, improves reliability, and reduces power consumption. However, this technology poses extremely high barriers to entry, particularly for applications in the Ku-band (12-18 GHz), which had long been monopolized by a limited number of foreign manufacturers.

 

The chip announced by CSMT supports analog input bandwidth of up to 19 GHz. This means that it is capable of directly capturing C-band, X-band, Ku-band, and even partial K-band signals, effectively realizing independence in direct RF sampling. Whether for satellite communications, millimeter-wave radar, or electronic reconnaissance, it allows systems to operate with lighter architectures, higher performance, and lower costs.

 

 

As a national-level high-tech enterprise and one of China’s first certified enterprises in integrated circuit design, CSMT possesses multiple proprietary intellectual property rights and core technologies, establishing itself as a leading enterprise in specialized integrated circuits in China. The newly launched ADC chip adopts a fully independent forward engineering design with full intellectual property rights and relies solely on domestic manufacturers for tape-out fabrication, packaging, and testing. It truly achieves a self-supporting and risk-controllable industrial chain that stretches from design to manufacturing, thereby ensuring a secure and reliable supply chain.

 

Edited by Zhang Yuanlin

Source: Chengdu Discovery