Surface-Mount Adapters (Gigadapters)

Build-Your-Own > SMT Adapters (Gigadapters)

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• Adapt surface-mount devices to 100-mil through-hole footprints
• NEW footprints! SO, SSOP, LCC/PLCC and QFP/TQFP available from 8 to 64 pins
• DC to 3 GHz operation
• Back-side pads for critical components
• 50 Ω matched impedance environment
• Complete development kits or individual adapters available
• Full datasheet (4.5 MB)
• Short datasheet (440 KB)

Applications:

• Testing, evaluation, and prototyping
• Build a complete A/D system without laying out a PCB
• Build GHz Logic and Microwave Wireless Prototype Systems 
• Off-the-Shelf Gigadapter Motherboards are reusable
• No Custom Device Evaluation Boards Needed.
• Application Notes

QFP-64 device mounted on Gigadapter 
(mouse-over for back view)

Above device installed on Gigadapter Motherboard (click for details)

Description:

PRL "Gigadapters" are surface-mount to through-hole adapters (aka SMT adapters) that allow you to breadboard surface-mount devices for evaluation or prototyping. The Gigadapter line is suitable for everything from low-noise linear circuits to GHz digital and RF/microwave circuits. This patented, modular system is designed for very high performance, operating from DC to 3+ GHz. See the Application Notes for details and 'scope shots.

This unique system provides maximum performance while providing the convenience and flexibility needed in a prototyping environment. Key components of the system are: 

• SMT footprint adapters--adapt SMT devices to through-hole footprints, with back-side pads for critical components. Available in SO, SSOP, LCC/PLCC, and our new QFP/TQFP configurations from 8 to 64 pins.
• Gigadapter motherboards--provide ground-plane and power busses plus I/O and power connector footprints. A unique 3-pads-per-pin configuration allows for easy interconnections
• Gigadapter accessories--Plug-in SIP modules for voltage regulation and I/O connectors, enclosures, power supplies, 50 Ω coax interconnects, and pin sockets ensure a matched, 50 Ω environment throughout your breadboard project.
• Complete Development Kits--Easy-to-order kits containing everything you need to start developing.

Unlike a vendor-supplied evaluation board costing hundreds of dollars, PRL Gigadapters are modular, reusable, and affordable. You can use a single Gigadapter kit to test multiple devices just by swapping out a $7.50 footprint adapter. You can even test multiple vendors' devices in the same circuit to ensure comparability of results.

The Gigadapter design enables very high-performance designs. Back-side pads for critical components and a unique 3-pads-per-pin design allow for very, very short trace lengths to decoupling, terminations, power and ground. It is not possible to obtain this level of performance with standard socket-type adapters used for programmers or emulators.

Specialized footprint adapters for RF components ensure optimization for your application. We have run Gigadapter applications faster than 3 GHz, limited only by the performance of the devices themselves.

Products:

Gigadapter Footprints:

We have popular SO, SSOP, LCC/PLCC, and QFP/TQFP footprints available now, with more to come:

• SO Device Adapters--SO8, SO14, SO16, SO16RF, SO20, and SO20RF 
• SSOP Device Adapters-- SSO8, SSO14, SSO16, SSO20, SSO24, SSO24RF, SSO28, SSO28RF, SSO30, SSO30RF, and SSO48
• LCC/PLCC Device Adapters--PLCC20 and PLCC28
• QFP Device Adapters--QFP-32-0.5, QFP-32-0.8, QFP-44, QFP-48, QFP-52, and QFP-64.

The "RF" series provides V_CC and multiple sites for connections to ground, and is optimized for RF applications. All other adapters provide sites for connections to V_CC, V_EE, and V_TT and are suitable for general purpose logic or linear applications up to 3 GHz. 

The QFP series will accommodate most quad-flat-pack configurations, including HLQFP, HQFP, HTQFP, HVQFP, LQFP, MQFP, TQFP, or VQFP.

A variety of pin-counts and pin-pitches are supported for popular products such as the Texas Instruments ADS5421 and ADS5422 (64-pins), the TI ADS808 (48-pins), the Analog Devices AD6645 (52-pin), and AD9240 (44-pin), among others. 

Gigadapter Motherboards:

• Gigadapter Motherboards- reusable for use with multiple Gigadapters. Two sizes and three configurations to suit your applications.

Gigadapter Accessories:

• List of all Gigadapter Accessories--See the entire list
• Coaxial Interconnect Modules--for easy 50 Ω connections. No soldering required for quick connect and disconnect.
• Power Supplies--AC/DC Adapters and Voltage Regulator SIP Modules
• Complementary Lab Tools--other PRL products which work easily with Gigadapters, such as our clock source modules (TTL, ECL and PECL), and our ECL/PECL terminators.
• Recommended Accessory Components--list of components recommended for use with Gigadapter motherboards

Ordering:

• Complete Kits--order surface mount development kits for of all models listed above

• Gigadapters--order surface mount adapters and motherboards for all models listed above

• Recommended Accessories --price list of components recommended for use with Gigadapter motherboards

Complete Kits | Motherboards | Footprints | Accessories | Pricing and Ordering | Datasheet