ASAHI KASEI [AK4554]
MS0325-E-00 2004/07
- 1 -
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The AK4554 is a low voltage 16bit A/D & D/A converter for portable digital audio system. In the AK4554,
the loss of accuracy form clock jitter is also improved by using SCF techniques for on-chip post filter.
Analog signal input/output of the AK4554 are single-ended, therefore, any external filters are not required.
The AK4554 is suitable for portable digital audio system, as the AK4554 is low power dis sipation and a
small package.
FEATURES
HPF for DC-offset cancel (fc=3.4Hz)
Single-ended ADC
- S/(N+D): 80dB@VDD=2.5V
- Dynamic Range, S/N: 89dB@VDD=2.5V
Single-ended DAC
- Digital de-emphasis for 32kHz, 44.1kHz, 48kHz s ampling
- S/(N+D): 85dB@VDD=2.5V
- Dynamic Range, S/N: 92dB@VDD=2.5V
Audio I/F format: MSB First, 2’s Compliment (AK4550 compatible)
- ADC: 16bit MSB justified
- DAC: 16bit LSB justified
Input/Output Voltage: 0.6 x VDD (=1.5Vpp@VDD=2.5V)
High Jitte r Tolerance
Sampling Rate : 8kHz to 50kHz
Master Clock: 256fs/384fs/512fs/768fs (fs=8kHz to 50kHz)
1024fs (fs=8kHz to 25kHz)
Power Supply: 1.6 to 3.6V
Low Power Supply Current: 8mA
Ta = 40 to 85°C
Very Small Package: 16pin TSSOP
Modulator
MCLK
VDD VSS
AOUTL
AINL LRCK
SCLK
VCOM
AINR
∆Σ
Modulator Decimation
Filter
Serial I/O
Interface
Common Voltage
SDTO
∆Σ Decimation
Filter
SDTI
PWDAN
DEM0
PWADN
Clock
Divider
AOUT
R
8X
Interpolator
8X
Interpolator
Σ
Modulator
Σ
Modulator
LPF
LPF DEM1
Low Power & Small Package 16bit ∆Σ CODEC
AK4554
ASAHI KASEI [AK4554]
MS0325-E-00 2004/07
- 2 -
Ordering Guide
AK4554VT 40 +85°C 16pin TSSOP (0.65mm pitch)
AKD4554 Evaluation Board for AK4554
Pin Layout
1 VCOM
A
INR
VSS
A
INL
VDD
DEM0
DEM1
SDTO
Top
View
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
A
OUTR
A
OUTL
PWADN
SCLK
MCLK
LRCK
SDTI
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
PWDAN
Comparison wi th AK4550
Item AK4550 AK4554
Power Supply Voltage 2.3 3.6V 1.6 3.6V
VCOM pin 0.45 x VDD 0.5 x VDD
ADC S/(N+D) (typ) 82dB 80dB
ADC Input Resistance (typ) 100k 70k
ADC PSRR (typ) 35dB 45dB
Power Supply Current (typ)
AD+DA 10mA 8mA
AD 5.6mA 4mA
DA 5.6mA 4.4mA
DAC Digital Filter
Stopband Attenuation (min) 43dB 54dB
Passband Ripple (max) ±0.06dB ±0.02dB
Group Delay 14.8/fs 19.0/fs
MCLK 256fs/384fs/512fs
256fs/384fs/512fs/768fs (fs=850kHz)
1024fs (fs=825kHz)
External Circuit
VCOM pin 4.7µF + 0.1µF 0.1µF
AINL, AINR pins RC filte r is needed. RC filte r is on-chip.
ASAHI KASEI [AK4554]
MS0325-E-00 2004/07
- 3 -
PIN/FUNCTION
No. Pin Name I/O Function
1 VCOM O Comm on Voltage Output Pin, 0.5 x VDD
2 AINR I Rch Analog Input Pin
3 AINL I Lch Analog Input Pin
4 VSS - Ground Pin
5 VDD - Power Supply Pin
6 DEM0 I De-emphasis Control Pin
7 DEM1 I De-emphasis Control Pin
8 SDTO O Audio Serial Data Output Pin
9 SDTI I Audio Serial Data Input Pin
10 LRCK I Input/Output Channel Clock Pin
11 MCLK I Master Clock Input Pin
12 SCLK I Audio Serial Data Clock Pin
13 PWADN I ADC Power-Down & Reset M ode Pin
“L”: Power down. ADC should always be reset upon power-up.
14 PWDAN I DAC Power-Down & Reset M ode Pin
“L”: Power down. DAC should always be reset upon power-up.
15 AOUTL O Lch Analog Output Pin
16 AOUTR O Rch Analog Output Pin
Note: All input pins except analog input pins (AINR and AINL) should not be left floating.
Handling of Unused Pin
The unused I/O pins should be processed appropriately as below.
Classification Pin Name Setting
Analog AINR, AINL, AOUTL, AOUTR These pins should be open.
SDTO This pin should be open.
Digital SDTI This pin should be connected to VSS.
ASAHI KASEI [AK4554]
MS0325-E-00 2004/07
- 4 -
ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM RATINGS
(VSS=0V; Note 1) Parameter Symbol min max Units
Power Supply VDD 0.3 4.6 V
Input Current (any pins except for supplies) IIN - ±10 mA
Input Voltage VIN 0.3 VDD+0.3 V
Ambient Temperature (power applied) Ta 40 85 °C
Storage Tem perature Tstg 65 150 °C
Note 1. All voltages with respect to ground.
WARNING: Operation at or beyond these limits may results in permanent damage to the device.
Normal operation is not guaranteed at these extreme s.
RECOMMENDED OPERATING CONDITIONS
(VSS=0V; Note 1)
Parameter Symbol min typ max Units
Power Supply VDD 1.6 2.5 3.6 V
Note 1. All voltages with respect to ground.
*AKM assumes no responsibility for the usage beyond the conditions in this datasheet.
ASAHI KASEI [AK4554]
MS0325-E-00 2004/07
- 5 -
ANALOG CHARACTERISTICS
(Ta=25°C; VDD=2.5V; fs=44.1kHz; Signal Frequency=1kHz; SCLK=64fs; Measurement frequency=20Hz 20kHz;
unless otherwise specified)
Parameter min typ max Units
ADC Analog Input Characteristics: (Note 2)
Resolution - - 16 Bits
S/(N+D) (0.5dB Input) 70 80 - dB
D-Range (60dB Input, A-weighted) 82 89 - dB
S/N (A-weighted) 82 89 - dB
Interchannel Isolation 80 95 - dB
Interchannel Gain Mismatch - 0.2 0.5 dB
Input Voltage (Note 3) 1.35 1.50 1.65 Vpp
Input Resistance 40 70 - k
Power Supply Rejection (Note 4) - 45 - dB
DAC Analog Output Characteristics:
Resolution - - 16 Bits
S/(N+D) 75 85 - dB
D-Range (60dB Output, A-weighted) 86 92 - dB
S/N (A-weighted) 86 92 - dB
Interchannel Isolation 80 95 - dB
Interchannel Gain Mismatch - 0.2 0.5 dB
Output Voltage (Note 3) 1.35 1.50 1.65 Vpp
Load Resistance 10 - - k
Load Capacitance - - 30 pF
Power Supply Rejection (Note 4) - 50 - dB
Power Supplies
Power Supply Current
AD+DA PWADN= “H”, PWDAN= “H” - 8 13 mA
AD PWADN= “H”, PWDAN= “L” - 4 - mA
DA PWADN= “L”, PWDAN= “H” - 4.4 - mA
Power down (Note 5) PWADN= “L”, PWDAN= “L” - 10 50 µA
Power Consumption
AD+DA PWADN= “H”, PWDAN= “H” - 20 32.5 mW
AD PWADN= “H”, PWDAN= “L” - 10 - mW
DA PWADN= “L”, PWDAN= “H” - 11 - mW
Power down (Note 5) PWADN= “L”, PWDAN= “L” - 25 125 µW
Note 2. The offset of ADC is removed by internal HPF.
Note 3. Input/Output of ADC a nd DAC scales with VDD voltage. 0.6 x VDD(typ).
Note 4. PSR is applied to VDD with 1kHz, 50mV. No signal is input to AINL/R pins and “0” data is input to SDTI pin.
Note 5. In case of powe r-down mode, all digital i nput including clocks pins (M CLK, SCLK and LRCK) are held to VDD
or VSS. PWADN and PWDAN pins are held to VSS.
ASAHI KASEI [AK4554]
MS0325-E-00 2004/07
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FILTER CHARACTERISTICS
(Ta=25°C; VDD=1.6 3.6V; fs=44.1kHz; DEM1 pin = “L”, DEM0 pin = “H”)
Parameter Symbol min typ max Units
ADC Digital Filter (Decimation LPF):
Passband (Note 6)
±0.1dB PB 0 - 17.4 kHz
1.0dB - 20.0 - kHz
3.0dB - 21.1 - kHz
Stopband SB 25.7 - - kHz
Passband Ripple PR - - ±0.1 dB
Stopband Attenuat ion SA 65 - - dB
Group Delay (Note 7) GD - 17.0 - 1/fs
Group Delay Distortion GD - 0 -
µs
ADC Digital Filter (HPF):
Frequency Response (Note 6) 3dB FR - 3.4 - Hz
0.5dB - 10 - Hz
0.1dB - 22 - Hz
DAC Digital Filter:
Passband (Note 6)
±0.05dB PB 0 - 20.0 kHz
6.0dB - 22.05 - kHz
Stopband SB 24.1 - - kHz
Passband Ripple PR - - ±0.02 dB
Stopband Attenuat ion SA 54 - - dB
Group Delay (Note 7) GD - 19.0 - 1/fs
DAC Digital Filter + Analog Filter:
Frequency Response 0 20.0kHz FR -
±0.5 - dB
Note 6. The passband and stopband frequencies scal e with fs (sam pling frequency ). For exam ples, PB=20.0kHz(@ADC:
1.0dB, DAC: 0.1dB) are 0.454 x fs.
Note 7. This is the calcul ated dela y tim e caused by digita l filtering. This tim e is me asured from the input of analog signal
to setting the 16bit data of both channels on input register to the output register of ADC. This time also includes
group delay of HPF. For DAC, this time is from setting the 16bit data of both channels on input register to the
output of analog signal.
DC CHARACTERISTICS
(Ta=25°C; VDD=1.6 3.6V)
Parameter Symbol min typ max Units
High-Level Input Volt age 2.2VVDD3.6V VIH 70%VDD - - V
1.6VVDD<2.2V VIH 80%VDD - - V
Low-Level Input Voltage 2.2VVDD3.6V VIL - - 30%VDD V
1.6VVDD<2.2V VIL - - 20%VDD V
High-Level Output Vol tage (Iout= 20µA) VOH VDD0.1 - - V
Low-Level Output Voltage (Iout= 20µA) VOL - - 0.1 V
Input Leakage Current Iin - - ±10 µA
ASAHI KASEI [AK4554]
MS0325-E-00 2004/07
- 7 -
SWITCHING CHARACTERISTICS
(Ta=25°C; VDD=1.6 3.6V; CL=20pF)
Parameter Symbol min typ max Units
Master Clock Timing
Frequency 256fs/384fs/512fs/768fs fCLK 2.048 - 38.4 MHz
1024fs fCLK 2.048 - 25.6 MHz
Duty Cycle dCLK 40 - 60 %
LRCK Timing
Frequency fs 8 44.1 50 kHz
Duty Cycle Duty 45 - 55
%
Serial Interface Timing
SCLK Period tSCK 312.5 - - ns
SCLK Pulse Width Low tSCKL 130 - - ns
Pulse Width High tSCKH 130 - - ns
LRCK Edge to SCLK “ (Note 8) tLRS 50 - - ns
SCLK “” to LRCK Edge (Note 8) tSLR 50 - - ns
LRCK Edge to SDTO (MSB) tDLR - - 80 ns
SCLK “” to SDTO tDSS - - 80 ns
SDTI Hold Time tSDH 50 - - ns
SDTI Setup Time tSDS 50 - - ns
Reset Timing
PWADN or PWDAN Pulse Width tPW 150 - - ns
PWADN “” to SDTO Valid (Note 9) tPWV - 2081 - 1/fs
Note 8. SCLK rising edge must not occur at the same time as LRCK edge.
Note 9. These cycles are the number of LRCK rising from PWADN rising.
ASAHI KASEI [AK4554]
MS0325-E-00 2004/07
- 8 -
Timing Diagram
1/fCLK
MCLK VIH
VIL
tCLKLtCLKH dCLK = tCLKH x fCLK x 100
= tCLKL x fCLK x 100
1/fs
LRCK VIH
VIL
tLRLtLRH Duty = tLRH x fs x 100
= tLRL x fs x 100
tSCK
tSCKL
VIH
tSCKH
SCLK VIL
Figure 1. Clock Timing
tLRS
LRCK
VIH
SCLK VIL
SDTO 50%VDD
tDSS
VIH
VIL
tSLR
tSDS
SDTI VIH
VIL
tSDH
tDLR
Figure 2. Serial Interface Timing
tPW
VIL
PWADN
tPWV
SDTO 50%VDD
tPW
VIL
PWDAN
VIH
Figur e 3 . Re se t & I n it ialize Timing
ASAHI KASEI [AK4554]
MS0325-E-00 2004/07
- 9 -
OPERATION OVERVIEW
System Clock Input
The AK4554 can be input M CLK= 256fs, 384fs, 512fs, 768fs or 1024fs (fs is equal to or lower tha n 25kHz when MCLK
is 1024fs). The input clock applied to the MCLK pin as internal master clock is divided into 256fs automatically. When
MCLK is 1024fs, oversampling rate of D/A converter is automatical ly changed from 128fs to 256fs. The relationship
between the external cl ock applied to the MCLK input and the desired sam ple rate is defined in Table 1. The LRCK cl ock
input should be synchronized with MCLK. The phase between these clocks does not matter. *fs is sampling frequency.
When the synchronization is out of phase by changing the clock frequencies during normal operation, the AK4554 may
occur click noise.
All external clocks(MCLK, SCLK and LRCK) must be present unless PWADN=PWDAN= “L”. If these clocks are not
provided, the AK4554 may draw excess current and may not possibly operate properly because the device utilizes
dynamic refreshed logic internally .
fs MCLK SCLK
256fs 384fs 512fs 768fs 1024fs 32fs 64fs
8.0kHz 2.0480MHz 3.0720MHz 4.0960MHz 6.1440MHz 8.1920MHz 0.2560MHz 0.512MHz
16.0kHz 4.0960MHz 6.1440MHz 8.1920MHz 12.2880MHz 16.3840MHz 0.5120MHz 1.024MHz
32.0kHz 8.1920MHz 12.2880MHz 16.3840MHz 24.5760MHz N/A 1.0240MHz 2.048MHz
44.1kHz 11.2896MHz 16.9344MHz 22.5792MHz 33.8688MHz N/A 1.4112MHz 2.822MHz
48.0kHz 12.2880MHz 18.4320MHz 24.5760MHz 36.8640MHz N/A 1.5360MHz 3.072MHz
Table 1. System Clock Example
For low sampl ing rates, outband noise causes S/ N of DAC to degrade. S/N is im proved by setting MCLK to 1024fs. Table
2 shows S/N of DAC output.
fs MCLK S/N(fs=8kHz, A-weighted)
8kHz 50kHz 256fs/384fs/512fs/768fs 84dB
8kHz 25kHz 1024fs 90dB
Table 2. Relationship among fs, MCLK frequency and S/N of DAC
ASAHI KASEI [AK4554]
MS0325-E-00 2004/07
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Audio Serial Interface Form at
Data is shifted in/out the SDTI/SDTO pins using SCLK and LRCK inputs. The data is MSB first, 2’s compliment.
SDTI(i)
SCLK(i)
LRCK
SDTI(i)
SCLK(i)
0 1 10 11 12 13 14 15 0 1 10 11 12 13 14 15 0 1
(32fs)
(64fs)
014
115 16 17 31 0 1 14 15 16 17 31 0 1
15:MSB, 0:LSB Lch Data Rch Data
15 14 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 15 1415 14 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
15 14 0 15 14 0
Don’t care Don’t care
SDTO(o)
15 14 210 1514
15 14 2 1 0
SDTO(o)
Figure 4. Audio Interface Timing
De-emphasis filter
The DAC of AK4554 includes the digital de-emphasis filter (tc=50/15µs) by IIR filter. This filter corresponds to three
frequencies (32kHz, 44.1kHz and 48kHz). The de-emphasis fil ter sel ected by DEM 0 and DEM1 pins is enable d for input
audio data. The de-emphasis is also disabled at DEM1 pin = “L” and DEM0 pin = “H”.
DEM1 pin DEM0 pin Mode
L L 44.1kHz
L H OFF
H L 48kHz
H H 32kHz
Table 3. De-emphasis filter control
Digital High Pass Filter
The AK4554 has a Digital High Pass Filter (HPF) for DC-offset cancel. The cut-off frequency of the HPF is 3.4Hz at
fs=44.1kHz and the frequency response at 20Hz is 0.12dB. It also scales with the sampling frequency (fs).
ASAHI KASEI [AK4554]
MS0325-E-00 2004/07
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Power-down & Reset
The ADC and DAC of AK4554 are placed in the power-down mode by bringing each power down pin, PWADN,
PWDAN = “L” independently and each digital filter is also reset at the same time. These resets should always be done
after power-up. In case of the ADC, an anlog initiali zation cy cle starts after exiting the power-down m ode. Therefore, the
output data, SDTO becomes a vailable afte r 2081 cycles of LRC K clock. This i nitiali zation cycle does not affect the DAC
operation. Figure 5 shows the power-up sequence when the ADC is powered up before the DAC power-up.
Idle N o ise
The clocks may be stopped.
A
DC Internal
State
PWADN 2081/fs
Normal Operation Po wer-down Init Cycle Normal Operation
GD GD
Clock In
MCLK,LRCK,SCLK
DC In
(Analog)
Idle N o is e “0”data
A
DC Out
(Digital)
PWDAN
Normal Operation Power-down Normal Operation
DAC Internal
State
“0”data
DAC In
(Digital)
DAC Out
(Analog)
GD
External
Mute Mute ON
GD
Figure 5. Power-up Sequence
ASAHI KASEI [AK4554]
MS0325-E-00 2004/07
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SYSTEM DESIGN
Figure 6 shows the system connection diagram. An evaluation board[AKD4554] is available which demonstrates
application circuit, optimum layout, power supply arrangements and measurement results.
VCOM1
A
INR2
A
INL 3
VSS 4
VDD 5
DEM06
DEM17
SDTO8
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
AOUTR
AOUTL
PWADN
SCLK
MCLK
LRCK
SDTI
AK4554
Top View
0.1u
+
+
Rch In
Lch In
Analog Supply 10u +
Controller
Sy stem GroundAnalog Ground
PWDAN Reset
Reset
0.1u
Mode
Control
1.6 3.6V
Figure 6. System Connection Diagram Example
Notes:
- When AOUT drives some capacitive load, some resistor should be added in series between AOUT and capacitive
load.
- Capacitor value of VCOM depends on low frequency noise of supply voltage.
ASAHI KASEI [AK4554]
MS0325-E-00 2004/07
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1. Grounding and Power Supply Decoupling
VDD and VSS are supplied from analog supply and should be separated from system digital supply. Decoupling
capacitors should be as near to the AK4554 as possible, with the small value ceramic capacitor being nearest.
2. Voltage Reference
The input to VDD volta ge sets the analog input/out put range. A 0.1µF cerami c capacitor and a 10µF el ectrolytic capacit or
is connected to VDD and VSS pins, normally. VCOM is a signal ground of this chip. An electrolytic less than 4.7µF in
parallel with a 0.1µF ceramic capacitor attached to these pins eliminates the effects of high frequency noise. No load
current may be drawn from VCOM pin. All si gnals, especially cloc k, should be kept away from the VDD and VCOM pins
in order to avoid unwanted coupling into the AK4554.
3. Analog Inputs
ADC inputs are single-ended and internally biased to VCOM. The input signal range scales with the supply voltage and
nominally 0.6xVDD Vpp(typ). The ADC output data format is 2’s compliment.
The AK4554 samples the analog inputs at 64fs. The digital fi lter rejects noise above the stop band except for multiples of
64fs. The AK4554 includes an anti -aliasing filter (RC filter) to att e nuate a noise around 64fs.
4. Analog Outputs
The analog outputs are also si ngle-ended and centered around t he VCOM voltage. The output signal range scales with the
supply voltage and nominal ly 0.6xVDD Vpp(ty p). The DAC input data forma t is 2’s com plim ent. The out put voltage is a
positive full scale for 7FFFH(@16bit) and a negative full scale for 8000H(@16bit). The ideal output is VCOM voltage
for 0000H(@16bit). If the noise generat ed by the delta-sigma modulator beyond the audio band would be the problem, the
attenuation by external filter is required.
DC offsets on analog outputs are eliminated by AC coupling since DAC outputs have DC offsets of a few mV.
ASAHI KASEI [AK4554]
MS0325-E-00 2004/07
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Layout Pattern Example
AK4554 requires careful attention to power supply and grounding arrangements to optimize performance.
(Please refer to AKD4554 Evaluation Board layout pattern.)
1. VDD pin should be supplied from analog power supply on system, and VSS pin should be connected to analog
ground on system. The AK4554 i s placed on the analog ground plane , and near the analog ground and digital ground
split. And analog and digital ground planes should be only connected at one point. The connection point should be
near to the AK4554.
2. VDD pin should be distributed from the point with low impedance of regula tor etc.
3. The series resistors are prevent on the clock lines to reduce overshoot and undershoot. To avoid digital noise
coupling to analog c ircuit i n the AK4554, a 10pF c eram ic capa citor on M CLK pin i s connected wi th digit al ground.
4. 0.1µF ceramic capacitors of VDD-VSS pins and VCOM-VSS pins should be located as close to the AK4554 as
possible. And these lines should be the shortest connection to pins.
0.1u
+
Rch In
Lch In
Analog Supply
10u
Controller
Digital Ground
Analog Ground
0.1u
1.6 3.6V
VCO
M
1
A
IN
R
2
A
IN L
3
VSS
4
VDD
5
DEM0
6
DEM1
7
SDT
O
8
1
6
15
14
1
3
12
11
10
9
A
O
UT
R
AOUTL
PWADN
SCL
K
MCL
K
LRC
K
SDTI
AK4554
Top View
PWDAN
10P
Reset &Power-down
Mo de C ontrol
+
+51
51
51
51
51
Figure 7. Layout Pattern Example
ASAHI KASEI [AK4554]
MS0325-E-00 2004/07
- 15 -
PACKAGE
0-10°
Detail A
Seating Plane 0.10
0.17
±
0.05
0.22±0.1 0.65
*5.0±0.1 1.05±0.05
A
18
916
16
p
in TSSOP
(
Unit: mm
)
*4.4±0.1
6.4±0.2
0.5±0.2
0.1±0.1
NOTE: Dimension "*" does not include mold flash.
0.13 M
Package & Lead frame material
Package molding compound: Epoxy
Lead frame material: Cu
Lead frame surface treatment: Solder (Pb free) plate
ASAHI KASEI [AK4554]
MS0325-E-00 2004/07
- 16 -
MARKING
AKM
4554VT
XXYYY
1) Pin #1 indication
2) Date Code : XXYYY (5 digits)
XX: Lot#
YYY: Date Code
3) Marketing Code : 4554VT
4) Asahi Kasei Logo
Revision History
Date (YY/MM/DD) Revision Reason Page Contents
04/07/28 00 First Edition
ASAHI KASEI [AK4554]
MS0325-E-00 2004/07
- 17 -
IMPORTANT NOTICE
These produc ts and their spec ifications are subject to c hange without notice. Before considering
any use or applic ation, consult the Asahi K asei Microsystems Co., Lt d. (AKM) sales office or
authorized di stributor c oncerning their curr ent status .
AKM as sumes no liability f or infringement of any patent, intell ectual property, or other right in the
applicat ion or use of any informat ion contained herein.
Any export of thes e products , or devices or systems containing t hem, may require an export license
or other official approval under the law and regulations of the country of export pertaining to customs
and tarif fs, currenc y exchange, or st rategic materi als.
AKM product s are neither int ended nor authorized f or use as crit ical component s in any safet y, life
support , or other hazard related dev ice or syst em, and AKM ass umes no responsib ility relating to
any such use, except with t he express written c onsent of the Representative Di rector of AK M. As
used here:
(a) A hazard related device or system is one designed or intended for life support or maintenance of
safet y or for applications in medicine, aerosp ace, nuclear energy, or other fields, in which its
failure t o func tion or perform may reaso nably be expec t ed to result in lo ss of li f e or in significant
injury or damage to pers on or property.
(b) A cri tical c omponent is one whose fail ure to func tion or perf orm may r easonably be expected to
result, whether dire ctly or indirectl y, in the loss of the safety or ef fectivenes s of the device or
syst em containing it , and which must theref ore meet very high s tandards of perfor mance and
reliability.
It is the respons ibility of the buyer or dis tributor of an AKM pro duct who dist ributes, dispo ses of , or
otherwise plac es the product wit h a third party to noti fy that part y in advance of the above content
and conditio ns, and t he buyer or dist ribut or agrees t o ass ume any and al l respons ibili ty and l iabilit y
for and hold AK M harmless f rom any and all claims arising from the use of said product in th e
absence of such notif ication.