Design of VCO-based ADCs

Design of VCO-based ADCs
Author: Vishnu Unnikrishnan
Publisher: Linköping University Electronic Press
Total Pages: 52
Release: 2017-03-28
Genre:
ISBN: 9176856240

Today's complex electronic systems with billions of transistors on a single die are enabled by the aggressive scaling down of the device feature size at an exponential rate as predicted by the Moore's law. Digital circuits benefit from technology scaling to become faster, more energy efficient as well as more area efficient as the feature size is scaled down. Moreover, digital design also benefits from mature CAD tools that simplify the design and cross-technology porting of complex systems, leveraging on a cell-based design methodology. On the other hand, the design of analog circuits is getting increasingly difficult as the feature size scales down into the deep nanometer regime due to a variety of reasons like shrinking voltage headroom, reducing intrinsic gain of the devices, increasing noise coupling between circuit nodes due to shorter distances etc. Furthermore, analog circuits are still largely designed with a full custom design ow that makes their design and porting tedious, slow, and expensive. In this context, it is attractive to consider realizing analog/mixed-signal circuits using standard digital components. This leads to scaling-friendly mixed-signal blocks that can be designed and ported using the existing CAD framework available for digital design. The concept is already being applied to mixed-signal components like frequency synthesizers where all-digital architectures are synthesized using standard cells as basic components. This can be extended to other mixed-signal blocks like digital-to-analog and analog to- digital converters as well, where the latter is of particular interest in this thesis. A voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO)-based analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is an attractive architecture to achieve all-digital analog-to digital conversion due to favorable properties like shaping of the quantization error, inherent anti-alias filtering etc. Here a VCO operates as a signal integrator as well as a quantizer. A converter employing a ring oscillator as the VCO lends itself to an all-digital implementation. In this dissertation, we explore the design of VCO-based ADCs synthesized using digital standard cells with the long-term goal of achieving high performance data converters built from low accuracy switch components. In a first step, an ADC is designed using vendor supplied standard cells and fabricated in a 65 nm CMOS process. The converter delivers an 8-bit ENOB over a 25 MHz bandwidth while consuming 3.3 mW of power resulting in an energy efficiency of 235 fJ/step (Walden FoM). Then we utilize standard digital CAD tools to synthesize converter designs that are fully described using a hardware description language. A polynomial-based digital post-processing scheme is proposed to correct for the VCO nonlinearity. In addition, pulse modulation schemes like delta modulation and asynchronous sigma-delta modulation are used as a signal pre-coding scheme, in an attempt to reduce the impact of VCO nonlinearity on converter performance. In order to investigate the scaling benefits of all-digital data conversion, a VCO-based converter is designed in a 28 nm CMOS process. The design delivers a 13.4-bit ENOB over a 5 MHz bandwidth achieving an energy efficiency of 4.3 fJ/step according to post-synthesis schematic simulation, indicating that such converters have the potential of achieving good performance in deeply scaled processes by exploiting scaling benefits. Furthermore, large conversion errors caused by non-ideal sampling of the oscillator phase are studied. An encoding scheme employing ones counters is proposed to code the sampled ring oscillator output into a number, which is resilient to a class of sampling induced errors modeled by temporal reordering of the transitions in the ring. The proposed encoding reduces the largest error caused by random reordering of up to six subsequent bits in the sampled signal from 31 to 2 LSBs. Finally, the impact of process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) variations on the performance while operating the converter from a subthreshold supply is investigated. PVT-adaptive solutions are suggested as a means to achieve energy-efficient operation over a wide range of PVT conditions.

Design Techniques for Mash Continuous-Time Delta-Sigma Modulators

Design Techniques for Mash Continuous-Time Delta-Sigma Modulators
Author: Qiyuan Liu
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 215
Release: 2018-03-27
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 3319772252

This book describes a circuit architecture for converting real analog signals into a digital format, suitable for digital signal processors. This architecture, referred to as multi-stage noise-shaping (MASH) Continuous-Time Sigma-Delta Modulators (CT-ΔΣM), has the potential to provide better digital data quality and achieve better data rate conversion with lower power consumption. The authors not only cover MASH continuous-time sigma delta modulator fundamentals, but also provide a literature review that will allow students, professors, and professionals to catch up on the latest developments in related technology.

Sigma-Delta Converters: Practical Design Guide

Sigma-Delta Converters: Practical Design Guide
Author: Jose M. de la Rosa
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 581
Release: 2018-11-05
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1119275784

Thoroughly revised and expanded to help readers systematically increase their knowledge and insight about Sigma-Delta Modulators Sigma-Delta Modulators (SDMs) have become one of the best choices for the implementation of analog/digital interfaces of electronic systems integrated in CMOS technologies. Compared to other kinds of Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs), Σ∆Ms cover one of the widest conversion regions of the resolution-versus-bandwidth plane, being the most efficient solution to digitize signals in an increasingly number of applications, which span from high-resolution low-bandwidth digital audio, sensor interfaces, and instrumentation, to ultra-low power biomedical systems and medium-resolution broadband wireless communications. Following the spirit of its first edition, Sigma-Delta Converters: Practical Design Guide, 2nd Edition takes a comprehensive look at SDMs, their diverse types of architectures, circuit techniques, analysis synthesis methods, and CAD tools, as well as their practical design considerations. It compiles and updates the current research reported on the topic, and explains the multiple trade-offs involved in the whole design flow of Sigma-Delta Modulators—from specifications to chip implementation and characterization. The book follows a top-down approach in order to provide readers with the necessary understanding about recent advances, trends, and challenges in state-of-the-art Σ∆Ms. It makes more emphasis on two key points, which were not treated so deeply in the first edition: It includes a more detailed explanation of Σ∆Ms implemented using Continuous-Time (CT) circuits, going from system-level synthesis to practical circuit limitations. It provides more practical case studies and applications, as well as a deeper description of the synthesis methodologies and CAD tools employed in the design of Σ∆ converters. Sigma-Delta Converters: Practical Design Guide, 2nd Edition serves as an excellent textbook for undergraduate and graduate students in electrical engineering as well as design engineers working on SD data-converters, who are looking for a uniform and self-contained reference in this hot topic. With this goal in mind, and based on the feedback received from readers, the contents have been revised and structured to make this new edition a unique monograph written in a didactical, pedagogical, and intuitive style.

CMOS Sigma-Delta Converters

CMOS Sigma-Delta Converters
Author: Jose M. de la Rosa
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 463
Release: 2013-03-13
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1118568435

A comprehensive overview of Sigma-Delta Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs) and a practical guide to their design in nano-scale CMOS for optimal performance. This book presents a systematic and comprehensive compilation of sigma-delta converter operating principles, the new advances in architectures and circuits, design methodologies and practical considerations − going from system-level specifications to silicon integration, packaging and measurements, with emphasis on nanometer CMOS implementation. The book emphasizes practical design issues – from high-level behavioural modelling in MATLAB/SIMULINK, to circuit-level implementation in Cadence Design FrameWork II. As well as being a comprehensive reference to the theory, the book is also unique in that it gives special importance on practical issues, giving a detailed description of the different steps that constitute the whole design flow of sigma-delta ADCs. The book begins with an introductory survey of sigma-delta modulators, their fundamentals architectures and synthesis methods covered in Chapter 1. In Chapter 2, the effect of main circuit error mechanisms is analysed, providing the necessary understanding of the main practical issues affecting the performance of sigma-delta modulators. The knowledge derived from the first two chapters is presented in the book as an essential part of the systematic top-down/bottom-up synthesis methodology of sigma-delta modulators described in Chapter 3, where a time-domain behavioural simulator named SIMSIDES is described and applied to the high-level design and verification of sigma-delta ADCs. Chapter 4 moves farther down from system-level to the circuit and physical level, providing a number of design recommendations and practical recipes to complete the design flow of sigma-delta modulators. To conclude the book, Chapter 5 gives an overview of the state-of-the-art sigma-delta ADCs, which are exhaustively analysed in order to extract practical design guidelines and to identify the incoming trends, design challenges as well as practical solutions proposed by cutting-edge designs. Offers a complete survey of sigma-delta modulator architectures from fundamentals to state-of-the art topologies, considering both switched-capacitor and continuous-time circuit implementations Gives a systematic analysis and practical design guide of sigma-delta modulators, from a top-down/bottom-up perspective, including mathematical models and analytical procedures, behavioural modeling in MATLAB/SIMULINK, macromodeling, and circuit-level implementation in Cadence Design FrameWork II, chip prototyping, and experimental characterization. Systematic compilation of cutting-edge sigma-delta modulators Complete description of SIMSIDES, a time-domain behavioural simulator implemented in MATLAB/SIMULINK Plenty of examples, case studies, and simulation test benches, covering the different stages of the design flow of sigma-delta modulators A number of electronic resources, including SIMSIDES, the statistical data used in the state-of-the-art survey, as well as many design examples and test benches are hosted on a companion website Essential reading for Researchers and electronics engineering practitioners interested in the design of high-performance data converters integrated in nanometer CMOS technologies; mixed-signal designers.

Continuous-Time Sigma-Delta A/D Conversion

Continuous-Time Sigma-Delta A/D Conversion
Author: Friedel Gerfers
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 257
Release: 2006-02-27
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 3540284737

Sigma-delta A/D converters are a key building block in wireless and multimedia applications. This comprehensive book deals with all relevant aspects arising during the analysis, design and simulation of the now widespread continuous-time implementations of sigma-delta modulators. The results of several years of research by the authors in the field of CT sigma-delta modulators are covered, including the analysis and modeling of different CT modulator architectures, CT/DT loop filter synthesis, a detailed error analysis of all components, and possible compensation/correction schemes for the non-ideal behavior in CT sigma-delta modulators. Guidance for obtaining low-power consumption and several practical implementations are also presented. It is shown that all the proposed new theories, architectures and possible correction techniques have been confirmed by measurements on discrete or integrated circuits. Quantitative results are also provided, thus enabling prediction of the resulting accuracy.

High-Performance AD and DA Converters, IC Design in Scaled Technologies, and Time-Domain Signal Processing

High-Performance AD and DA Converters, IC Design in Scaled Technologies, and Time-Domain Signal Processing
Author: Pieter Harpe
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 419
Release: 2014-07-23
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 3319079387

This book is based on the 18 tutorials presented during the 23rd workshop on Advances in Analog Circuit Design. Expert designers present readers with information about a variety of topics at the frontier of analog circuit design, serving as a valuable reference to the state-of-the-art, for anyone involved in analog circuit research and development.

CHIPS 2020 VOL. 2

CHIPS 2020 VOL. 2
Author: Bernd Höfflinger
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 342
Release: 2015-09-19
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3319220934

The release of this second volume of CHIPS 2020 coincides with the 50th anniversary of Moore’s Law, a critical year marked by the end of the nanometer roadmap and by a significantly reduced annual rise in chip performance. At the same time, we are witnessing a data explosion in the Internet, which is consuming 40% more electrical power every year, leading to fears of a major blackout of the Internet by 2020. The messages of the first CHIPS 2020, published in 2012, concerned the realization of quantum steps for improving the energy efficiency of all chip functions. With this second volume, we review these messages and amplify upon the most promising directions: ultra-low-voltage electronics, nanoscale monolithic 3D integration, relevant-data, brain- and human-vision-inspired processing, and energy harvesting for chip autonomy. The team of authors, enlarged by more world leaders in low-power, monolithic 3D, video, and Silicon brains, presents new vistas in nanoelectronics, promising Moore-like exponential growth sustainable through to the 2030s.

Design of Power-Efficient Highly Digital Analog-to-Digital Converters for Next-Generation Wireless Communication Systems

Design of Power-Efficient Highly Digital Analog-to-Digital Converters for Next-Generation Wireless Communication Systems
Author: Xinpeng Xing
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 200
Release: 2017-10-04
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 3319665650

This book discusses both architecture- and circuit-level design aspects of voltage-controlled-oscillator (VCO)-based analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), especially focusing on mitigation of VCO nonlinearity and the improvement of power efficiency. It shows readers how to develop power-efficient complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) ADCs for applications such as LTE, 802.11n, and VDSL2+. The material covered can also be applied to other specifications and technologies. Design of Power-Efficient Highly Digital Analog-to-Digital Converters for Next-Generation Wireless Communication Systems begins with a general introduction to the applications of an ADC in communications systems and the basic concepts of VCO-based ADCs. The text addresses a wide range of converter architectures including open- and closed-loop technologies. Special attention is paid to the replacement of power-hungry analog blocks with VCO-based circuits and to the mitigation of VCO nonline arity. Various MATLAB®/Simulink® models are provided for important circuit nonidealities, allowing designers and researchers to determine the required specifications for the different building blocks that form the systematic integrated-circuit design procedure. Five different VCO-based ADC design examples are presented, introducing innovations at both architecture and circuit levels. Of these designs, the best power efficiency of a high-bandwidth oversampling ADC is achieved in a 40 nm CMOS demonstration. This book is essential reading material for engineers and researchers working on low-power-analog and mixed-signal design and may be used by instructors teaching advanced courses on the subject. It provides a clear overview and comparison of VCO-based ADC architectures and gives the reader insight into the most important circuit imperfections.

High Speed and Wide Bandwidth Delta-Sigma ADCs

High Speed and Wide Bandwidth Delta-Sigma ADCs
Author: Muhammed Bolatkale
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 135
Release: 2014-05-27
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 3319058401

This book describes techniques for realizing wide bandwidth (125MHz) over-sampled analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) in nano meter-CMOS processes. The authors offer a clear and complete picture of system level challenges and practical design solutions in high-speed Delta-Sigma modulators. Readers will be enabled to implement ADCs as continuous-time delta-sigma (CT∆Σ) modulators, offering simple resistive inputs, which do not require the use of power-hungry input buffers, as well as offering inherent anti-aliasing, which simplifies system integration. The authors focus on the design of high speed and wide-bandwidth ΔΣMs that make a step in bandwidth range which was previously only possible with Nyquist converters. More specifically, this book describes the stability, power efficiency and linearity limits of ΔΣMs, aiming at a GHz sampling frequency.