What This Document Is
This document represents Lecture Twenty-Three from the Introduction to Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) course (ELENG 247A) at the University of California, Berkeley. It’s a focused exploration of Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs), specifically delving into the principles and performance characteristics of both Nyquist rate and oversampled ADC architectures. The lecture builds upon prior knowledge of data conversion fundamentals and prepares students for more advanced topics in mixed-signal circuit design.
Why This Document Matters
This lecture is crucial for students pursuing careers in integrated circuit design, signal processing, and sensor development. Understanding ADC performance metrics and architectural trade-offs is essential for designing systems that accurately capture and process analog signals. It’s particularly valuable when you need to evaluate different ADC options for a specific application, considering factors like speed, resolution, and power consumption. This material is best reviewed during or after studying the fundamentals of data converters, and before tackling more complex ADC designs.
Topics Covered
* Figures of Merit for ADC performance evaluation
* Oversampled ADC techniques, including pulse-count and sigma-delta modulation
* Analysis of 1-bit quantization and its implications for signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)
* Second-order modulator implementations and practical considerations
* Impact of non-ideal circuit components on ADC performance
* Comparison of different ADC architectures (slope, successive approximation, flash, pipelined)
* The trade-offs between resolution, bandwidth, and power consumption in ADC design.
What This Document Provides
* A detailed examination of key ADC performance metrics and their interrelationships.
* Discussions on how to effectively compare different ADC designs using appropriate figures of merit.
* Insights into the benefits and limitations of oversampling techniques.
* An overview of the fundamental principles behind various ADC architectures.
* References to relevant research papers for further exploration of the topic.
* Performance trends and data relating to ADC power consumption and speed over time.
