A new approach to improvement of pipeline A/D converters characteristics

Abstract

The paper presents a new approach to improvement of pipeline analog-to-digital (A/D) converters characteristics. The approach is based on application of adaptive estimation algorithms to control and calculate output codes of pipeline A/D converters. Implementation of adaptive algorithms is possible in so called intelligent pipeline A/D converters (IP ADCs) whose digital parts permit to calculate iteratively output codes in form of binary words using simple mathematical operations. This paper develops the earlier research on IP ADCs and removes some disadvantages of conventional IP ADCs simplifying their architecture and increasing achievable values of effective number of bits (ENOB) of converters. Results of selected simulation experiments illustrating new effects related to application of the proposed solutions and their potential benefits are also presented and discussed in the paper.