Analog-to-Digital Conversion

Thedesign of an analog-to-digital converter or digital-to-analogconverter is one of the most fascinating tasks in micro-electronics.In a converter the analog world with all its intricacies meets therealm of the formal digital abstraction. Both disciplines must beunderstood for an optimum conversion solution. In a converter alsosystem challenges meet technology opportunities. Modern systems relyon analog-to-digital converters as an essential part of the complexchain to access the physical world. And processors need the ultimateperformance of digital-to-analog converters to present the results oftheir complex algorithms. The same progress in CMOS technology thatenables these VLSI digital systems creates new challenges foranalog-to-digital converters: lower signal swings, less power andvariability issues. Last but not least, the analog-to-digitalconverter must follow the cost reduction trend.

Thesechanging boundary conditions require micro-electronics engineers toconsider their design choices for every new design. Analog-to-DigitalConversion discusses the different analog-to-digital conversionprinciples: sampling, quantization, reference generation, nyquistarchitectures and sigma-delta modulation. Analog-to-DigitalConversion presents an overview of the state-of-the-art in this fieldand focuses on issues of optimizing accuracy and speed while reducingthe power level. A lot of background knowledge and practical tipscomplement the discussion of basic principles, which makesAnalog-to-Digital Conversion also a reference for the experiencedengineer.