High performance analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) for signal processing

Abstract

Analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) are widely used for signal processing in radar, communication and electronic warfare (EW) systems, where speed and resolution are of paramount importance. Significant improvement in dynamic range and clutter rejection are dependent on critical parameters of the ADC devices used by the radar signal processors. The presence of harmonic-related spurious signals in digital signal processors will result in false targets, high false alarm rates and poor clutter rejection in the case of radars and reduction of ECM effectiveness in case of EW systems. Computer simulation indicates that the magnitudes of the spur levels generated by the ADC devices are strictly dependent on input signal bandwidth, sampling rate or clock frequency and number of bits used. Computer simulation further indicates that high resolution and wide input signal bandwidth are not possible simultaneously with non-cryogenic ADC devices.