Technology trend of ADCs

Abstract

This paper discusses technology trend of ADCs. Technology scaling has enabled an increased conversion rate; however, it now also leads to difficulties to increase or to maintain performance of ADCs. New converter design challenges have been started. One strong trend in design of ADCs is to omit operational amplifiers (OpAmps), which used to form the basis of modern ADC design but are now no longer useful. Comparator base ADCs, such as successive approximation ADCs become very attractive in future energy efficient and scaled CMOS conscious ADC architectures.