Extended Precision in Video-Bandwidth Analog-to-Digital Converters Using Optical Techniques

Analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) are widely used to translate sensor measurements into the digital language of computing, information processing, and control systems. There is presently considerable interest in high-precision (8-10 bit) conversion at rates of 10-20 Msamples/sec for use in digital transmission and recording of television signals.1 However, for some applications (e.g., in radar signal processing) even higher precision at video sampling rates is desired for enhanced dynamic range. It has proven very difficult to achieve precision beyond 10 bits at these rates using conventional silicon integrated circuit technology.