Architectural Solutions for Analog Imperfections in ΔΣ Analog-to-Digital Based Systems

For today’s ubiquitous portable devices, innovative integrated circuits with high performance yet very low power are necessary. As these devices are used to communicate and sense real world signals in the environment, analog-to-digital converters (ADC) and systems are the key interface circuits needed to digitize the sensed information and they represent one of the most challenging aspects in the overall design. Fundamentally, this is due to the inherent imperfections in integrated circuit process technology because they cause degradations in the ADC performance. In this thesis, noise-shaping techniques are used to mitigate analog inaccuracies such as non-linearity and mismatch. These approaches are applied to ΔΣ analog-to-digital based systems. Two systems are presented in this work. The first is an architectural technique to highlight the benefits of low power, highly digital VCO-based analog-to-digital converters. It overcomes the limited SFDR due to VCO non-linearity. In this approach, a multi-loop delta-sigma (ΔΣ) ADC architecture is introduced that has a multi-rated VCO-based ADC in its second stage. A custom IC prototype of this architecture fabricated in a 130nm 1P8M CMOS process achieves 77.3dB signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) over a 4MHz signal bandwidth with a power consumption of 13.8mW. The second system includes a new dynamic element matching (DEM) algorithm in the reference generating circuit of a ΔΣ modulator. The most basic DEM algorithm known as data weighted averaging (DWA) increases in-band noise due to intermodulation between the DEM tone and quantization error. In the proposed technique, by completing an integer multiple of the DEM cycles within one ΣΔ cycle, the DEM tone is moved to an integer multiple of the ΣΔ sample rate. As a result, with no additional circuitry or power consumption, the new DEM technique prevents any increase in the in-band noise. To prove its effectiveness, the DEM algorithm is embedded in a temperature-to-digital Converter (TDC) which requires a high precision reference. This TDC consists of a BJT-based temperature sensor followed by a 2nd-order feed-forward ΔΣ ADC as a readout circuit. It is fabricated in an 180nm 1P5M CMOS process consuming 5µA current from 1.4V supply voltage achieving resolution of 25mK/Conversion

Design Considerations for Wide Bandwidth Continuous-Time Low-Pass Delta-Sigma Analog-to-Digital Converters

Continuous-time (CT) delta-sigma (ΔΣ) analog-to-digital converters (ADC) have emerged as the popular choice to achieve high resolution and large bandwidth due to their low cost, power efficiency, inherent anti-alias filtering and digital post processing capabilities. This work presents a detailed system-level design methodology for a low-power CT ΔΣ ADC. Design considerations and trade-offs at the system-level are presented. A novel technique to reduce the sensitivity of the proposed ADC to clock jitter-induced feedback charge variations by employing a hybrid digital-to-analog converter (DAC) based on switched-capacitor circuits is also presented. The proposed technique provides a clock jitter tolerance of up to 5ps (rms). The system is implemented using a 5th order active-RC loop filter, 9-level quantizer and DAC, achieving 74dB SNDR over 20MHz signal bandwidth, at 400MHz sampling frequency in a 1.2V, 90 nm CMOS technology. A novel technique to improve the linearity of the feedback digital-to-analog converters (DAC) in a target 11-bits resolution, 100MHz bandwidth, 2GHz sampling frequency CT ΔΣ ADC is also presented in this work. DAC linearity is improved by combining dynamic element matching and automatic background calibration to achieve up to 18dB improvement in the SNR. Transistor-level circuit implementation of the proposed technique was done in a 1.8V, 0.18μm BiCMOS process

Hybrid continuous-discrete-time multi-bit delta-sigma A/D converters with auto-ranging algorithm

In wireless portable applications, a large part of the signal processing is performed in the digital domain. Digital circuits show many advantages. The power consumption and fabrication costs are low even for high levels of complexity. A well established and highly automated design flow allows one to benefit from the constant progress in CMOS technologies. Moreover, digital circuits offer robust and programmable signal processing means and need no external components. Hence, the trend in consumer electronics is to further reduce the part of analog signal processing in the receiver chain of wireless transceivers. Consequently, analog-to-digital converters with higher resolutions and bandwidths are constantly required. The ultimate goal is the direct digitization of radio frequency signals, where the conversion would be performed immediately after the front-end amplifier. ΔΣ-modulation-based converters have proved to be the most suitable to achieve the required performance. Switched-capacitor implementations have been widely used over the last two decades. However, recent publications and books have shown that continuous-time architectures can achieve the same performance with lower power consumption. Most designs found throughout the literature use a single- or few-bit internal quantizer with a high-order modulation. As a result, in order to achieve the resolutions and bandwidths required today, the sampling frequency must exceed 100MHz. This approach leads to non-negligible power consumption in the clock generation. Moreover, the presence of such fast squared signals is not suitable for a system-on-chip comprising radio frequency receivers. In this thesis we propose a low-power strategy relying on a large number of internal levels rather than on a high sampling frequency or modulation order. Besides, a hybrid continuous-discrete-time approach is used to take advantage of the accuracy of switched-capacitor circuits and the low power consumption of continuous-time implementation. The sensitivity to clock jitter brought about by the continuous-time stage is reduced by the use of a large number of levels. An auto-ranging algorithm is developed in this thesis to overcome the limitation of a large-size quantizer under low-voltage supply. Finally, the strategy is applied to a design example addressing typical specifications for a Bluetooth receiver with direct conversion

Interface Circuits for Microsensor Integrated Systems

ca. 200 words; this text will present the book in all promotional forms (e.g. flyers). Please describe the book in straightforward and consumer-friendly terms. [Recent advances in sensing technologies, especially those for Microsensor Integrated Systems, have led to several new commercial applications. Among these, low voltage and low power circuit architectures have gained growing attention, being suitable for portable long battery life devices. The aim is to improve the performances of actual interface circuits and systems, both in terms of voltage mode and current mode, in order to overcome the potential problems due to technology scaling and different technology integrations. Related problems, especially those concerning parasitics, lead to a severe interface design attention, especially concerning the analog front-end and novel and smart architecture must be explored and tested, both at simulation and prototype level. Moreover, the growing demand for autonomous systems gets even harder the interface design due to the need of energy-aware cost-effective circuit interfaces integrating, where possible, energy harvesting solutions. The objective of this Special Issue is to explore the potential solutions to overcome actual limitations in sensor interface circuits and systems, especially those for low voltage and low power Microsensor Integrated Systems. The present Special Issue aims to present and highlight the advances and the latest novel and emergent results on this topic, showing best practices, implementations and applications. The Guest Editors invite to submit original research contributions dealing with sensor interfacing related to this specific topic. Additionally, application oriented and review papers are encouraged.

An IF input continuous-time sigma-delta analog-digital converter with high image rejection.

Shen Jun-Hua.Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 151-154).Abstracts in English and Chinese.Abstract --- p.ii摘要 --- p.ivAcknowledgments --- p.viTable of Contents --- p.viiList of Figures --- p.ixList of Tables --- p.xiiChapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1Chapter 1.1. --- Overview --- p.1Chapter 1.2. --- Motivation and Objectives --- p.5Chapter 1.3. --- Original Contributions of This Work --- p.6Chapter 1.4. --- Organization of the Thesis --- p.7Chapter Chapter 2 --- Sigma-delta Modulation and IF A/D Conversion --- p.8Chapter 2.1. --- Introduction --- p.8Chapter 2.2. --- Fundamentals of Sigma-delta Modulation --- p.9Chapter 2.2.1. --- Feedback Controlled System --- p.9Chapter 2.2.2. --- Quantization Noise --- p.11Chapter 2.2.3. --- Oversampling and Noise-shaping --- p.11Chapter 2.2.4. --- Stability --- p.15Chapter 2.2.5. --- Noise Sources --- p.17Chapter 2.2.6. --- Baseband Sigma-delta Modulation --- p.28Chapter 2.2.7. --- Bandpass Sigma-delta Modulation --- p.28Chapter 2.3. --- Discrete-time Sigma-delta Modulation --- p.29Chapter 2.4. --- Continuous-time Sigma-delta Modulation --- p.29Chapter 2.5. --- IF-input Complex Analog to Digital Converter --- p.31Chapter 2.6. --- Image Rejection --- p.32Chapter 2.7. --- Integrated Mixer --- p.36Chapter Chapter 3 --- High Level Modeling and Simulation --- p.39Chapter 3.1. --- Introduction --- p.39Chapter 3.2. --- System Level Sigma-delta Modulator Design --- p.40Chapter 3.3. --- Continuous-time NTF Generation --- p.46Chapter 3.4. --- Discrete-time Sigma-delta Modulator Modeling --- p.50Chapter 3.5. --- Continuous-time Sigma-delta Modulator Modeling --- p.52Chapter 3.6. --- Modeling of Nonidealities --- p.53Chapter 3.7. --- High Level Simulation Results --- p.58Chapter Chapter 4 --- Transistor Level Implementation of the Complex Modulator and Layout --- p.65Chapter 4.1. --- Introduction --- p.65Chapter 4.2. --- IF Input Complex Modulator --- p.65Chapter 4.3. --- High IR IF Input Complex Modulator Design --- p.67Chapter 4.4. --- System Design --- p.73Chapter 4.5. --- Building Blocks Design --- p.77Chapter 4.5.1. --- Transconductor Design --- p.77Chapter 4.5.2. --- RC Integrator Design --- p.87Chapter 4.5.3. --- Gm-C Integrator Design --- p.90Chapter 4.5.4. --- Voltage to Current Converter --- p.95Chapter 4.5.5. --- Current Comparator Design --- p.96Chapter 4.5.6. --- Dynamic Element Matching Design --- p.98Chapter 4.5.7. --- Mixer Design --- p.100Chapter 4.5.8. --- Clock Generator --- p.103Chapter 4.6. --- Transistor Level Simulation of the Design --- p.106Chapter 4.7. --- Layout of the Mixed Signal Design --- p.109Chapter 4.7.1. --- Layout Overview --- p.109Chapter 4.7.2. --- Capacitor layout --- p.110Chapter 4.7.3. --- Resistor Layout --- p.113Chapter 4.7.4. --- Power and Ground Routing --- p.114Chapter 4.7.5. --- OTA Layout --- p.115Chapter 4.7.6. --- Chip Layout --- p.117Chapter 4.8. --- PostLayout Simulation --- p.120Chapter 5. --- Chapter 5 Measurement Results and Improvement --- p.122Chapter 5.1. --- Introduction --- p.122Chapter 5.2. --- PCB Design --- p.123Chapter 5.3. --- Test Setup --- p.125Chapter 5.4. --- Measurement of SNR and IRR --- p.128Chapter 5.5. --- Discussion of the Chip Performance --- p.131Chapter 5.6. --- Design of Robust Sigma Delta Modulator --- p.139Chapter Chapter 6 --- Conclusion --- p.148Chapter 6.1. --- Conclusion --- p.148Chapter 6.2. --- Future Work --- p.150Bibliography --- p.151Appendix A Schematics of Building Blocks --- p.155Author's Publications --- p.15

A Robust 96.6-dB-SNDR 50-kHz-Bandwidth Switched-Capacitor Delta-Sigma Modulator for IR Imagers in Space Instrumentation

Infrared imaging technology, used both to study deep-space bodies' radiation and environmental changes on Earth, experienced constant improvements in the last few years, pushing data converter designers to face new challenges in terms of speed, power consumption and robustness against extremely harsh operating conditions. This paper presents a 96.6-dB-SNDR (Signal-to-Noise-plus-Distortion Ratio) 50-kHz-bandwidth fourth-order single-bit switched-capacitor delta-sigma modulator for ADC operating at 1.8 V and consuming 7.9 mW fit for space instrumentation. The circuit features novel Class-AB single-stage switched variable-mirror amplifiers (SVMAs) enabling low-power operation, as well as low sensitivity to both process and temperature deviations for the whole modulator. The physical implementation resulted in a 1.8-mm 2 chip integrated in a standard 0.18-μm 1-poly-6-metal (1P6M) CMOS technology, and it reaches a 164.6-dB Schreier figure of merit from experimental SNDR measurements without making use of any clock bootstrapping, analog calibration, nor digital compensation technique. When coupled to a IR imager, the current design allows more than 50 frames per minute with a resolution of 16 effective number of bits (ENOB) while consuming less than 300 mW

High-loop-delay sixth-order bandpass continuous-time sigma-delta modulators

International audienceThis study focuses on the design of high-loop-delay modulators for parallel sigma-delta conversion. Parallel converters, allowing a global low oversampling ratio, consist of several bandpass modulators with adjacent central frequencies. To ensure the global performance, the noise transfer function (NTF) of each modulator must be adjusted regarding its central frequency. In this thematic a new topology of sixth-order modulators based on weighted-feedforward techniques is developed. This topology offers an adequate control of the NTF at each central frequency by simple means. Additive signal paths are moreover proposed to obtain an auto-filtering signal transfer function. An optimisation method is also developed to calculate the optimised coefficients of the modulators at different central frequencies. The main concerns are improving the stability and reducing the sensitivity of the continuous-time circuit to analogue imperfections. This is essential for parallel conversion since, in each channel, the modulator works at a central frequency which differs from the fourth of the sampling frequency. The performance of the optimised modulator is compared with its discrete-time counterpart with good argument