Event: Microtechnologies for the New Millennium, 2007, Maspalomas, Gran
Canaria, SpainThis paper introduces a CAD methodology to assist the de
signer in the implementation of continuous-time (CT) cas-
cade
Σ∆
modulators. The salient features of this methodology ar
e: (a) flexible behavioral modeling for optimum accuracy-
efficiency trade-offs at different stages of the top-down
synthesis process; (b) direct synthesis in the continuous-time
domain for minimum circuit complexity and sensitivity; a
nd (c) mixed knowledge-based and optimization-based architec-
tural exploration and specification transmission for enhanced
circuit performance. The applicability of this methodology
will be illustrated via the design of a 12 bit 20 MHz CT
Σ∆
modulator in a 1.2V 130nm CMOS technology.Ministerio de Ciencia y Educación TEC2004-01752/MICMinisterio de Industria, Turismo y Comercio FIT-330100-2006-134 SPIRIT Projec
